Spanish (SPAN)

The Department of Spanish

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 Spanish language proficiency 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 immerse themselves as much as possible in a Spanish-speaking community.

The major in Spanish is designed to cultivate our students’ understanding and appreciation of the rich literary, linguistic 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 linguistics. They also explore connections between Spanish and other disciplines in the humanities or in the social sciences. To achieve a high level of language proficiency and cultural understanding, it is strongly recommended that students majoring in Spanish study at least one semester in Spain with Bucknell en España, or in Latin America with one of the approved programs in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic or Ecuador, among others. 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.

Sequence and Description of Courses

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 that focus on language acquisition and cultural competency (100 and 200 level), 2.) courses that introduce students to the breadth and diversity of literature, culture and linguistics of the Spanish-speaking world (200 level), 3.) courses that provide an in-depth study of an author, period, genre or issue in Hispanic literature, culture and linguistics (300 level).

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 (seminars) offering an in-depth study of particular aspects of Hispanic literature, culture or linguistics. These courses are related to the professor’s area of expertise and normally require that students participate actively in class discussion, make formal presentations in class and write a research paper in Spanish. 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.

Planning Ahead

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.

Online Placement Exam

Students who want to take a course in Spanish must take the online placement test to determine the level at which they may register. Information on accessing the test is included in the first-year student registration information; it is recommended that students take the exam as early as possible. Current students may access the placement test from the Spanish department webpage. Any questions regarding placement should be directed to the Spanish department chairperson.

Summary of Spanish Major Requirements

A major in Spanish requires at least eight credits above SPAN 105 Intermediate Spanish, four of which must be taken at Bucknell.

Students usually begin by enrolling in language courses. The language course students take is determined by the placement exam. SPAN 207 Toward Advanced Spanish and SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition are the only language courses that may be counted toward the major. Students must complete SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition or test out of it to enroll in 200-level literature, culture and linguistics courses.

Students must take one of the following literature courses: SPAN 220 Introduction to Spanish Literature or SPAN 222 Introduction to Latin American Literature. Students must take one of the following culture courses: SPAN 270 Spanish Cultural Tradition or SPAN 280 Latin American Cultural Traditions. At least one of these courses must deal with Spain and at least one of these courses must deal with Latin America.

Students must take at least two 200-level courses above SPAN 208 Advanced Conversation and Composition before enrolling in a 300-level course. Students must take at least two 300-level courses. At least one of these 300-level courses must focus on Hispanic literature or culture.

Visual Summary of Spanish Major Requirements

Language Courses		0-2
SPAN 207	Toward Advanced Spanish (depends on placement)
SPAN 208	Advanced Conversation and Composition (depends on placement)
200-level Literature, Linguistics or Culture
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
200-level Literature, Linguistics or Culture Electives (as necessary or desired)		0-4
300-level Seminars		2
Total		8

Additional Information

• A link to the placement exam can be found on the Department of Spanish website.
• All courses are taught in Spanish unless otherwise indicated.
• Students whose language proficiency places them higher than SPAN 208 may substitute another course in advanced language, literature or culture (SPAN 220-SPAN 295) to reach the total number of eight required courses.
• If studying abroad, one of either SPAN 220, SPAN 222, SPAN 270 or SPAN 280 must be taken on campus. At least one of the courses taken abroad for credit toward the Spanish major must deal with literature.
• A student may request permission from the Department of Spanish to count an Integrated Perspectives (IP) course for a 200-level Spanish credit provided that it is co-taught by a faculty member of the Department of Spanish and the subject relates to Hispanic cultures.  
• A 300-level course may be used to count toward a 200-level course, with approval of an adviser, but the student must still take two additional 300-level courses to complete the major.
• All 300-level courses fulfill the culminating experience.
• All 300-level courses must be taken at Bucknell.
• One course from the Department of Spanish offerings taught in English may be counted toward the major.
• Students 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 PA.

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 count 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 105 Intermediate 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.

Study in Latin America

For majors and minors, the Spanish department has approved study abroad programs in, for example, 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 them 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: Fernando Blanco, M. Isabel Cuñado, Elisabeth Guerrero, Collin McKinney

Associate Professors: Jason Aaron McCloskey (Co-chair), Ana M. Patiño (Co-chair), Hiram L. Smith

Assistant Professor: Roberto Martínez Bachrich

Visiting Assistant Professor: Sophia Nuñez