Overview
A major in Spanish consists of at least 24 credit hours starting in SPA 202 for Second Language Learners or Spanish 208 for Heritage Learners. Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in every course counting toward the major, and with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in the major (see curriculum for course distribution). The major is designed to allow students to gain advanced linguistic, cultural, and literary competence in the communities that speak this language. Students learn with each course to understand, interpret, and analyze communication patterns and cultural products (new technologies, film, literature, etc.) from the geopolitical positions of the linguistic communities they study. This learning process also fosters a greater appreciation of the students’ own language, culture, and society. As part of the development of analytical and critical skills, students learn to build coherent arguments orally and in writing; to develop tools for the interpretation of various texts; to perform research and write critical papers; to find and evaluate sources of information; to heighten their sensitivity to the contexts of language, and to appreciate language as art. Students will also acquire a broad, structured knowledge of the relevant history, literature and culture in the target language. Finally, they will learn to carry out cultural comparisons and to view their own culture with new eyes.
You do not have to be a student of the College of Arts and Sciences to major in a modern language; you need only the approval of your college or school advisor and to complete the departmental requirements. If you wish to complete a double degree, consult with an Arts and Sciences Advisor.
Students with transfer credit hours must take at least 18 graded credit hours at or above the 300-level at the University of Miami, i.e., up to 6 credit hours may be transferred towards the Spanish major from another institution or non-UM study abroad program.
Spanish majors must take SPA 301 or SPA 307 (or equivalent), and they are advised to take this course as they start fulfilling their 300-level credit requirements. In consultation with their MLL advisor, students can have up to 1 course (3 credits) from among the MLL courses or SPA courses taught in English (numbered 310-319) count toward their Spanish major. Students must also take one pre-twentieth century course to fulfill their course requirements towards the major (SPA 353, SPA 354, SPA 363, or SPA 364). Only one professional Spanish course (SPA 432, SPA 433, SPA 434) will count towards the Spanish major, although students are free to take more than one.
Capstone Courses
The final course in the major is the capstone course (501) which must be taken in residence. This course will:
- Integrate the various skills acquired during the course of study (linguistic, analytical, knowledge-based);
- Incorporate interpretive as well as presentational modes of communication;
- Contain an over-arching and cohesive theme;
- Include an element of collaboration among students.
It will constitute a moment of recapitulation, synthesis, and reflection on a student’s experience in the major as well as a bridge towards graduate-level studies, should s/he decide to pursue them.
Study Abroad
Students completing a major in a modern language are encouraged to study abroad. The Department offers a faculty-led study abroad summer program in Spain. The Study Abroad Office (in Dooly Memorial Classroom, Building 1111, Memorial Drive, Suite 125) sponsors programs for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. It is also possible to fulfill some Arts and Sciences distribution requirements abroad. In order to take full advantage of these opportunities, students should visit Study Abroad early in their university careers, discuss course equivalencies with the Study Abroad Advisor for their chosen languages (contact the Department office for names and office hours), and consult with their major advisors. Credit hours toward the major for courses taken abroad will be determined on an individual basis.
Of the 24 credit hours required for the major, a minimum of 12 graded credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty (whether on campus or in faculty-led study-abroad programs). Since we encourage students to study abroad in UM-sponsored programs, up to 12 graded credit hours from these programs may be applied toward the major. As stated above, up to 6 transfer credit hours from other institutions may count toward the major. Whether these are credit hours transferred from another U.S. institution or from non-UM study abroad programs, transferred credit hours must be granted UM equivalency in order to be eligible to count toward the major. Please note, however, that the total number of combined UM study-abroad (exclusive of MLL faculty-led programs) and transfer credit hours shall not exceed 12 credit hours.
For example:
- A student may use 3 transfer credit hours with UM equivalency and 9 graded credit hours from a UM-sponsored study abroad program toward fulfillment of the major; the remaining 12 graded credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty.
- A student may use 6 transfer credit hours with UM equivalency and 6 graded credit hours from a UM-sponsored study abroad program toward fulfillment of the major; the remaining 12 graded credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty.
- A student may use 12 graded credit hours from a UM-administered study-abroad program not led by MLL faculty and 12 graded credit hours in courses taught by MLL faculty to fulfill the major.
Exceptions to this 12 credit hours rule may be made in cases where a student will participate in a UM-administered study-abroad program for a full academic year.
The Spanish major can fulfill either the Arts & Humanities or the People & Society Area of Knowledge.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| or SPA 208 | Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners | |
| SPA 203 | Advanced Spanish (Second Language Learners only) | 3 |
| SPA 301 | Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish (Second Language Learners) | 3 |
| or SPA 307 | Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish for Heritage/Native Speakers | |
| At least 9 credits must be at the 300-level. 1 | 9 | |
| At least 3 credits in a course focused on a pre-20th Century period, choose one of the following: | ||
| Colonial Spanish American Topics | ||
| 19th-Century Spanish American Topics | ||
| Medieval and Early Modern Peninsular Topics | ||
| 18th and 19th Century Peninsular Topics | ||
| At least 3 credits must be at the 400-level, choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Spanish Second Language Acquisition | ||
| Topics in Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Business Ethics and Cultural Debates in Spanish 2 | ||
| Medical, Cultural and Bioethical Debates in Spanish 2 | ||
| Legal and Cultural Debates in the Spanish-Speaking World 2 | ||
| Phonetics | ||
| Stylistics and Composition | ||
| Introduction to Translation | ||
| Cultural Debates: Public Speaking on Societal Issues | ||
| At least 3 credits must be at the 500-level. | ||
| SPA 501 | Capstone | 3 |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 101 | Algebra for College Students Not needed by students who place into MTH 113 | 3 |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities or People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| People & Society or Arts & Humanities Cognate (depending on which one is fulfilled through the major) 4 | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate 5 | 9 | |
| Additional Graduation Requirements | ||
| Language Requirement (3-9 credits) 3 | ||
| Minor | 15 | |
| Natural Science Course 6 | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing & Communication 7 | 3 | |
| Electives 8 | 45 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
In consultation with their MLL advisor, students can have up to 1 course (3 credits) from among the MLL courses or the SPA courses taught in English (numbered 310-319) count toward their Spanish major.
- 2
Only one professional Spanish course (SPA 432, 433, 434) will count towards the Spanish major, although students are free to take all three.
- 3
Students satisfy this requirement by the time they start the major with SPA 202.
- 4
If the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "People & Society", the student does not need to satisfy the requirement for a People & Society cognate.
- 5
If the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "STEM", the student does not need to satisfy the requirement for a STEM cognate.
- 6
This requirement is waived if the STEM cognate includes a Natural Science course from the approved list.
- 7
Students satisfy this requirement by taking four writing courses, at least one of which must be in one of the student's major disciplines, since all SPA courses above 202/208 are designated as writing (WRIT) courses, all Spanish majors satisfy this requirement by completing their major.
- 8
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation. Sufficient credits must be earned in electives to enable the student to complete this minimum of 120 credits. The exact number of elective credits required will vary depending on the number of credits needed to complete all other graduation requirements.
These Suggested Plans of Study are samples of four-year plans, but an individual student's actual plan is likely to vary from these sample plans in a number of ways, depending on such factors as (1) AP, dual-enrollment, and transfer credits that a student brings in; (2) the student's initial placement in composition, mathematics, and Spanish; and (3) the minor chosen by the student, as well as any additional minor or major the student chooses to complete. For example, a student is not required to complete a cognate in People & Society if the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "People & Society," and similarly, a student is not required to complete a cognate in STEM if the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "STEM."
Suggested Plan - Starting the major with SPA 101
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| SPA 101 | Elementary Spanish I | 3 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 102 | Elementary Spanish II | 3 |
| ENG 106 or WRS 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture or First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II | 3 |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I 1 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II 2 | 3 |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 203 | Advanced Spanish | 3 |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPA 301 | Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish | 3 |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Ideally through Study Abroad | ||
| SPA 302 or 303 | The Culture of Spain or The Cultures of Spanish America | 3 |
| SPA 321 | Introduction to Literary Themes 3 | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Pre-20th Century Topic Course, choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Colonial Spanish American Topics | ||
| 19th-Century Spanish American Topics | ||
| Medieval and Early Modern Peninsular Topics | ||
| 18th and 19th Century Peninsular Topics | ||
| SPA 394 | Spanish Internship | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 446 | Cultural Debates: Public Speaking on Societal Issues | 3 |
Or any other 400 level SPA course | ||
| SPA 501 | Capstone | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Suggested Plan - Starting the major with SPA 202 or 208
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| SPA 202 or 208 | Intermediate Spanish II or Advanced Spanish for Heritage Learners | 3 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 203 | Advanced Spanish (Second language learners only) | 3 |
| SPA 307 | Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish for Heritage/Native Speakers | 3 |
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II | 3 |
| ENG 106 or WRS 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture or First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish or Interpreting Literary and Cultural Texts in Spanish for Heritage/Native Speakers | ||
| The Culture of Spain or The Cultures of Spanish America | ||
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 322 | Cultural Topics 3 | 3 |
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Ideally through Study Abroad | ||
| Pre-20th Century Topic Course, choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Colonial Spanish American Topics | ||
| 19th-Century Spanish American Topics | ||
| Medieval and Early Modern Peninsular Topics | ||
| 18th and 19th Century Peninsular Topics | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 401 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
Or any other 400 SPA course 4 | ||
| STEM Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPA 394 | Spanish Internship 3 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPA 501 | Capstone | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Ideally through Faculty Led Study Abroad
- 2
This is the first Spanish course that counts towards the major.
- 3
Also satisfies Writing Credit.
- 4
Or any other 300 level SPA course also satisfies Writing Credit.
- 5
Students can opt to take SPA 302 and SPA 442 in Santander, Spain during the summer.
Mission
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures seeks to promote global literacy. All majors (French, German, Spanish) in the department are articulated through the notion of global literacy. In its undergraduate programs, the MLL Department’s mission is to provide rigorous instruction, speaker series, study abroad, research and service-learning opportunities allowing students to gain the advanced linguistic, literary and cultural competence needed as we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. Through our courses and co-curricular activities, students acquire a broad, structured knowledge of history, literature and culture in the target language; they develop analytical, critical, and communication skills; and they attain information and communication technology literacy needed in an increasingly complex and globalized society. Finally, they acquire intercultural competence and learn to view themselves through the lens of another language and culture.
Goals
- To acquire a broad, structured knowledge of history, literature and culture in the Spanish language.
- To develop analytical, critical, and communication skills.
- To attain information and communication technology literacy needed in an increasingly complex and globalized society.
- To acquire intercultural competence and learn to view themselves through the lens of another language and culture.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop oral communicative abilities in Spanish by the time they complete their major.
- Students will develop written communicative abilities in Spanish.
- Students will learn to reflect and critically think about language, literature, and culture, history, and politics of different societies by studying texts written in Spanish and writing about them.
