Goals for Spanish Majors and Minors
Majors in Spanish should be able to demonstrate proficiency in interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication and basic knowledge of linguistics, cultural studies, or translation, depending on their chosen track. Majors should be able to carry out conversations in which they can describe, compare, and contrast, in all tenses (present, past, and future), with an appropriate breadth of vocabulary and register; to be understood by a nonsympathetic listener; and to read and write documents written in academic, formal, and/or literary registers of language.
Majors should be able to conduct research projects according to the methodologies of the humanities, social, or cognitive sciences and demonstrate intercultural awareness and understanding of the Hispanic world. Honors students will be able to complete independent research, write a thesis, and defend it before a faculty committee.
Spanish linguistics track majors will be able to demonstrate familiarity with basic concepts of linguistics, in particular with issues related to language contact and bilingualism and bilingual education, and be able to design and implement a research project.
Spanish translation/interpreting track majors will be able to demonstrate proficiency at the levels required by preprofessional and professional training for employment in legal, medical, and commercial translation, and in other areas.
Spanish literature and culture track majors will be able to demonstrate knowledge of current issues and perspectives in literary and cultural studies in Spanish and the fundamental body of works in Spanish literature and culture; critically analyze verbal and visual texts; and demonstrate familiarity with a range of cultural works from different time periods and geographical regions within the Spanish-speaking world and with the historical phenomena and sociocultural issues that these works negotiate.
Minors in Spanish will be able to demonstrate a level of language proficiency that allows basic conversations on a variety of uncomplicated topics, with basic command of the language, and some spontaneous creative ability; and basic familiarity with the main cultural, literary, and linguistic issues of the Hispanic world.
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