Spanish Major

Description

As the nations of the world become more interconnected and interdependent, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that allows you to engage with the world in a more immediate and meaningful way. Spanish language and culture studies prepare you for future opportunities to compete and succeed in the global economy. Through interdisciplinary instruction and the development of intercultural understanding, our curriculum is designed to help you become proficient in Spanish and prepares you to reach your career aspirations in your chosen field of interest. We encourage our students to double major and to participate in study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries sponsored by the Center for Global Education and Engagement.

The Spanish major consists of 33 credits and enables students to acquire an advanced level of proficiency in the language. Literature and culture courses are designed to provide a historical, political and social overview of the Spanish-speaking world. All courses are taught in Spanish.

Recent Modern Languages and Cultures’ graduates have gone on to highly competitive Master’s and PhD programs in Higher Education Administration, TESOL, French Literature, and Counseling at recognized research universities. Others have joined the workforce as Bilingual, French, and Spanish elementary and high-school teachers in Rochester and around NY state, ESL teachers for adult learners, translators, interpreters for defense attorneys, social workers, law enforcement officers, and health professionals.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare this major.

Program Requirements

Students in the Spanish major pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete the corresponding degree’s requirements.

All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher. Courses with grades lower than “C” must be repeated.

Spanish majors must obtain their Spanish faculty advisor’s authorization to enroll in more than six credits of Spanish per semester or to enroll in online Spanish courses not offered at Brockport.

Spanish majors may earn between 6-12 credits from study abroad based on their placement level and other factors. Students should consult their advisor for specific details.

General Education Requirements (28-37 credits)

Major Department Requirements (33-42 credits)

1. 1. Prerequisites (0-9 credits depending on placement)
      
      • SPN 111 Beginning Spanish I*
      • SPN 112 Beginning Spanish II*
      • SPN 211 Intermediate Spanish I*
   2. Required Courses: (24 credits)
      • EITHER of the following two courses:
        • SPN 212 Intermediate Spanish II*
        • SPN 213 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish*
      • EITHER of the following two courses:
        • SPN 350 It’s All Debatable – Communication in Spanish
        • SPN 300 Spanish for the Professions
      • SPN 351 Compose Yourself
      • SPN 352 Mexico to Madrid: Hispanic World Today
      • SPN 380 Topics in Spanish Studies
      • SPN 381 Topics in Latin American Studies
      • SPN 461 Advanced Spanish Grammar
      • SPN 452 Guerrillas, Gays and Gangs: Outsiders in Hispanic Film
   3. Elective Courses: (9 credits)
      • Three Spanish courses at the 300 or 400 level. See course descriptions.

   *Indicates courses that meet both major and general education requirements. Transfer students should consult with their advisor regarding appropriate course credit if they took upper-division Spanish courses at another institution.

Additional Degree Requirements

• A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all required major courses.
• Completion of all college-wide degree requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

*Note: All outcomes for language skills (speaking, writing, listening, reading) are correlated to NCSSFL-ACTFL performance indicators for language learners. (National Council of State Supervisors for Languages)-(American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language)

Upon completion of a baccalaureate degree in Spanish, graduates will be able to:

1. Oral communication: Narrate and describe using a variety of time frames, extended discourse, and specialized vocabulary both for interpersonal communication and oral presentations designed for an audience.
   
   Advanced Mid-High: Students can express themselves fully not only on familiar topics but also on some concrete social, academic, and professional topics. They can talk in detail and in an organized way about events and experiences in various time frames; they can confidently handle routine situations with an unexpected complication; they can share their point of view in discussions on some complex issues; they can deliver detailed presentations, usually with accuracy, clarity and precision, on a variety of topics and issues related to community interests and some special fields of expertise.
   
2. Presentational writing: Narrate and describe in all major time frames with good control of aspect and a range of general vocabulary in writing for personal and professional needs.
   
   Advanced high: Students will be able to write extensively with significant precision and detail on a variety of topics, most complex issues, and some special fields of expertise.
   
3. Interpretive listening: Identify the main facts and many supporting details in conventional narrative and descriptive oral texts.
   
   Advanced mid: Students will be able to understand the main idea and most supporting details on a variety of topics of personal and general interest, as well as some topics of professional interest. They will be able to follow stories and descriptions of some length and in various time frames and understand information presented in most genres, even when not familiar with the topic. 
   
   
4. Interpretive reading: 

   Identify the main ideas and supporting details on topics from a variety of complex texts in areas of special interest or knowledge.

   Advanced high: Students will be able to easily follow narrative, informational, and descriptive texts. They will be able to understand what they read on most topics that deal with special interests, unfamiliar situations, and abstract concepts. They will be able to sometimes understand extended arguments and different points of view.
   
   
5. Intercultural competence: Analyze and evaluate key perspectives of the target culture within a comparative framework (i.e. comparing the target culture to their own or to a series of cultures) and connect them to cultural products and practices.
   
   
6. Critical thinking: Identify, analyze, evaluate, and create arguments (reasons, claims, pros and cons, etc.); accurately interpret evidence; analyze and evaluate alternate points of view; justify procedures; and draw conclusions based on where evidence and reason lead.