Introduction
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies offers a major and a minor in Spanish through a wide selection of courses about the language and cultural production of Spain, Latin America, and Latinx communities of the United States. Study abroad is strongly encouraged. Students planning to major in Spanish should consider studying during their junior year at Dickinson programs in Málaga, Spain, or in South America (Mendoza, Argentina); or in our partner program in Brazil. Generally, students study abroad during their junior year, although exceptional students are encouraged to obtain special permission to study abroad during their sophomore year. Permission may also be granted for seniors to study abroad during the fall semester.
Spanish and Portuguese Studies Minor
Portuguese and Brazilian Studies Minor
Courses appropriate for prospective majors
Flowchart for Placement Information
Flowchart for Those Retaking Placement Exam
Placement and Course Change Facts
All students who wish to take Spanish at Dickinson should follow the placement exam link on the Orientation page for instructions on taking the online placement exam. The department, upon having received the test score, will notify the Registrar of the student's course placement and the Registrar will enable the student to enroll in that course. (Students will see this information when they log on to Banner.) Students should take the placement test online before July 1.
Test scores and credits that may affect course selection.
Advanced Placement scores: course credit and/or placement
A student who has achieved a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Spanish will be granted credit for SPAN 201. Those students who wish to continue the study of Spanish at Dickinson MUST take the Dickinson College placement exam to determine appropriate course placement. To determine whether you need to take the placement exam, please refer to the Spanish Placement Test Flow Chart.
For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin.
Courses that fulfill distribution requirements
Language Requirement:
Completion at the intermediate level, SPAN 201 or above
Humanities (Division I B):
SPAN 225, 245, 280, 281, 325, 372, 380 (depending on topic)
Global Diversity:
SPAN 225, 252, 262. Other courses may hold this designation depending on topic.
U.S. Diversity:
SPAN 207, 225. Other courses may hold this designation depending on topic.
Writing in the Discipline (WID):
SPAN 215 (.5 WID) and SPAN 245 (.5 WID).
Completion of both 215 and 245 fulfills the WID requirement. These courses cannot be taken concurrently.
Suggested curricular flow through the major
Major: 11 Credits Required
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 215: Spanish Composition and Conversation
SPAN 245: Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
Four 200-level courses*
Four 300-level courses
Notes:
• *No more than four 200-level electives can be counted toward the major. Students may opt to take less than four at the 200-level and complete additional 300-level courses in their place.
• *Either SPAN 206 (Spanish for Business Professions) OR SPAN 207 (Spanish for the Health Professions) can be taken as one of the 200-level electives and can count toward the major, but not both. Neither SPAN 206 nor 207 is required for the major.
• Twelve credits are required for honors; students cannot count SPAN 550 for honors as one of their 11 required credits.
• Language: Only one course in English or Portuguese offered by the department may count toward the major. No FLIC option is required. For example, students may count toward the major either SPAN 225 (Panoramas I, taught in English) or SPAN 325 (Panoramas II, taught in English), but not both.
• Study Abroad: Up to four study abroad credits relevant to the major may be applied in a 1-semester study abroad program. Should a student spend a full year abroad, an additional credit relevant to the major may be applied. If a student couples Spanish 205 (Málaga Summer Immersion) with a semester abroad in either Spain or Argentina, Spanish 205 can count as a 5th credit toward the major. If Málaga Summer Immersion is coupled with a year-long study abroad program, it can count as a 6th credit. In all cases, Málaga Summer Immersion counts as one of the four permitted 200-level electives.
Honors: Honors can be attained by completing a 12th credit for SPAN 550 and by successfully defending the resulting honors thesis project.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Communicate proficiently in Spanish across spoken and written forms;
• Interpret and analyze a range of literary, filmic, and cultural texts from the Americas and Spain across a variety of historical periods;
• Develop intercultural awareness and appreciation of the diverse Hispanic world.
Four-Year Course Plan
The 4-year course plan would depend on a student’s placement level. The following is based on placement into 101:
First Year: Fall: 101; Spring: 102; 225
Sophomore: Fall: 201; Spring: 202
Junior: Fall: 215 AND 206 OR 207 OR Port; Spring: 245
Senior: Fall: 200-elective (i.e. 280) Spring: 200-elective (i.e. 280)
300, 300 300, 300
The following is an example based on placement into 201:
First Year: Fall: 201; Spring: 202, 225
Sophomore: Fall: 215; Spring: 245
Junior: Fall: Abroad – 3, 200-level Spring: 300, 300
1, 300-level
Senior: Fall: 300 Spring: Honors
Major completed fall of senior year; Honors could be obtained with a 12th credit for Span 550 in spring.
Honors
Spanish majors wishing to graduate with honors in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese should speak with the department chair during the fall semester of the senior year. Honors will be awarded to students who successfully complete a significant scholarly essay (normally thirty to fifty pages in length) and defend the work during an oral examination given by a committee of departmental faculty. This project should be done in close collaboration with a department faculty member and cannot be undertaken before fulfillment of the senior seminar requirement. Essays done for the senior seminar or other advanced course will often be the starting point for the Honors project. Detailed guidelines are available on the department's web page.
Opportunities for Off-Campus Study
Dickinson offers fall semester or full year programs at the University of Málaga, Spain. This program is intended to enhance and enrich the strong Spanish major the student has initiated on the Carlisle campus. Students wishing to study in Latin America may take advantage of Dickinson's South America program in Mendoza, Argentina. Dickinson also has a Partner Program in Brazil. Information is available from faculty in the Spanish department or the Center for Global Study and Engagement.
NOTE: Spanish majors studying abroad should carefully plan their course schedule with the assistance of their faculty advisor.
Honors
Spanish majors wishing to graduate with honors in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese should speak with the department chair during the fall semester of the senior year. Honors will be awarded to students who successfully complete a significant scholarly essay (normally thirty to fifty pages in length) and defend the work during an oral examination given by a committee of departmental faculty. This project should be done in close collaboration with a department faculty member and cannot be undertaken before fulfillment of the senior seminar requirement. Essays done for the senior seminar or other advanced course will often be the starting point for the Honors project. Detailed guidelines are available on the department's web page.
Independent study and independent research
This is an opportunity to explore individually an area of special interest to the student within the discipline. It is normally arranged through individual contact between the student and the professor involved in the semester preceding the actual project, and approved by the department chair.
Co-curricular activities/programs
The department's co-curricular activities include: (1) a Spanish Club, which is open to majors and non-majors alike, sponsored lectures, field trips, and other cultural activities, (2) the Spanish Table, held once a week in a private dining area of the Holland Union Building, where students and professors meet over dinner for conversation and informal discussions in Spanish, and (3) the Casa de Lenguas Romances, which offers a unique opportunity for the students to live in a Spanish-speaking environment, using the Spanish language as the main vehicle for daily communication.
International students from the University of Málaga and from the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina (where Dickinson students take classes when they study abroad) play a key role in these extra-curricular activities. These Overseas Student Assistants live in the Casa de Lenguas Romances and/or the International House during the school year, are in charge of the Spanish Table, and assist faculty with language courses and special events in the department.
Opportunities for off-campus study
Dickinson offers fall semester or full year programs at the University of Málaga, Spain. This program is intended to enhance and enrich the strong Spanish major the student has initiated on the Carlisle campus. Students wishing to study in Latin America may take advantage of Dickinson's South America program in Cuenca, Ecuador and Mendoza, Argentina. Dickinson also has a Partner Program in Brazil. Information is available from faculty in the Spanish department or the Center for Global Study and Engagement.
NOTE: Spanish majors going abroad should carefully plan their course schedule with the assistance of their faculty advisor.
Additional Remarks
Careers: Knowledge of the Spanish language and culture can be a major asset in professional schools and many positions in business and government. Most recent graduates in Spanish are currently employed in teaching, government agencies, social work, and private business. A number of our alumni are now doing graduate work in Spanish, and some have held teaching positions abroad. A list of careers of former Spanish majors is available in the Center for Advising, Internships, and Lifelong Career Development.
Note: Spanish and Portuguese Studies and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies (PBST) are one department but have been filed individually and alphabetically for ease of access.