The Certificate in Spanish and Latin American Studies offers proficiency in the Spanish language as well as exposure to the literature and culture of Latin America and Spain. It is valuable to language teachers seeking additional language certification in Spanish, as well as to engineers, consultants, business people and others for whom language proficiency and cultural information are crucial for successful business operations in Spanish-speaking countries and the United States.

Required Courses: (2)
54.211 Spanish 3 and Culture - Available Fall 2009!
54.212 Spanish 4 and Culture - Available Fall 2009!

Elective Courses - Choose 4:
54.310 Spanish Civilization and Culture
54.313 Fieldwork in the Spanish Community
54.315 Latin American Civilization and Culture
54.320 Special Topics in Spanish Studies
54.335 Spanish Women Writers in Translation - Available Fall 2009!
54.401 Selected Authors
54.412 Short Story in Latin America

Course Descriptions

54.211 Spanish 3 and Culture
Reviews Spanish grammar and syntax with emphasis upon increased proficiency in aural comprehension and oral expression. This course is intended for students who have completed two years of high school Spanish, preferably during their junior and senior years, or for students who have completed 54.102 or for students who are unqualified for the 54.221, 54.222 sequence. 3 credits. Prerequisite: 54.102 or equivalent

54.212 Spanish 4 and Culture
A continuation of 54.211, which is a prerequisite, with emphasis upon continued development of comprehension and conversational skills. 3 credits. Prerequisite: 54.211 or equivalent

54.310 Spanish Civilization and Culture
Considers Spanish culture and civilization up to the present. Through audiovisual aids, current newspapers and selected readings, the student will explore the Spanish way of being, thinking, and living. Emphasis is placed on the main contributions of Spain to the Western world. 3 credits. Special Notes: Area II

54.313 Fieldwork in the Spanish Community
Involves individual assignments under the sponsorship of local service agencies servicing the Spanish-speaking community involving individual family and group contact. Written and oral reports will be in Spanish. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Corequisite: 54.212 or equivalent.

54.315 Latin American Civilization and Culture
Considers significant intellectual, artistic, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of Latin America from the beginning of its history. Through audiovisual aids and selected readings, the student will explore the Latin American way of being and expressing. 3 credits.

54.320 Special Topics in Spanish Studies
Focuses on a limited topic of special interest in culture, civilization, or literature. May be taught in English or in Spanish. Course content and approach will vary depending on instructor. 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

54.335 Spanish Women Writers in Translation
From a seventeenth century nun, to a turn-of-the century Countess, to women reaching artistic maturity under the Franco dictatorship, to the search for identity and meditations on universal themes by contemporary artists, this course will study major feminine voices in Spanish literature. At the same time, it will explore themes and concerns common to countless women writers regardless of nationality. 3 credits. Special Notes: AE; taught in English; requires MS Word

54.401 Selected Authors
Presents an intensive study of the works by a few Spanish and/or Latin American authors. 3 credits.

54.412 Short Story in Latin America
Provides an analytical examination of the thematic and linguistic structures in major Latin American short story writers such as Borges, Cortazar, Marquez, Rulfo. 3 credits. Prerequisite: 54.350 or permission of instructor.