Course Descriptions
SPAN 1015 Spanish on the Go
CREDIT HOURS: 3
SPAN 1015 is a hands-on, practical approach to learning Spanish. Students will gain a working knowledge of Spanish by engaging in communicative and task-based activities. The objective of this class is to facilitate students' functional ability in Spanish and to enable them to participate in various everyday activities when they are in a Spanish-speaking context.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
EXCLUSIONS: Cannot be taken for credit after SPAN 1021,
SPAN 1022 o
r any other 2000-level course.
SPAN 1021 Beginning Spanish I
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This introductory course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of Spanish. It focuses on developing basic communication skills through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will learn essential grammar and vocabulary while engaging in everyday topics such as greetings, personal information, daily routines, and preferences. By the end of the course, students will be able to carry out simple conversations, understand short written and oral texts, and write brief paragraphs about familiar topics.
NOTES: In order to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement in Spanish, students need to complete 6 hours of a single language within three semesters.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
EXCLUSIONS:
SPAN 1035.06
SPAN 1022 Beginning Spanish II
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course builds on the foundational skills developed in
SPAN 1021, expanding students’ ability to communicate in Spanish in a wider range of everyday situations. Through interactive and task-based activities, students will enhance their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while exploring topics like travel, past experiences, future plans, and opinions. By the end of the course, students will be able to participate in short conversations, understand more detailed texts, and write structured paragraphs.
NOTES: In order to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement in Spanish, students need to complete 6 hours of a single language within three semesters.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 1021 or equivalent
EXCLUSIONS:
SPAN 1035.06
SPAN 1035 Accelerated Beginning Spanish
CREDIT HOURS: 6
This intensive course combines the content of
SPAN 1021 and
SPAN 1022, offering a fast-paced introduction to Spanish for highly motivated students. It focuses on developing foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing through communicative and task-based activities. Topics include greetings, personal information, daily routines, past experiences, and future plans. By the end of the course, students will be able to engage in conversations on everyday topics, understand a variety of simple texts, and write clear, structured paragraphs. This course is ideal for students seeking rapid progress in their Spanish proficiency.
This course fulfills the Bachelor of Arts Language requirement.
NOTES: As a course worth 6 credit hours, this course fulfills the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 6
EXCLUSIONS:
SPAN 1021 and
SPAN 1022
SPAN 2005 Español Práctico - Nivel Intermedio
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The objective of this course is to continue developing the four language skills in a practical setting. This course is required for the Minor in Spanish Language and should be taken in the same academic year as
SPAN 2021 and/or
SPAN 2022. Students planning to take any of our programs abroad or the Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) (B1 level) will find the course particularly useful.
FORMAT COMMENTS: FORMAT: Pairs and group work
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES: Span 1022,
SPAN 1035, equivalent or instructor's permission
RESTRICTIONS: May not be taken after
SPAN 2022 or any Spanish 3000 level language course
SPAN 2021 Intermediate Spanish I
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course is the first step into intermediate-level Spanish, designed to improve students’ ability to communicate effectively in more complex situations. Through communicative and task-based activities, students will practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing while focusing on expressing opinions, narrating events, and describing experiences in detail. The course emphasizes practical language use and cultural understanding, preparing students to handle more advanced interactions and texts in Spanish.
NOTES: In order to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement in Spanish, students need to complete 6 hours of a single language within three semesters.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 1022 or
SPAN 1035 or equivalent.
EXCLUSIONS: Students who complete
SPAN 2021 may not enrol in 1000-level Spanish language courses.
SPAN 2022 Intermediate Spanish II
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course continues to build on the skills developed in
SPAN 2021, with an emphasis on refining communication skills across all modalities: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students will work on expressing ideas clearly and coherently, engaging in discussions, understanding detailed written and spoken texts, and producing well-structured compositions. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to navigate a variety of real-world scenarios and communicate confidently in Spanish.
NOTES: In order to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement in Spanish, students need to complete 6 hours of a single language within three semesters.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 2021 or equivalent knowledge.
EXCLUSIONS: Students who complete
SPAN 2022 may not enrol in
SPAN 2021.
SPAN 2035 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish
CREDIT HOURS: 6
SPAN 2035 is a combination of
SPAN 2021 and
SPAN 2022 into one semester. This course is designed for students with an elementary knowledge of Spanish but whose level of preparation is not sufficient to enroll in
SPAN 3035 Advanced Spanish I. Students with the equivalent of an A2 level, but highly motivated, can also take this accelerated course. This course will cover all aspects of the language and follows the B1 standard level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) that defines the competencies the students need to master in the following categories: Comprehension (Listening and Reading) and Expression (Interaction, Oral and Writing).
This course fulfills the Bachelor of Arts Language requirement.
FORMAT: Lecture
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 6
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 1022,
SPAN 1035 or equivalent.
EXCLUSIONS:
SPAN 2021 and
SPAN 2022
SPAN 2040 Spanish for Business
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Spanish for business and international trade. Introduction to the Spanish of international business and to the social cultural norms of negotiation in Spanish-speaking countries.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 2022 or equivalent
SPAN 2069 Mexico and Central America to 1979: From Conquest to Revolution
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Events in Central America are frequently covered in our media, causing people to believe that “the unrest” there is recent. This course seeks to examine the historical roots of the conflict from the colonial period until the 1970s. The aim of the course is to provide students with a background knowledge of this area, so that they can better understand current developments there.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2382.03
SPAN 2070 Mexico and Central America since: From Revolution to Drug Wars
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Following an examination of the indigenous heritage, and the colonial legacy of the conquistadors, the course deals principally with the contemporary period, examining the Mexican Revolution and its aftermath, Nicaragua under the Sandinistas, the impact of NAFTA, the "democracy" of Mexico, gang wars and narcotics, the U.S. role in the region, the human rights situation in Central America, and probable developments in the region. The course is designed to provide an understanding of the contemporary reality of this volatile region.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2383.03,
GEOG 2070.03
SPAN 2090 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Study
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will introduce students to literary analysis and critical writing in Spanish. Readings will include works from a variety of periods, genres and regions.
NOTES: Does not fulfill the literature requirement for any Spanish degree program.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 2022,
SPAN 2035, equivalent or instructor's permission
SPAN 2100 Evolving Spain: History, Culture, Society
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course provides an overview of the major historical, sociopolitical and cultural elements, from the Middle Ages to the present, that formed contemporary Spain.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary.
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2065.03
SPAN 2105 Catalan Language and Culture
CREDIT HOURS: 3
An introduction to Catalan, a Romance language spoken by approximately 8 million people in northeastern Spain (Catalonia and Valencia), southern France, the Balearic Islands, and Sardinia. This course offers an elementary foundation in the Catalan language alongside an exploration of Catalan culture and history.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
PREREQUISITES: Two years' study of any Romance language, or permission of instructor
SPAN 2109 Cuba from Colonial Times to 1961
CREDIT HOURS: 3
While many people are aware of the impact of the Cuban Revolution of 1959, few are aware of the kind of society that existed in Cuba beforehand. This course seeks to examine the historical roots of the country from the colonial period until the 1960's, with particular attention being paid to socio-cultural aspects. The objective is to provide students with a background knowledge of this country and its current reality.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2384.03
SPAN 2110 Cuba in Revolution, 1961- the Present
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Cuba, the only Communist society in the Western Hemisphere, has undergone a dramatic political and economic transformation. The Revolution has also brought about changes in education, the arts, the role of women, race relations, and athletics. The course focuses on the problems and achievements of the Revolution, the peculiarities of Communism in a Caribbean society, and its effect on literature and the arts. Particular attention is spent on the post-1990 period.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2385.03
SPAN 2130 Latin American dictators: From Fact to Fiction
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The history of Latin America since Independence has been characterized by the rise to power of countless dictators. Some of the best Latin American novels portray these almost mythical figures who to this day wield absolute power in many countries. The course examines the literature and history of this phenomenon with particular attention to the twentieth century, and attempts to discover its roots in militarism, underdevelopment, and imperialism.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary
CROSS-LISTING:
HIST 2388.03
SPAN 2150 Hispanic Identities Through Film: Memory and Marginalized Communities
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course focuses on the concept of Hispanic Identity, through the study of contemporary and historical sociocultural and geopolitical issues, as manifested in cinema from around the Spanish-speaking world. The study of memory and forgetfulness, marginalized identities and cultural and societal identity and other fundamentals will be central to this course. This course is an intermediate conversation course designed to advance skills in oral communication, intercultural competence, critical thinking skills and film analysis reinforced by grammar review and written assignments.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 2022 or equivalent
SPAN 2155 Hispanic Identities Through Film: Immigration, Exile & Globalization
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course focuses on the concept of Hispanic Identity, through the study of contemporary and historical sociocultural and geopolitical issues, as manifested in cinema from around the Spanish-speaking world. The study of immigration and exile, globalization and cultural and societal identity and other fundamentals will be central to this course. This course is an intermediate conversation course designed to advance skills in oral communication, intercultural competence, critical thinking skills and film analysis reinforced by grammar review and written assignments.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: This course includes lectures, discussions, group and pair activities. Students may also have opportunities to interact with native speakers outside the classroom through virtual exchange projects, online sessions, or face-to-face sessions within the department. These interactions will be part of the assessment and serve as one of the course's evaluation components.
LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 3
LAB HOURS PER WEEK: 0
TUTORIAL HOURS PER WEEK: 0
PREREQUISITES:
SPAN 2022 or equivalent
SPAN 2200 Evolving Latin America
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The aim of this course is to provide basic understanding of this varied and historic area. This course examines the development of Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present. It also examines the way in which the reality of Latin America has shaped a continental cultural identity.
FORMAT:
FORMAT COMMENTS: Conducted in English
PREREQUISITES: No prerequisite. Open to students in all departments. No knowledge of Spanish necessary.