Spanish Undergraduate Program

The Spanish major is flexible and designed to allow you to satisfy your intellectual curiosity. While all majors study Spanish language through the advanced levels, you will also have the opportunity to select from over 75 courses to accommodate your specific needs and interests. Students can choose from classes in literature, culture, business Spanish, translation, cross-cultural communication, and linguistics. The department also offers courses for heritage and native speakers. Spanish can also be combined with a second major such as international business, criminal justice, government and politics, journalism, sociology, or psychology. Professional careers in the legal, health, and science fields can also be combined with Spanish.

Our undergraduate majors graduate with the awareness of the international opportunities that await them, whether they undertake further specialized studies in literature, language, and, culture, or pursue opportunities in other fields such as education, public service, business, law, environmental policies, social services, medicine, or the arts.

Advising

The Undergraduate Advisor for Spanish, Karen Krausen, is available in 2211 Jiménez Hall to answer all questions related to the Spanish Undergraduate Program. To ensure fulfillment of all of the departmental requirements for graduation, it is suggested that all Spanish majors confer with the advisor every semester. Walk-in advising hours for Karen Krausen during the fall and spring semesters:
MON 9:30 - 10:00, 11:00-12:00, 1:00-3:00
TUES 10:30 - 12:00, 1:00 - 3:00
WED 9:30 - 10:00, 11:00-12:00, 1:00-3:00
FRI 9:30 - 10:00, 11:00-12:00, 1:00-2:00

Declaring a major in Spanish

To declare a major in Spanish, students should meet with the Undergraduate Advisor to begin the process. After this advising session, prospective majors will also need advising from the College of Arts And Humanities in 1120 Francis Scott Key.

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish

Requirements for the Major

The undergraduate major in Spanish Language, Literatures, and Cultures consists of 36 credits of coursework beyond the intermediate prerequisite level, with an additional supporting area (nine credits). All students will take a core of four courses and a three course literature/culture sequence focused on Spain or Latin America; the remaining coursework will come from one of three options: Literature and Culture, Linguistics and Culture, Language and Culture in Professional Contexts.

Prerequisites: 11 credits (or equivalent knowledge)
Note: Students who receive a grade of B+ or above in SPAN203 can proceed directly to SPAN207.

SPAN103 Intensive Elementary Spanish (4 credits)
SPAN203 Intensive Intermediate Spanish (4 credits)
SPAN204 Review of Spanish Grammar (3 credits)

Core sequence: 21 credits (required for all three options)

SPAN207	Reading and Writing	Prereq: SPAN203 with a grade of B+ or higher or SPAN204 or concurrent SPAN204; or equivalent knowledge	3
SPAN301	Advanced Grammar & Composition I	Prereq: SPAN207 or concurrent 207	3
SPAN302	Advanced Grammar&Composition II	Prereq: SPAN301	3
SPAN303	Approaches to Cultural Materials in the Hispanic World	Prereq: SPAN207	3
SPAN331 and	Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature I: Medieval Times	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303	9
SPAN332 and	Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature II: Renaissance and Baroque	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303
SPAN333	Spanish Culture, Civilization and Literature III: Modern Times	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303
SPAN 361 and	- or - Latin American Literatures and Cultures I: From Pre-Columbian to Colonial	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303	9
SPAN362 and	Latin American Literatures and Cultures II: From Independence to Nation Formation	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303
SPAN363	Latin American Literatures and Cultures III: From Modernism to Neo-liberalism	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303

Literature and Culture option: 15 credits. This option provides greater expertise in Spanish or Latin American literature and culture (three 400-level courses minimum). Students can choose either 2 commercial Spanish classes OR 2 translation classes OR two additional 400-level literature classes.

SPAN 4xx SPAN4xx	Two 400 level courses in Spanish or Latin American Literature and Culture -- or --	prereq: one from SPAN331, 332, 333, 361, 362, 363 literature sequence above	6
SPAN316 SPAN318	Practicum in Translation I Translation of Technical Texts -- or --	Prereq: SPAN301and SPAN303 Prereq: SPAN316
SPANxx SPANxx SPANxx	Three 400 level courses in Spanish or Latin American Literature and Culture	Prereq: one from SPAN331, 332, 333,361, 362, 363 literature sequence above	9

Linguistics and Culture option: 15 credits. This option provides greater expertise in Hispanic linguistics (three upper-level courses). Language and Culture in Professional Contexts This option combines business courses with translation courses to provide a better understanding of professional language contexts.

SPAN310	Spanish Phonetics	Prereq: SPAN301 and SPAN303	3
SPAN425 &	Intro Hispanic Linguistics I	Prereq: SPAN301 and SPAN303	3
SPAN426	Intro Hispanic Linguistics II	Prereq: SPAN425	3
SPANxx and SPANxx	Two 400 level courses in Spanish or Latin American Literature and Culture*	Prereq: one from SPAN331, 332, 333,361, 362, 363 literature sequence above	6 15

**The approved program in Spanish and Secondary Education requires 2 upper-level courses in literature/culture along with the three linguistics courses this option provides.

Language and Culture in Professional Contexts: 15 credits. This option combines business courses with translation courses to provide a better understanding of professional language contexts.

SPAN315 &	Commercial Spanish I	Prereq: SPAN301 and 303	3
SPAN415	Commercial Spanish II	Prereq: SPAN315	3
SPAN316 &	Practicum in Translation I	Prereq:SPAN301 & 303	3
SPAN318	Translation of Technical Texts	Prereq: SPAN316	3
SPAN422 or	Cross-cultural Communication -- or --	Prereq: SPAN315	3
SPAN4xx	one 400-level course in Spanish or Latin American Literature and Culture	Prereq: one from SPAN331, 332, 333,361, 362, 363 literature sequence

Supporting Area: 9 credits in a single area other than Spanish, 6 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level, all with the approval of the Spanish advisor. Students should discuss their choice of supporting area with the Spanish advisor early on in their Spanish studies.

Courses for Heritage Learners: Heritage learners and students from homes where Spanish is spoken or who have had in-depth exposure to Spanish take a series of courses designed to enhance their skills:

SPAN206	Review of Oral and Written Spanish for Native Speakers Educated in the US	Prereq: Native or near native knowledge of oral Spanish and no formal education in Spanish
SPAN306	Spanish II for Native Speakers	Prereq: SPAN306
SPAN307	Oral Communication Skills for Native Speakers of Spanish	Prereq:Native or near native knowledge of oral Spanish and no formal education in Spanish

Placement in courses for heritage learners is determined by speaking with the Spanish advisor.
Native speakers and all others with the ability to begin coursework at a higher level should speak with the undergraduate advisor for course substitutions.

Study Abroad

All students majoring in Spanish Language, Literatures, and Cultures are encouraged to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking environment. The program advisor will review all proposed course sequences before the study abroad experience and determine equivalencies after official transcripts have been received by UM (students should expect to present samples of work done abroad to advisor).

Double Major/Double Degree

A student may wish to fulfill the major requirements in two chosen fields. If the two majors do not belong to the same College, the requirements of both Colleges must be met. The courses for the other major will fulfill the Spanish Supporting Courses requirement. A double major may be earned with completion of all requirements and a total of 120 credits. A double degree may be awarded with completion of all requirements and a total of 150 credits. The student must decide on a primary and a secondary major. Academic decisions for each student are made by the primary College.

Combination of the Spanish Major and Teacher's Certification

Students may combine the Spanish Linguistics Option with a second major in Foreign Language Education to earn teacher certification. Students must take the California Achievement Test to become eligible for admission to the College of Education. Information and Declaration of Major Forms can be found in room 1210 of the Benjamin Building. A graduate program in Education for teacher certification is available to students who receive a B.A. in Spanish from our Department.

Departmental Honors

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese encourages Spanish majors to consider adding an honors option to their plan of studies. The Spanish Honors Program provides students with an exciting opportunity to develop an area of special interest in consultation with faculty members. There are many reasons to opt for Honors besides the intellectual challenge. An Honors Student is offered a foretaste of graduate school, while enhancing his/her academic standing as an undergraduate. The B.A. diploma will carry the citation "With Honors" or "With High Honors". The Honors distinction enhances chances for nomination for the Dean's Senior Scholar Award and is a solid recommendation for acceptance into the UMCP Language House. These are just a few of the benefits which participation in Honors offers you.

Eligibility

Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.5 in the major and must be recommended by a member of the regular faculty to be accepted into the Departmental Honors Program. To remain in the program, students must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.5 in the major. Transfer students with equivalent academic standing at an accredited institution must also meet these eligibility requirements. Under exceptional circumstances, these acceptance requirements may be waived by the Honors Director. Students may drop the Honors Program without losing any credits acquired. It is strongly recommended that progress towards the honor option program begin by the junior year.

Program Requirements

1) At least two upper-level courses must be taken either in the "H" version or as Honors with permission of the instructor.
2) In addition to those courses regularly taken for the major, the Honors student will enroll in Spanish 479 (Honors Thesis), for a total of 6 credits, split over two semesters.
3) Oral presentation of Honors Thesis in front of departmental committee.

Procedure

1) Contact the Departmental Honors Director (below) to communicate your intent to pursue the honors option after receiving the approval of a professor who will sponsor your candidacy. Be sure to bring your honors advising form with you.

Dr. Eyda M. Merediz
Jiménez Hall 2215H
(301) 405-6451
emerediz (at) umd.edu

2) Select two upper-level classes (ideally during different semesters) that you would like to apply towards your honors credits. This means that you must have a separate working agenda from the rest of class and engage in an individual research project. Then, take the following steps:

a. You must have the consent and approval of the professor teaching the class by submitting a written proposal of your research plan.

b. Download the Honors Option Contract Proposal. Fill in the information and sign it. Also have the professor with whom you are working sign the form.

3) You will write 35-50 page Honors Thesis during your senior year. These are the preparation steps:

a. Register in Span 479, an independent Honors Thesis course during the last two semesters of your undergraduate career (Total Credits 6).

b. Before entering your senior year, contact a faculty member with whom you have or hope to establish a mentor/mentee relationship. You will propose a topic of study in close consultation with the faculty member and begin to research your project.

c. You must turn in the final draft of your thesis during your last semester (December 1st or May 1st). This will allow sufficient time for scheduling an oral presentation before the last day of classes. The presentation takes place in front of a committee, consisting of your thesis director and two other members of the faculty. Grading will consist of either "honors" or "high honors".
d. In order to have the possibility of graduating with "high honors", you must complete the oral presentation requirement.

Portuguese Undergraduate Program

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers a minor in Portuguese. In addition, Portuguese studies at College Park offer several courses that can enhance students majoring in other disciplines: History (European, African and South American), Latin American Studies, Women Studies, Anthropology, Cultural Geography, Business, and many others areas that have links with the Portuguese-speaking world.

Students who have an advance knowledge of Spanish (300 level and above) could take advantage of the course Portuguese for Spanish Speakers, offered every Spring semester. Other offerings include: A History of the Portuguese Language, Luso-phone Africa, Brazilian Cinema, Women as Authors and Characters in Brazilian Literature and Environmental Issues of the Amazon Ecosystem, an interdisciplinary course in English, focusing on literary texts, Indigenous oral narratives and on social, political and economic factors of the Amazon Basin.

Learning the Portuguese language and literature as well as the richness of the culture will increase the possibilities of obtaining competitive jobs for future professionals in fields related to Latin America and Africa, European Studies, Comparative Literature and all the areas mentioned above.

Advising
The Undergraduate Advisor for Portuguese, Regina Igel, is available in 2215B Jiménez Hall to answer all questions related to Portuguese language, literature and culture.
Tel: (301) 405-6457. Fax (301) 314-9752 E-mail: ri@umd.edu