Spanish and Portuguese Advising

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

Placement test

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

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:

The following is an example based on placement into 201:

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 Studies should speak with the department chair during the fall semester of the senior year about completing SPAN 550 in addition to the eleven courses required for the major. 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.