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SPANISH
College of Arts and Letters

BACHELOR OF ARTS
MINOR
SUBJECT MATTER PROGRAM
MASTER OF ARTS
CAREER POSSIBILITIES
FACULTY
CONTACT
COMPLETE COURSE LISTING

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A working knowledge of Spanish will enable students to communicate with one of America's rapidly growing minority groups, as well as to benefit extensively from travel to foreign countries. Most course work lends itself to a practical acquisition of the necessary language skills for effective communication.

Course work at the upper division and graduate level is equally distributed among four areas: linguistics, culture, Peninsular literature, and Hispanic American literature. Students with career plans in teaching, bilingual programs, translation and diplomatic services, as well as careers in public service requiring knowledge of Spanish, will find a balanced curriculum available at Sacramento State. The programs in Spanish also serve those students who plan on continuing their studies at the doctorate level by providing a thorough academic background in the language.

Teaching credential candidates must also complete the Professional Education Program in addition to other requirements for a teaching credential. For details, students should contact the credential advisor in the Spanish program and the Teacher Preparation and Credentialing Office Eureka Hall 216, (916) 278-6403. Students interested in Bilingual/Crosscultural programs should also contact the College of Education (916) 278-6840 for more details.

Many students find that the acquisition of skills in Spanish is a valuable adjunct to their career goals in other areas such as business administration, public administration, international relations, etc.

Special Features

  • The Spanish curriculum offers the opportunity to study abroad in one or more overseas academic programs in Mexico, Costa Rica/Guatemala, Spain, and Peru, where total immersion in the Spanish language permits students to partake of the culture and to perfect their language skills within a Spanish ambience.
  • With a growing enrollment in the past few years, the Spanish program's reputation has been enhanced by its summer abroad programs as well as its Spanish language journal, Explicación de Textos Literarios.
  • The Spanish program sponsors the Iota Kappa Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish National Honor Society. A Spanish social club is also available to all students interested in the life and language of the Spanish-speaking people.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Study Abroad Program
Sophomore students having a "B" average overall are eligible to apply for admission to the CSU overseas study program in a Spanish-speaking country (Madrid, Spain; Granada, Spain; Mexico D.F., Mexico, or Lima, Peru) during their junior or senior years or during graduate studies. Spanish skills must be sufficiently developed to permit satisfactory performance in a Spanish- language university; planning from the beginning of the freshman year is advisable. For details, see the International Programs section of the Sacramento State catalog, and consult a member of the Spanish faculty about developing your language skills.

Summer Programs in Costa Rica/Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain

Also available for graduating seniors at high-school level, lower and upper-division, and graduate students at college and university levels, and teachers of Spanish, is a six-week study/residence/travel program in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Spain, Mexico, or Peru (6-9 units credit). For details write or call the Department of Foreign Languages, Sacramento State, (916) 278-6333.

REQUIREMENTS · BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE

Units required for Major: 42 plus a required minor
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

Note:
A minor is required with the Spanish major; consult an advisor.

A. Required Lower Division Courses

It is assumed that Spanish majors will have completed the equivalent of college level elementary and intermediate Spanish in high school, at a community college, or by completing SPAN 2B at Sacramento State, prior to beginning upper-division courses.

B. Required Upper Division Courses (36 units)

(3)

LING 130

Introduction to Language and Linguistics

(3)

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature (SPAN 47)

(3)

SPAN 101

Advanced Oral Practice and Vocabulary Development
(SPAN 2B or equivalent) OR

SPAN 142

Advanced Spanish Conversation (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 102

Phonetics and Pronunciation Practice (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 106

Advanced Spanish Composition (SPAN 103 and completion of all lower division requirements)

(3)

SPAN 110

Survey of Spanish Literature to 1800 (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 111

Survey of Spanish Literature, 1800-present (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 113

Latin American Literature, Beginnings to Modernism (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 114

Latin American Literature, Modernism to Present (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 152

The Civilization and Culture of Spain (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3) Select one of the following:

SPAN 153

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 156

Hispanic Folklore (SPAN 2B or equivalent)


C. Electives (6 units)

(6) Select two of the following:

SPAN 42

Conversation in Spanish (SPAN 2B or equivalent, or instructor permission)

SPAN 47

Introduction to Composition and Grammar Review (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 115

Magical Realism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 121

Spanish for Professionals (SPAN 2A or equivalent)

SPAN 123

Spanish Peninsular Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 130

Contemporary Mexican Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 134

The Short Story in Latin America (SPAN 100)


D. Graduate Exam

All Spanish majors must receive a satisfactory score on the Graduate Examination (G-Exam), which is designed and administered by the Spanish area of the Department of Foreign Languages; students should have completed SPAN 142 or SPAN 101 (Advanced Conversation), SPAN 103 (Advanced Grammar), and SPAN 106 (Advanced Composition) in order to be eligible to take the exam, and should sign up for it in the Department of Foreign Languages office two semesters before graduation.

REQUIREMENTS · MINOR

Units required for the Minor: 20, 12 of which must be upper division courses

(3)

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature
(SPAN 47)

(3)

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

One course from the SPAN 150 series (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3) Select one of the following:

SPAN 101

Advanced Oral Practice and Vocabulary Development
(SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 106

Advanced Spanish Composition (SPAN 103 and completion of all lower division requirements)

SPAN 121

Spanish for Professionals (SPAN 2A or equivalent)

SPAN 142

Advanced Spanish Conversation (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SUBJECT MATTER PROGRAM (PRE-CREDENTIAL PREPARATION)

Spanish majors wishing to pursue a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Spanish should contact the Spanish credential advisor to have their transcript reviewed for courses currently required for the credential program and then have single subject competency assessed. Specific course requirements are the same as for the BA in Spanish plus successful completion of a proficiency examination in Spanish. The Single Subject Credential in Spanish is valid for teaching Spanish in grades K-12.

Teaching credential candidates must also complete the Professional Education Program in addition to other requirements for a teaching credential. Consult the department credential advisor for details. You may also obtain information about the Professional Education Program from the Teacher Preparation Credentialing Office, Eureka Hall 216, (916) 278-6403.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts program in Spanish affords an opportunity for specialized work in Spanish Linguistics, in Peninsular and Latin American literature, and in culture. The program is of particular value to those who plan to teach Spanish in the secondary school or at the community college level and to those who plan to continue work toward a doctorate in Spanish.

Many graduate students and teachers of Spanish, because of their teaching commitments and because they may live a great distance from a university campus, are unable to undertake course work leading to the MA during the regular academic year. To meet the needs of such students, California State University, Sacramento offers an MA in Spanish which can be completed primarily in three summers by taking courses in the programs abroad in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru or Spain. Students can complete up to 18 units of graduate-level course work during their three summers. Additional units may be taken on campus or transferred in from an accredited institution. Resident credit is available to out-of-state students in this program at no additional cost. More detailed information may be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator in Spanish.

The Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) is required for all graduate students at Sacramento State. This examination is given several times during the academic year. In case the student resides out of state, proof of having successfully completed the CLEP (College Level Exam Program) at a campus close to the candidate's residence must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, Riverfront Center 206, (916) 278-6470, in lieu of the WPE.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in Spanish requires:

  • a baccalaureate degree;
  • a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units attempted;
  • a satisfactory score on the Graduate Examination designed and administered by the Spanish Area of the Department of Foreign Languages. The student must take the Graduate Examination prior to entrance into any 200 series graduate course and must successfully pass the entire examination before being advanced to candidacy. The student may pursue graduate work while concurrently correcting any deficiencies noted as a result of the examination and must retake the exam sections failed only after the passage of one semester. Three-summer MA applicants will take the Graduate Exam during their first summer in the program and will retake any sections not passed during the second summer that they attend the program. Consult the Graduate Coordinator in Spanish regarding steps to complete this requirement; and
  • completion of the following Sacramento State courses (or equivalents):

 

LING 130

Introduction/Language and Linguistics

 

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature

 

SPAN 102

Phonetics and Pronunciation Practice

 

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar

One upper division course in Peninsular Literature
One upper division course in Latin American Literature
One upper division course in Hispanic culture

Students not meeting all these requirements may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status and work toward the MA degree while the admission requirements are being completed. (SPAN 102 and SPAN 103 may be met by challenge examination.) Units taken to remove admission requirement deficiencies do not count toward the MA program. Any such deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the admission application.

Admission Procedures

Applications are accepted as long as room for new students exists. However, students are strongly urged to apply by April 1 for the following fall or October 1 for the following spring in order to allow time for admission. All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies:

  • an online application for admission; and
  • two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.

At the same time, each applicant must forward to the Spanish Graduate Coordinator a transcript of all college-level courses attempted or a list of all courses attempted. Applicants should contact the Foreign Language Department for instructions on when and where to take the Graduate Examination, described above.

Approximately six weeks after receipt of all items listed above, a decision regarding admission will be mailed.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

  • removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
  • completed at least 18 units in the graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA, including at least four 200-level courses; and
  • passed the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) or secured approval for a WPE waiver.

The Advancement will list all of the courses presented for the degree and must be approved by the Spanish Graduate Coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies.

REQUIREMENTS - MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE

Units required for the MA: 30
Minimum required GPA: 3.0

A. Required Courses (24 units)

Note: Take at least one 200-level course in each of the following four categories; a minimum of 18 graduate level units required.

Latin American Literature

(6) Select two of the following:

SPAN 113

Latin American Literature, Beginnings to Modernism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 114

Latin American Literature, Modernism-Present
(SPAN 100)

SPAN 115

Magical Realism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 130

Contemporary Mexican Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 134

The Short Story in Latin America (SPAN 100)

SPAN 224A

Spanish-American Literature to 1825 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224B

Spanish-American Literature, 1825-1880 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224C

Spanish-American Literature, 1880-1945 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224D

Spanish-American Literature, 1945-Present (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

Spanish Literature

(6) Select two of the following:

SPAN 110

Survey of Spanish Literature to 1800 (SPAN 100)

SPAN 111

Survey of Spanish Literature, 1800-present (SPAN 100)

SPAN 123

Spanish Peninsular Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 220A

Spanish Literature in the Middle Ages (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220B

Spanish Literature in the Golden Age (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220C

Spanish Literature, 18th and 19th Centuries (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220D

Contemporary Spanish Literature (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

Hispanic Culture

(6) Select two of the following:

SPAN 152

Civilization and Culture of Spain (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 153

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 156

Hispanic Folklore (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 250A

Civilization and Culture of Spain (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250B

Civilization and Culture of Modern Spain (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250C

Civilization and Culture of Hispanic America (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250D

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

Linguistics

(6) Select two of the following:

SPAN 201A

General Spanish Linguistics (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201B

History of the Spanish Language (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201C

Contrastive Grammatical Structures of Spanish and English (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201D

Applied Spanish Linguistics (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

B. Other Course Requirements (2-6 units)

Select 2-6 units of Spanish courses or a related field in consultation with the Spanish Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator will coordinate the examination process with the faculty involved.

C. Culminating Requirement (3-4 units) (Thesis, Project, or Comprehensive Exam)

(3-4) SPAN 500 Culminating Experience

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

International Business Personnel · Trade and Commerce · Export/Import · Interpreter/Translator · Banking Representative · Buyer/Sales Representative · Foreign/Diplomatic Service · Airlines Personnel · Travel Industry · Media Personnel/Foreign Correspondent · Public Relations · U.S. Immigration/Customs · U.S. Information Agency · Peace Corps · Language Teacher · Bilingual/Foreign Secretary · Foreign Publications/Textbook Editor · Research Assistant · Bilingual: Counselor, Social Worker, Civil Service, Law Enforcement Officer, Medical/Health Worker, Realtor, IRS/Franchise Tax Board · Court Interpreter

FACULTY

Fausto Avendaño, Edward Baranowski, Mario Blanc, Wilfrido Corral, Joseph Klucas, Maria Mayberry, Kathy Moore, Jorge Santana, Mariela Santana

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Wilfrido Corral, Department Chair
  • Melonie Williams, Administrative Support Coordinator
  • Mariposa Hall 2051
  • (916) 278-6333
  • www.csus.edu/fl

 

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