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Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Spanish Language & Hispanic Cultures, B.A.

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The ability to communicate with Spanish speakers and appreciate Hispanic cultures gives you a tremendous advantage in a wide range of careers. Whether on the job or in your community, your Spanish language competency and cultural understanding can help you establish valuable connections in the inter-dependent global community.

Students will attain an advanced level of proficiency in Spanish according to the criteria of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) guidelines. Students will also acquire a reasonable understanding and knowledge of Hispanic cultures through the study of literature, history, art, social science, philosophy, etc. in a variety of courses taught in Spanish and English. As students plan their programs, they select a specific area of concentration (literature, culture, linguistics) in which to acquire a deeper knowledge relative to their particular interests and goals. Additionally, students will engage in real-life learning via their service learning experiences where they will have opportunities to work with public and private agencies on projects that integrate their language skills with community needs. Finally, in students’ Senior Capstone projects they will have the opportunity to demonstrate thorough understanding of a topic of interest to them.

The program prepares graduates for successful careers as professionals in teaching, business and technology, travel, tourism, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and for graduate study in hispanic languages and literatures, Chicano/Latino studies, linguistics, translation and interpretation, TESOL, or focused international disciplines such as policy, management and business.

Required Courses

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your General Education  and university requirements .

Students are expected to be proficient up to the Spanish 201 level (or equivalent) prior to beginning their major coursework. Students must complete all course prerequisites with a grade of C- or above.

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1 Language Proficiency

Students are able to communicate effectively in Spanish in three modes: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational, and in a culturally appropriate manner in a variety of social and professional settings and circumstances at the Advanced Low level of language proficiency, according to ACTFL Guidelines

MLO 2 Linguistics

Students develop their knowledge of fundamental concepts in the fields of Hispanic and Applied Linguistics, and are able to apply them in the completion of research papers and data-driven small-scale research studies pertaining current issues in these areas.

MLO 3 Literary and Cultural Knowledge

Students develop a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions), and the cultural products - both tangible and intangible (for example, art, history, literature, music) - of Hispanic societies.

MLO 4 Secondary Culture Other than Hispanic Cultures

4.1 Students describe concepts of culture and use that understanding in their comparison of Hispanic cultures with a second culture other than those.

4.2 Students will analyze and make connections between the perspectives, ways of thinking, behavioral practices, and cultural products of a second culture other than Hispanic cultures.

MLO 5 Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion

Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Hispanic cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed personal understanding and new perspectives of Hispanic communities.

Note: Students develop intercultural communication skills and strategies, and learn to adapt and respond in effective ways. This MLO may be fulfilled by a study abroad experience or equivalent. Courses taken in a study abroad program may count toward another MLO. Students who choose Pathway 2 will be working on a community project to fulfill this requirement.

MLO 6 Research and Technology

6.1 Students gain knowledge of appropriate research methodologies and are able to apply them in their studies.

6.2 Students use appropriate technology in research studies relative to Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures.

6.3 Students collect, manage, and analyze current and emerging technology-based resources to develop and produce their scholarly work.

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