Faculty
Beatriz Teleki, Professor of Spanish (Program Chair) [on leave Fall
2002]
Joan M. Hill, SND, Professor of Spanish
Maura Prendergast, SND, Associate Professor of French
Marta Loyola, Instructor of Spanish
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Description
The Language and Cultural Studies Program offers language courses in
Spanish to all undergraduate students and language courses in French to
students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Program also supports
both a major and a minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. This
program invites students to consider individual values and their
socio-political consequences, encourages an appreciation and experience
of the artistic expressions of the cultures addressed, and requires
students to contemplate the interdependent nature of the world,
considering the complexity of diverse cultures while developing their
skills in the language to be studied. The Program concentrates on the
contemporary as well as on the historical contributions made by the
different cultures.
The major in Language and Cultural Studies integrates curricular and
co-curricular experiences presented in an interdisciplinary manner,
dealing with cultural, geo-political, economic, social, and
technological matters. In addition to course work, students are required
to do at least one internship in Washington D.C., to acquire cultural
experience through direct involvement with organizations such as Amnesty
International, Hermanas Unidas, the Inter-American Commission on Women,
The House of Ruth, or the Inter-American Children Institute among many
others.
The language and cultural studies major may lead to a career in
scholarly research and teaching by providing the undergraduate with a
basic linguistic, cultural, and political knowledge of specific
countries. The program also offers the opportunity to construct an
individualized major combining language and cultural studies with other
disciplines in a professional preparation program. In addition, the
Program provides a well-defined series of courses for the major in
international affairs .
A Certificate of Proficiency for students who are planning careers
that require adequate knowledge of Spanish is awarded after the student
has successfully completed the required courses and passed a written and
an oral examination. The Program also offers introductory and
intermediate level language courses in French.
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Major Requirements
Required Courses (39 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
SPA 206 Spanish and Spanish American Voices*
SPA 210 Latina Voices*
SPA 301 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America
SPA 401 Advanced Grammar and Composition
ONE survey course in Hispanic literature chosen from between:
SPA 315 Approaches to Hispanic Literature I
SPA 316 Approaches to Hispanic Literature II
ONE course in special topics chosen from between:
SPA 404A Special Topics: The Novel of the Mexican Revolution
SPA 404B Special Topics: Literature and Politics
ALL of the following interdisciplinary courses:
INT 373 A/C Culture and Society in Latin American*
INT 373 B Culture and Society in the Caribbean*
HUM 410 Cultural Identity*
HUM 407 Human Rights in the Americas*
HUM 431 Don Quixote*
ONE internship:
SPA 488 Internship
ONE Senior Seminar
SPA 499 Senior Seminar
* Taught in English. Descriptions for courses listed as HUM
(Humanities) and INT (Interdisciplinary) appear in the Interdisciplinary
Courses section of this catalog.
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Minor Requirements
The program supports a minor with a concentration in Hispanic
Studies, which requires completion of 18 credit hours at the 200-level
and above, with a minimum of nine credits taken at Trinity.
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Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Credit is granted for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP examination. These
credits may replace the Core or FLC language requirement, but do not
count toward the major.
CLEP Policy: The
standard score or above on the CLEP examination satisfies the language
requirement of the Core and FLC programs.
Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better
in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.
Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling the requirement for a major may not be taken pass/no
pass (except for 488 Internship).
Senior Assessment:
Majors would be required either to take written and oral comprehensive
examinations, or to write a final comprehensive work (thesis) on a given
topic approved by the program.
Study Abroad:
Students are encouraged to spend one or two semesters or a summer in
approved programs abroad.
TELL Policy:
Students applying for experiential learning credit should consult with
the program faculty.
Transfer Credits:
Students may apply transfer credits toward the major in Languages and
Cultural Studies, provided that the accepted courses parallel those
required for the major at Trinity. In all, transfer students must
complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in Language and Cultural studies
courses at Trinity, to be distributed as follows:
- Three of those credits must be in SPA 401 Advanced Grammar and
Composition.
- A minimum of three credit hours must be in a seminar.
- A minimum of six credit hours must be in upper-level courses in
Spanish.
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Course Descriptions
French Course Descriptions
The Language and Cultural Studies Program offers courses in French at
the elementary and intermediate levels:
FRN 101, 102 Elementary French I, II
Integrates the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Emphasizes oral communication through paired and group activities.
Integrates cultural information.
3 credits
FLC Area I
Core I-F
FRN 201 Intermediate French I
Reviews and develops aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing
skills.
3 credits
Prerequisite: French 102 or equivalent
Core I-F
FRN 202 Intermediate French II
Develops and emphasizes conversational skills. Structural practice,
spontaneous exchanges, role playing, prepared presentations.
3 credits
Prerequisite: FRN 201 or equivalent
Core I-F
Spanish Course Descriptions
SPA 101, 102 Elementary Spanish I, II
Introduces language skills, such as understanding speaking, listening,
reading, and writing Spanish. Visual aids and special materials prepared
by the instructor to achieve basic competency will be used in class.
3 credits
Prerequisite: No prerequisite for SPA 101; SPA 101 or equivalent
required for 102
FLC Area I
Core I-F
SPA 103 Intensive Elementary Spanish
Introduces language skills to students who desire an intensive
presentation to the Spanish language. Equivalent to SPA 101 and 102 but
taught in a single semester.
6 credits
FLC Area I
Core I-F
SPA 201, 202 Intermediate Spanish I, II
Develops and builds increasing confidence and competency in using
Spanish. Special materials will be used to develop the aural
comprehension, speaking, writing, and reading skills to progressively
higher levels.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SPA 102, 103 or equivalent for SPA 201; SPA 201 or
equivalent for SPA 202
Core I-F
SPA 204 Beginning Conversation
Develops the student's ability to express herself orally, while working
to expand and refine her basic knowledge of grammar. Weekly oral reports
and written listening comprehension exercises, in addition to extensive
class participation.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Spanish 202 or equivalent.
Core I-F
SPA 206 Spanish and Spanish-American Voices
Introduces the student to selected major works within the Spanish and
Spanish American literary tradition. Besides learning to identify basic
characteristics of different genre, students will be challenged to
recognize and respond to the profoundly human concerns that inhere in
all great literature of every time and place. Class discussions will
suggest ways to interpret literature and students will receive direction
in expressing their insights in speech and writing. Readings and
discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to
do written assignments in Spanish.
3 credits
FLC Area II, Literature Cluster
SPA 210 Latina Voices
Fosters awareness and understanding among women of the Americas, their
different cultures and traditions as told through their own stories.
Students will also reach a better understanding of the ethnic and racial
diversity that characterizes the whole American continent including the
United States, thus becoming more able to participate in a multicultural
environment, both in the labor force and in their personal lives.
Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish
may choose to do written assignments in Spanish.
3 credits
FLC Area II, Literature Cluster
SPA 230 Realism and Romanticism in the Literature and Art of Spain
Examines the aspects of Realism and Romanticism presented in literary texts and works of art. There will be an introductory reading of selected portions of
La Cestina (1499) and Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605, 1615) as well as some short stories representative of the XIX Century Realistic movement. The course will include legends and poems of Gustavo A. Becquer, one of the most loved romantic writers of the XIX Century. The works of such masters as Velasquez, Goya, and the early work of Picasso will be used to illustrate
characteristic elements of both the Romantic and Realistic movements.
Taught in English.
3 credits
SPA 275 Conversation and Composition
Develops students' ability to express themselves both orally and in
writing in simulated but realistic situations. Students from disciplines
other than Spanish may suggest their own topics of interest to be used
either in their oral or written reports.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Five semesters of college Spanish, three years of high
school Spanish or equivalent
SPA 300 Strategies for Spanish Tutors
Aims at preparing native or near-native speakers of Spanish to work as
tutors for any assigned level. Serves as a practical way of further
developing the student's language skills.
1 credit
SPA 301 Cultural Perspectives of Spanish America
Provides the student with continued practice in language skills, while
addressing a synoptic though comprehensive study of the history and
culture of Spanish America. This course is designed for the non-native
speaker of Spanish and satisfies the language requirement for the
international studies majors.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SPA 275 or equivalent, or instructor's permission
Core I-F
SPA 315 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature I
Provides students with a foundation in liberal arts through further
developing their Spanish language proficiency and improving their
reading and writing skills, as well as in analytical thinking. This
course uses both a socio-cultural and a critical literary approach to a
variety of texts from Spain (12th - 19th centuries) and Spanish America
(19th century).
3 credits
Prerequisite: SPA 301 or equivalent. Native or near-native speakers of
Spanish are encouraged to register in this class
Core I-F
SPA 316 Critical Approaches to Hispanic Literature II
Follows same approach as Spanish 315 but in relationship to 20th century
literature. Uses a variety of texts from both Spain and Spanish America
through the four basic modern genres: poetry, theater, narrative, and
essay.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SPA 315 or instructor's permission. Native or near-native
speakers of Spanish are encouraged to register in this class
Core I-F
SPA 401 Advanced Composition and Stylistics
Develops effective written communication. Activities include news
reporting, book reviews, essays, and business and formal letters.
Previously studied grammatical concepts are reviewed and seen within
more subtle contexts. Students from disciplines other than Spanish may
suggest their own topics of interest to be used in four of the six
papers required. Specially designed for native speakers of Spanish.
Students will be assigned work to correspond with their level of
competence.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Native or near-native fluency in Spanish
Core I
SPA 404A Special Topics: The Novel of the Mexican Revolution
Presents the ideological, social and historical background of the 1910
Revolution and its continuous influence in the development of Mexican
Literature. Novels to be read include Mariano Azuela's The Underdogs and
Carlos Fuentes' Death of Artemio Cruz. Works of the muralist painters
Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros will also be presented, as well as the
music and lyrics of some popular Corridos de la Revolucion. This course
is offered in the Spring and alternates in different years with SPA
404B.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Native or near-native fluency in Spanish.
Core I
SPA 404B Special Topics: Literature and Politics
Analyzes contemporary testimonial literature mainfested in all kinds of
texts, from comic books and protest songs to novels, movies and plays,
since literature in Latin America has always come hand in hand with
politics. This course is offered in the Spring and alternates in
different years with SPA 404A.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Native or near-native fluency in Spanish.
Core I
SPA 488 Internship
Provides students with the opportunity to perform an internship to apply
the academic knowledge they have learned in the classroom.
3 credits
SPA 490 Independent Study
Allows students to study independently under the supervision of a
faculty member.
3 credits
SPA 499 Senior Seminar
Provides majors with a capstone seminar to synthesize their course
of study.
3 credits
Seminars
The Language & Cultural Studies Program offers the following
interdisciplinary seminars in English :
INT 373A Latin American Culture and Society :Central America
INT 373B Culture and Society in the Caribbean
INT 373C Latin American Culture and Society : Mexico
INT 407 Human Rights in the Americas
HUM 410 Cultural Identity
HUM 431 Don Quixote
Descriptions for these courses listed as HUM (humanities) and INT
(interdisciplinary) appear in the Interdisciplinary
Courses section of this catalog.
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