Hispanic Studies

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Professor Marina Pérez de Mendiola
Associate Professors Rita Cano-Alcalá, Jennifer Wood, Carmen Sanjuan-Pastor
Assistant Professor Arteaga
Visiting Assistant Professor Gustavo Buenrostro
 

The objective of a major in Hispanic Studies is to develop advanced language skills and to provide students with a broad and deep understanding of the literary, cultural and political traditions of Spain and Latin America.

Spanish is the most extensively spoken of the Romance languages. It is spoken on five continents by more than three hundred million people, and it is the second language spoken in the U.S., after English. To master Spanish is to acquire a tool that opens the door to multiple communities at home and around the world.

Lower division classes focus on acquiring oral and written proficiency in Spanish through the study of grammar, participation in communicative activities, and the reading of literary, cultural and current events texts. At the end of Spanish 44, students should be able to read literary and journalistic texts as well as communicate fluently with native-speakers.

Scripps provides a state-of-the-art language laboratory featuring computerized instruction, audiovisual programs and daily-news and cultural programs from Spanish-speaking countries via satellite.

Students in levels 33 and 44 also have weekly conversation group meetings with a native or fluent tutor.

Upper-division classes focus on analytical and writing skills through the reading and discussion of texts in the fields of literature, popular culture, art, politics and history. The upper-division classes take an interdisciplinary and theoretical approach and focus on historical background, art, music, cinema, political and gender issues, as well as cultural differences. Many of the classes include materials from Spain as well as Latin America, and are cross-listed with Chicano/a-Latino/a Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies and Humanities.

The department closely monitors the off-campus programs in Spain and Latin America in which our students participate.

All students wishing to enroll in Spanish courses must take the Language Placement Test. Only those students who have not taken Spanish in high school are exempt from taking the placement test and may enroll in Spanish 1 (Introductory Spanish).

Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill the language requirement in an uninterrupted sequence. In all cases, however, the language requirement must be completed by the end of the first semester of the senior year. See also Latin American studies for tracks other than literature.

Dual and Double Majors

Many students opt for a double or dual major in Hispanic studies and another field. Double majors are required to produce two theses, one for each major. The thesis for the Hispanic Studies major should be written in Spanish. Dual majors are allowed to write one thesis whose focus bridges the two fields. Dual majors may write the thesis in English, although they are highly encouraged to write in Spanish, second reader permitting. Students may also double count two courses toward their respective disciplines when pursuing double or dual majors. Study abroad is required.

Co-Curricular Activities

Every year, the Hispanic Studies Department chooses eight students to reside with a Spanish-speaking Language Resident from Latin America or Spain, in a specially designated Spanish Corridor (the location of which rotates yearly). The members of the Corridor form a close-knit community that not only speaks Spanish exclusively but also organizes cultural events throughout the year. The members of the Corridor form the core of the Spanish Club, which organizes activities for Spanish students of the five colleges throughout the year.

In addition, a weekly Spanish table meets in the Malott Commons.

Sigma Delta Pi

Scripps sponsors the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society that recognizes outstanding students of Spanish and has chapters at all the major universities and colleges in the United States. Prof. Jennifer Wood is the advisor for Scripps College.

Learning Outcomes of the Program in Hispanic Studies

Department Goals and/or Objectives

Goals are broad statements that describe what the program wants to accomplish

1. Speak and understand Spanish, as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
2. Read and write the target language.
3. Learn the important issues in one or more national traditions represented by the target language.
4. Use the target language to discuss, orally and in writing, literary and visual texts of the target culture(s) critically and analytically, with appropriate vocabulary.
5. Learn how to identify and incorporate appropriate sources in the target language in their research papers and presentations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes describe specific knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes students should demonstrate

SLO1: Students will be able to speak and understand Spanish at the advanced level.
SLO2: Students demonstrate proficiency, clarity and fluency in written expression. Students will exhibit knowledge of and the ability to think critically about the historical, cultural, and literary content of the course.
SLO3: Students demonstrate an understanding of the important issues in one or more national traditions represented by the target language.
SLO4: Students are able to use target language to discuss, orally and in writing, literary and visual texts of the target culture(s) critically and analytically, with appropriate vocabulary.
SLO5: Students are able to identify and incorporate appropriate sources in the target language in their research papers and presentations.
SLO6: Write a senior thesis that articulates a sophisticated argument about a text, series of texts or cultural or sociopolitical topics from the target culture.
 

Programs

• Courses in Hispanic Studies
• Hispanic Studies Major
• Hispanic Studies Minor

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