Course description
Major in Hispanic Studies
The program consists of 42 credits.
Majors in Hispanic Studies must take the following courses: SPA331a Introduction to Peninsular Literature, SPA332a Introduction to Spanish American Literature, SPA323a Spanish Linguistics I, SPA324a Spanish Linguistics II, and SPA325ab Advanced Spanish Grammar.
The Hispanic Section strongly encourages students with a Major in Hispanic Studies to spend an immersion semester abroad.
Major in Modern Languages
Majors in Modern Languages with the concentration in Hispanic Studies must take a total of 30 credits in Spanish. The following courses are required:
SPA 325ab Advanced Spanish Grammar,
SPA 331a Introduction to Peninsular Literature
or SPA 332a Introduction to Spanish American Literature,
SPA 323a Spanish Linguistics I
or SPA 324a Spanish Linguistics II.
Double Major French/Spanish and Education
Program requirements for students pursuing a double major in French/Spanish and Education may be found under “School of Education” in the Academic Calendar. All questions concerning courses and requirements should be referred to the Chair of the School of Education.
Minor in Hispanic Studies
The program consists of 24 credits.
Certificate in Hispanic Studies
(see also Regulations for Certificate Programs)
The program consists of 30 credits.
The Certificate in Hispanic Studies is designed to respond to part time students’ growing interest in acquiring proficiency in the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, given the importance of Spanish as a global language. Students may not be simultaneously enrolled in a Degree program and in the Certificate in Hispanic Studies.
Please note:
1. Students with a Major in Hispanic Studies, a Major in Modern Languages with the concentration in Hispanic Studies and students with a Minor in Hispanic Studies must take SPA201a concurrently with SPA203a, and SPA202b concurrently with SPA204b.
2. Independent Studies courses are only offered to students with high academic standing and in consultation with the professor.
3. Spanish courses fall into the areas of language, civilization and culture, linguistics, and literature. All courses are taught in Spanish. Third year course offerings will vary regularly over a two-year cycle.
In addition to their degree requirements, Majors and Minors in the program are strongly encouraged to take the international DELE exams (Diplomas de Español Lengua Extranjera) supervised by the Ministry of Education of Spain and the Instituto Cervantes. These exams test three levels of mastery of the Spanish language: Certificado Inicial, Diploma Básico, Diploma Superior. Examinations are held in May, at Bishop’s, which is an official Spanish Language Exam Centre in Quebec.
Language Courses
Spanish 100b Spanish Language I-II: Intensive Course 6-6-0
The course covers the contents of Spanish 101a and Spanish 102b in one semester. Language audio exercises are included.
No prerequisite
Spanish 101a Spanish Language I 3-3-0
The course is designed for students with little or no background in Spanish. Speaking skills are developed with an orientation toward real-life tasks and genuine communication. Listening trains the student to recognize words, phrases, and international patterns in spoken Spanish. The course includes language audio exercises.
No prerequisite.
Spanish 102b Spanish Language II 3-3-0
The course is a continuation of Spanish Language I. It is proficiency-based and includes an elementary survey of the basic categories of Spanish grammar. The general objective is Spanish communication. Language audio exercises are included.
Prerequisite: Spanish 101a or equivalent
Spanish 120a Spanish Language II-III Intensive 3-3-0
This course covers the contents of SPA102a and SPA201a in one semester. The course is designed for students who are able to communicate in Spanish but need additional exposure to the basic structures and functions of the language. Students may take SPA203a concurrently. Upon completion of SPA 120a, students will be allowed to take SPA202b and SPA204b. Language audio exercises are included.
Prerequisite: sufficient knowledge of Spanish
Spanish 201a Spanish Language III 3-3-0
The course is designed for students with a basic background in Spanish. The purpose of this course is to give a better understanding of the Spanish language. Emphasis is placed on using the acquired language. Students will be able to more easily communicate their own ideas and will enhance their written and oral communication. Language audio exercises are included.
Prerequisite: Spanish 102b or equivalent
Spanish 202b Spanish Language IV 3-3-0
An intensive review of the Spanish language. Oral and written exercises with attention to underlying structures lead to practice with complex structures in speech, reading, and writing. Language audio exercises are included.
Prerequisite: Spanish 201a or Spanish 120a or equivalent
Spanish 203a Spanish Practice I 3-3-0
This course is designed to complement the Intermediate Spanish Language course. Listening and reading comprehension will be improved through regular listening activities based on authentic texts and through the close reading of a novel. Grammar is presented using traditional exercises.
Prerequisite: Spanish 102b or equivalent
Spanish 204b Spanish Practice II
A continuation of Spanish Practice I. The course involves the review of difficult aspects of Spanish morphology and syntax. Expression will be improved through regular oral and writing activities.
Prerequisite: Spanish 203a or equivalent
Civilization and Culture
Spanish 311ab Spain: Civilization and Culture 3-3-0
The course examines Spain through its Roman, Arab, Jewish and Christian history, and through its literature, art, language and customs. The objective of the course is an understanding of present-day Spanish culture and society. The use of compact discs, CD-ROM and video will complement the information from the textbook.
Prerequisite: Spanish 202b
Spanish 313ab Mexico: Civilization and Culture 3-3-0
This course will focus on the different periods in the history of Mexican culture and society. Beginning with pre-Aztec civilization, the course will examine the political, economic and cultural organization that evolved up to the Spanish Conquest of the 16th century. The Mexican Baroque and succeeding periods will then be examined with particular emphasis on the structure and composition of the indigenous and Spanish populations. Special attention will be paid to this socio-economic context of each period, specifically those characteristics which led ultimately to the Revolution. Finally, the course will focus on the leading intellectuals of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the muralists, and the crucial events that have shaped present-day Mexico.
Prerequisite: Spanish 202b
Spanish 314ab The Central American Region and the Spanish Caribbean: Civilization and Culture 3-3-0
This course offers an overview of major historical movements involving political, social, economic and cultural developments. Emphasis is on the major achievements of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Central American countries.
Prerequisite: Spanish 202b
Spanish 317ab The Southern Cone and the Andean Region: Civilization and Culture 3-3-0
This course involves a study of the culture and civilization of the region from a variety of viewpoints: historical, literary, sociological, anthropological, and political. Emphasis is on the major achievements of Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile.
Prerequisite: Spanish 202b
Spanish 318ab Spanish Cinema 3-3-2
This course is designed to familiarize students with the Spanish Cinema and will consider the political, sociological and cultural context within which Spanish Cinema has developed. The course will examine works of film-makers who have contributed to the creation of contemporary Spanish Cinema, including, Buñuel, Saura, Pilar Miró, Almodóvar and others, Students will be required to watch films in addition to attending class.
Prerequisite: Spanish 202b
Literature
Spanish 330ab Major Hispanic Authors 3-3-0
This course offers a selection of representative works from the major writers and literary periods in Spain and Spanish America. Authors include Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Calderón, Galdós, García Márquez, Cortázar, Fuentes, Paz, Carpentier, and others. A variety of literary genres will be examined.
Prerequisite: Spanish 331a or 332a
Spanish 331a Introduction to Peninsular Literature 3-3-0
A course designed to cover the development of literature in Spain through selected readings with particular attention to the Twentieth Century. Such authors as Camilo José Cela, Miguel Delibes, Carmen Gaite, Ana Maria Matute will serve to develop reading facility and appreciation of the written language. Specific topics which arise from the readings will initiate discussions, oral expositions and compositions.
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Spanish 332a Introduction to Spanish american Literature 3-3-0
A course which surveys the development of literature in Spanish America with emphasis on modern authors. Included are works by such outstanding writers as Alejo Carpentier, Julio Cortázar, José Donoso, Carlos Fuentes, Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Rulfo. The course provides opportunities to develop reading facility and appreciation of literature through selected texts. Discussions and oral presentations on specific topics arising from the readings will help to develop oral fluency. Writing competence will be reinforced by compositions.
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Spanish 333ab Hispanic Literature and Films 3-3-2
This course is a survey of Hispanic cinema on literary masterpieces. Students will examine literary texts, scripts, and their screen adaptations. Writers and directors include Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Manuel Puig, Camilo José Cela, Edmundo Desnoes, Almudena Grandes, Luis Buñuel, Héctor Babenco, Carlos Saura, Pedro Almodóvar, Tomás, Gutiérrez Alea, and others.
Prerequisite: Spanish 331a or 332a
Spanish 334ab Spanish Caribbean Literature 3-3-0
This course explores how Caribbean literature in Spanish from countries such as Cuba, Porto Rico and the Dominican Republic is related to the history of slavery, colonialism and post-colonialism in the region. The course will focus on the influential role of ethnicity, gender and socio-political development in the formation and interpretation of texts. Authors may include Carpentier, Fernández Retamar, Rosario Ferré, Ana Lydia Vega and others.
Prerequisite: Spanish 331a or 332a
Linguistics
Spanish 321ab History of the Spanish Language 3-3-0
This course focuses on the evolution of the Spanish language from its origins to the present. This diachronic analysis will encompass linguistic aspects such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Spanish 323a Spanish Linguistics I 3-3-0
This course provides a general introduction to linguistics and to Spanish phonetics and phonology. The course will examine the articulation of Spanish vowels and consonants, the combinations of Spanish sounds, and variations of spoken Spanish. Students will also become familiarized with the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Spanish 324a Spanish Linguistics II 3-3-0
This course deals with Spanish morphology, syntax and semantics. Techniques such as diagramming and analysing rules dealing with morphology and syntax will enable students to better understand word formation and sentences. In semantics, they will consider the various meanings of Spanish words.
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Spanish 325ab Advanced Spanish Grammar 3-3-0
The main objective of this course is an intensive review of the more complex aspects of Spanish grammar for non-native speakers. The curriculum will cover specific areas of grammar: indicative/subjunctive, ser/estar, prepositions
Prerequisite: Spanish 204b
Seminars
Spanish 341b Seminar in Linguistics 3-3-0
Research and individual projects within an area of Spanish Linguistics.
Prerequisite: Spanish Linguistics I (Spanish 323a) or Spanish Linguistics II (Spanish 324a) or History of the Spanish language (Spanish 321ab)
Spanish 342b Seminar in Literature 3-3-0
Research and individual projects within an area of Peninsular or Spanish-American Literature.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Peninsular Literature (Spanish 331a) or Introduction to Spanish American Literature (332a)
Independent Studies
Spanish 315ab Independent Studies I 3-0-0
Individual study projects within an area of Spanish linguistics, literature or civilization.
Prerequisite: Spanish Linguistics I (SPA 323a) or Spanish Linguistics II (SPA 324a); Introduction to Peninsular Literature (SPA 331a) or Introduction to Spanish American Literature (SPA 332a).
Spanish 316ab Independent Studies II 3-0-0
Individual study projects within an area of Spanish linguistics, literature or civilization.
Prerequisite: Spanish Linguistics I (SPA 323a) or Spanish Linguistics II (SPA 324a); Introduction to Peninsular Literature (SPA 331a) or Introduction to Spanish American Literature (SPA 332a).
