Spanish (SPAN)

The Department of Spanish at Bucknell University is committed to providing excellent instruction and learning opportunities that challenge majors and minors and other interested students to develop their language proficiency in Spanish to the maximum, as well as to know and understand the literature and culture of the Spanish-speaking peoples of the world. We encourage our students to think critically, to question their cultural assumptions about the Hispanic world, and to seek to immerse themselves, as much as possible, in a Spanish-speaking community.

The academic program in Spanish offers coursework in the areas of language, literature, culture, and linguistics of the Hispanic world, including Spain, Latin America, and the United States. The curriculum takes into account a wide variety of student needs and interests, including those of heritage students, students who plan to pursue graduate study and careers in Spanish/Hispanic studies, and those who hope to apply their language skills and cultural understanding to their chosen profession. The curriculum in Spanish encompasses three levels:

1. Courses focusing primarily on language acquisition, with a secondary focus on cultural competency (SPAN 201 through SPAN 208).
2. At the next level, courses introduce students with early advanced language proficiency to the breadth and diversity of the literature, culture, and linguistics of the Spanish-speaking world.

   SPAN 220	Introduction to Spanish Literature	1
   SPAN 222	Introduction to Latin American Literature	1
   SPAN 239	Hispanic Linguistics	1
   SPAN 270	Spanish Cultural Tradition	1
   SPAN 280	Latin American Cultural Traditions	1
   SPAN 285	Latinx Literature in the U.S.	1
   SPAN 295	Topics in Spanish	1

3. At the highest level, our courses provide an in-depth study of an author, period, genre, or issue in Hispanic literature, culture, or linguistics (300-level courses).

Students are strongly encouraged to continue their study of Spanish as early in their undergraduate career as possible. Doing so will ensure that they can complete the major or minor, will make them eligible for the best study abroad programs in the Hispanic world, and will help them to reach a high level of language proficiency. By achieving an advanced degree of language proficiency and cultural awareness, students may improve their chances for a Fulbright or other international fellowships after graduation.

Online Placement Test

Students who have studied Spanish in secondary school or who are heritage speakers of the language must take the online placement test to determine the level at which they may register for a Spanish course. Information on accessing the test is included in the first-year student registration information. Current students may access the placement test from the Spanish department webpage. Any questions regarding placement should be directed to the Spanish department chairperson.

The major in Spanish is designed to cultivate our students’ understanding and appreciation of the rich literary and cultural traditions of Spanish-speaking peoples; to provide a sound foundation for graduate study related to the Hispanic worlds; and to develop our students’ ability to critically analyze literary and cultural works in Spanish. Coursework in the Spanish major will help students meet the goals of the College of Arts & Sciences, and of the University as a whole, with regard to writing, information literacy, and public presentation.

Through their coursework in the major, students are introduced to the discipline of Hispanic letters and they explore connections between Spanish and other disciplines in the humanities or in the social sciences. The on-campus curriculum, when combined with a semester or year of study abroad on Bucknell en España in Spain or a program approved by the department for Latin America, will enable students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. The language proficiency attained by our students, along with the cultural understanding they gain through their studies at Bucknell and abroad, will allow them to interact effectively with Spanish-speaking peoples throughout the world. By relating to Hispanic cultures, our students increase their self-awareness and their sense of connection to a diverse world.

Spanish Major

Students may set out to accomplish the goals outlined for the major by taking language courses beyond SPAN 105 Intermediate Spanish: SPAN 207 Toward Advanced Spanish, and/or SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition, according to their language placement. SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition is a prerequisite for courses numbered SPAN 220 through SPAN 295.

After reaching an early-advanced level of language proficiency, students gain an understanding of Hispanic literary and cultural traditions through their work in courses providing an overview of literature and culture:

SPAN 220	Introduction to Spanish Literature 1	1
or SPAN 222	Introduction to Latin American Literature
SPAN 270	Spanish Cultural Tradition 1	1
or SPAN 280	Latin American Cultural Traditions
Select one of the following:		1
One of two courses not yet taken from first two rows
SPAN 285	Latinx Literature in the U.S.
SPAN 295	Topics in Spanish
SPAN 245	Topics in Spain
Approved study abroad program course 2
Select one of the following: 3		1
Hispanic literature/culture course 4
Hispanic linguistics course 4

1	One of these four courses must be taken on the Bucknell campus, preferably before studying abroad.
2	With permission of the Spanish department.
3	A student may request permission to count an Integrated Perspectives course toward this major requirement, provided that the course is co-taught by a Spanish department faculty member and that the subject relates to Hispanic cultures. While a student may apply a 300-level Spanish course toward this requirement, with the approval of the student's academic adviser in Spanish, the student must still take two additional 300-level courses to complete the major.
4	On campus or on an approved study abroad program.

Students must take at least two courses numbered SPAN 220 through SPAN 295 before enrolling in a 300-level course.

To achieve a high level of language proficiency and cultural understanding, it is strongly recommended that students majoring in Spanish spend at least one semester of their junior year on Bucknell en España in Spain, or one of the approved programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, or Ecuador.

After gaining an understanding of Hispanic literary and cultural traditions in coursework at the 200 level, students complete the major with at least two 300-level courses or seminars offering an in-depth study of particular aspects of Hispanic literature, culture, or linguistics. These courses, numbered in the 300s, are often related to the professor’s area of expertise and normally require that students participate actively in class discussion, make formal presentations in class, and that they write a research paper in Spanish. One of these seminars must be designated as Culminating Experience for the Spanish major. As part of the learning activities in this seminar, students will carry out a research project related to Hispanic literature, culture, or linguistics under the supervision of the course instructor, and will present the critical essay in its final written form at the end of the semester, as evidence of their fulfillment of the Spanish department’s learning objectives for writing and information literacy. In addition, senior Spanish majors will present a scholarly paper based on their research as evidence of their fulfillment of the department’s objectives regarding public presentation.

A major in Spanish requires at least eight credits above SPAN 105. At least four credits required for the major must be taken at Bucknell, including:

SPAN 220	Introduction to Spanish Literature	1
or SPAN 222	Introduction to Latin American Literature
or SPAN 270	Spanish Cultural Tradition
or SPAN 280	Latin American Cultural Traditions
Two 300-level SPAN courses 5		2

5	One must be designated a Culminating Experience.

At least one of the four required 200-level courses must focus on Latin America, and at least one on Spain. Students must take two 200-level courses after SPAN 208 before enrolling in a 300-level course. One course from Spanish department offerings taught in English may be counted toward the major. The distribution of courses counting toward the major is as follows:

Spanish Language 6
SPAN 207	Toward Advanced Spanish	1
SPAN 208	Advanced Conversation and Composition	1
Literature and Culture Core Courses 7,8
SPAN 220	Introduction to Spanish Literature	1
or SPAN 222	Introduction to Latin American Literature
SPAN 270	Spanish Cultural Tradition	1
or SPAN 280	Latin American Cultural Traditions
Literature or Culture/Civilization Course
Select one of the following: 7		1
SPAN 245	Topics in Spain (Spain)
SPAN 285	Latinx Literature in the U.S. (may count as Latin American focus)
SPAN 295	Topics in Spanish (topic and region may vary)

6	Students whose language proficiency places them higher than one or both of these courses may substitute another course in advanced language, literature, or culture to reach the total number of eight required courses. (See Advanced Language, Literature, or Culture Courses list.)
7	In choosing courses, students should keep in mind the need to take at least one course at the 200-level on Spain and one on Latin America.
8	At least one of these courses must be taken on the Bucknell campus.

Advanced Language, Literature, or Culture Courses

SPAN 220	Introduction to Spanish Literature	1
SPAN 222	Introduction to Latin American Literature	1
SPAN 239	Hispanic Linguistics	1
SPAN 270	Spanish Cultural Tradition	1
SPAN 280	Latin American Cultural Traditions	1
SPAN 285	Latinx Literature in the U.S.	1
SPAN 2TR with previous approval of Spanish department chair

One 200-level elective on any of the following topics: advanced Spanish language (beyond SPAN 208), Hispanic linguistics, Spanish/Latin American/Latino literatures and cultures, an integrated perspectives course related to Hispanic culture and co-taught by a Spanish department faculty member, or Spanish-English translation, taken at Bucknell or on study abroad, with Spanish department approval.⁹ (In choosing courses, students should be mindful of the need to take at least one course at the 200 level on Spain and one on Latin America.)

Two courses on topics in literature, culture, or Hispanic linguistics at the 300 level, taken at Bucknell. One of these courses must be designated as a Culminating Experience for the Spanish major. At least one 300-level course must focus on Hispanic literature or culture.

A student seeking certification to teach Spanish in elementary or secondary school must complete the major in Spanish, as well as the requirements formulated by Bucknell’s education department, in accordance with the guidelines of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students who wish to be certified to teach Spanish should consult with the Spanish department chair early in their University career. Students who are considering a Spanish major should plan to take at least one course in Spanish each semester at Bucknell, if possible. This will ensure that their gains in language proficiency, in particular, will be sustained during their four-year program.

9	While students may apply a 300-level course toward this requirement with the approval of their academic adviser in Spanish, they must still take two additional courses at the 300 level.

Study Abroad

Residence abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is the best way to gain the language proficiency and the knowledge of Hispanic literature and cultures expected for the major. Students are strongly urged to study abroad on a program approved by the Spanish department for its majors and minors. Only courses taken on these programs may be counted toward the major and minor. At least one of the courses taken abroad for credit toward the Spanish major must deal with literature. Students who have taken two courses in Hispanic literature at Bucknell may present to the Spanish department chairperson a petition to have this requirement waived. Approved study abroad programs may change from year to year.

Study in Spain

The University’s Bucknell en España provides a study abroad experience designed to meet the educational needs of Spanish majors, minors, and other Bucknell students who have taken SPAN 207 Toward Advanced Spanish, or can demonstrate the equivalent level, and who wish to study in Spain. The program is centered at the Universidad de Granada in Granada, Spain. Students who wish to study in Spain but who are not sufficiently advanced for Bucknell en España may go on the CIEE program at the Universidad de Alicante.

Study in Latin America

For majors and minors, the Spanish department has approved study abroad programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Students should consult with their advisers in Spanish, the Spanish department chair, or the Office of International Education regarding these programs.

Honors

Majors who are interested in writing an honors thesis and who meet the requirements established by the Honors Council should speak with a faculty member in Spanish during the junior year to discuss this possibility.

Minor in Spanish

The minor in Spanish consists of five courses beyond SPAN 103 Toward Intermediate Spanish. At least two of the courses for the minor must deal with literature or civilization and at least three of the courses counted for the minor must be taken at Bucknell. Students who go on the Bucknell en España program and plan to minor in Spanish need to take two courses on campus.

All courses are taught in Spanish, unless otherwise indicated. SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition is a prerequisite for courses numbered SPAN 220 through SPAN 295. Two 200-level courses beyond SPAN 208 are prerequisites for courses at the 300-level.

The learning outcomes in place for the Spanish Major are the following:

1. Speak at the Advanced-Mid level, in accordance with the criteria of the Association of College Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

2. Write at the Advanced-Mid level, in accordance with the criteria of the Association of College Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

3. Identify key movements, works and authors in Hispanic literary and cultural production.

4. Write coherent and well-organized critical analyses of literary and cultural works from the Hispanic tradition, including critical language appropriate to the genre or medium, reasoned arguments supported by textual evidence and critical theory, as well as documented research and citation appropriate to the discipline.

5. Make a public presentation of a critical or creative project in Spanish.

6. Describe how one´s major studies in Spanish prepare one to engage in dialogue with Spanish-speaking peoples from a variety of nations/cultures and to think critically about issues related to Hispanic cultures.

Faculty

Professors: M. Isabel Cuñado, Elisabeth Guerrero

Associate Professors: Fernando Blanco, Jason Aaron McCloskey (Co-chair), Collin McKinney, Ana M. Patiño (Co-chair)

Assistant Professors: Nicholas Jones, Obed Omar Lira, Hiram L. Smith