Director: Lucía Osa-Melero, Ph.D.
The Center for Hispanic Studies offers diverse curricula in Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Its programs are designed to give students competency in a modern foreign language of their choice and to expose them to a variety of cultures and literatures. Specialized language courses for business, the health professions and musicians are also available. In addition, courses in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese culture are offered. The Center provides its students with opportunities to advance their cultural competence and to build a strong skillset that prepares them as globally aware graduates for productive roles in a rapidly changing world.
Student placement in language courses depends on language background or performance in a placement examination:
1-2 years of high school language: Students take the placement examination to determine appropriate level (typically 101 or 102; possibly higher). Instructors may recommend placement above 101 based on student performance during the drop/add period.
3 years of high school language: Students register for 102; instructors determine during the drop/add period if student should go into 201. No placement examination required.
4 years of high school language: Students register for 102 or higher according to placement examination.
Students who have knowledge of a foreign language will find career opportunities in a variety of fields such as business and industry, education, foreign service, government, international law, social work and tourism. The Center contributes courses to the degree in International Relations along with the Departments of History and Political Science. Internships in the United States and abroad are encouraged.
Study Abroad
Students are strongly encouraged to spend a summer, a semester, or a year abroad in an accredited program with the prior approval. Information about a variety of program opportunities can be obtained from the Center director or the Center for Global Engagement. Contact the Center director for specific information on the DU/Villa Nazareth program in Rome, the summer study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain, the Valencia, Spain program and the Spring Break-Away program in Costa Rica.
Requirements for the Major
The department offers B. A. degrees in Spanish and Modern Languages. A dual degree option (B. A./B. S.) is available in conjunction with the Business School. It is recommended that majors include a departmental course in language, literature, or culture outside their area(s) of specialization.
Elementary courses do not count toward the major. Proficiency at the 302W/306W level respectively, or the equivalent, is the prerequisite for all other upper-level courses.
B. A. in Spanish: 30 credits. Required courses:
MLSP 301W and 302W or 306W: Spanish Conversation and Composition, 6 credits
24 credits of electives numbered 202 and higher. Students are encouraged to enroll
in courses in both Latin American and Peninsular Spanish literature and culture.
Requirements for the Minor
The Center offers a minor in French and Spanish. Each program consists of a minimum of 15 credits numbered 202 and above.
Learning Outcomes for Language, Literature and Culture: B. A. in Spanish
1. Control of Vocabulary
Students will reach a proficiency level
- at which their vocabulary is fairly extensive although primarily generic in nature except in the case of a particular area of specialization or interest
- at which they are able to use precise vocabulary to express meaning in most informal and some formal exchanges on a variety of concrete topics relating to work, school, home, and leisure activities, as well as to events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance
2. Reading Comprehension
Students are able to follow essential points of written discourse at normal speed. They are able to
- comprehend a variety of authentic, linguistically complex cultural and expository texts on familiar and unfamiliar subjects, such as descriptions, narrations, literary texts, news reports, biographical information, personal correspondence, routine business letters and simple technical material
- appreciate the basic aesthetic properties of language and literary style
3. Language Structure
Students will reach a proficiency level at which they
- have good control of a full range of grammatical structures, e.g., common word order patterns, coordination, subordination, cohesive devices
- are able to control language structure with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey the intended information
- demonstrate the ability to control all major time frames and show good control of aspect
4. Literature
Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- major authors, texts and literary movements in the target literature
- basic concepts of literary analysis
5. Culture
Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- major aspects of the history and civilization of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken
- major contemporary aspects of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken (political, social, cultural, etc.)
6. Listening Comprehension
Students will reach a proficiency level at which they are able to
- understand main ideas and most details of connected discourse on a variety of topics in different time frames such as interviews, short lectures on familiar topics, news items and reports dealing with factual information.
7. Writing
The department's assessment plan for Spanish in the area of writing follows the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. (ACTFL = American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012). Students will reach the Intermediate High/Advanced Low proficiency level. At these levels, students are able to meet most practical and basic work and/or academic writing needs.
8. Oral Proficiency
The department's assessment plan for Spanish in the area of oral proficiency follows the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. (ACTFL = American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012). Students will reach the Intermediate High/Advanced Low proficiency level.
9. Research and Information Gathering
Students in upper-division literature and culture classes will be able to
- locate and use appropriate primary and secondary sources, bibliographical materials
- use proper scholarly format for writing papers including accreditation of source materials
- prepare bibliographies of primary and secondary sources as required.
Learning Outcomes for Language, Literature and Culture: B. A. in Modern Languages
L1 = Language 1 (primary language for the degree)
L2 = Language 2 (second language for the degree)
L3 = Language 3 (third language for the degree)
1. Control of Vocabulary
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students will reach a proficiency level
- at which their vocabulary is broad but primarily generic in nature
- at which they are able to express meaning related to most routine tasks, straightforward social situations and when referring to some events of current, public, and personal interest or individual relevance
L3: Students will reach a proficiency level
- at which their vocabulary is limited and generic in nature
- at which they are able to express meaning concerning basic practical needs and tasks and predictable social situations
2. Reading Comprehension
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students are able to follow some essential points of written discourse. They are
able to
- comprehend a variety of authentic, straightforward cultural and expository texts on familiar subjects, such as descriptions, narrations, literary texts, news reports, biographical information, personal correspondence, routine business letters and simple technical material
- appreciate some of the basic aesthetic properties of language and literary style
L3: Students are able to follow basic points of written discourse. They are able to
- comprehend limited, simple authentic texts on familiar subjects, such as descriptions, narrations, literary texts, news reports, biographical information, personal correspondence, routine business letters and simple technical material.
- appreciate some obvious aesthetic properties of language and literary style.
3. Language Structure
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students will reach a proficiency level at which they
- have good control of a variety of grammatical structures, e.g., common word order patterns, coordination, subordination, cohesive devices
- are able to control language structures with some accuracy, clarity and precision to convey the intended information
- demonstrate the emerging ability to control time frames aspect
L3: Students will reach a proficiency level at which they
- have control of a limited range of basic grammatical structures
- are able to control basic language structures with limited accuracy, clarity and precision
4. Literature
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- notable major authors, texts and literary movements in the target literature
- some basic concepts of literary analysis
L3: Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- a limited range of major authors, texts and literary movements in the target literature
- some basic concepts of literary analysis
5. Culture
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- a wide range of the major aspects of the history and civilization of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken
- a wide range of the major contemporary aspects of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken (political, social, cultural, etc.)
L3: Students are expected to demonstrate familiarity with
- some of the major aspects of the history and civilization of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken.
- some of the major contemporary aspects of a variety of countries in which the target language is spoken (political, social, cultural, etc.)
6. Listening Comprehension
L1: Same as B. A. in Spanish
L2: Students will reach a proficiency level at which they are able to
- understand main ideas and some details of connected discourse on a variety of topics in different time frames such as interviews, short lectures on familiar topics, news items and reports dealing with factual information
L3: Students will reach a proficiency level at which they are able to
- understand a limited range of main ideas and details of connected discourse on a variety of topics in different time frames such as interviews, short lectures on familiar topics, news items and reports dealing with factual information
7. Writing
The department's assessment plan for Modern Languages in the area of writing follows the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. (ACTFL = American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012).
L1: Students will reach the Intermediate High proficiency level
L2: Students will reach the Intermediate Mid proficiency level
L3: Students will reach the Intermediate Low proficiency level
8. Oral Proficiency
The department's assessment plan for Modern Languages in the area of oral proficiency follows the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. (ACTFL = American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012).
L1: Students will reach the Intermediate High proficiency level
L2: Students will reach the Intermediate Mid proficiency level
L3: Students will reach the Intermediate Low proficiency level
9. Research and Information Gathering
Students in upper-division literature and culture classes will be able to:
- locate and use appropriate primary and secondary sources, bibliographical materials.
- use proper scholarly format for writing papers including accreditation of source materials.
- prepare bibliographies of primary and secondary sources as required.