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University Catalog

SPANISH

College of Arts and Letters

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A working knowledge of Spanish will enable students to communicate with one of America's rapidly growing minority groups, as well as to benefit extensively from travel to foreign countries. Most coursework lends itself to a practical acquisition of the necessary language skills for effective communication.

Coursework at the upper division and graduate level is equally distributed among four areas: linguistics, culture, Peninsular literature, and Hispanic American literature. Students with career plans in teaching, bilingual programs, translation and diplomatic services, as well as careers in public service requiring knowledge of Spanish, will find a balanced curriculum available at Sacramento State. The programs in Spanish also serve those students who plan on continuing their studies at the doctorate level by providing a thorough academic background in the language.

Students interested in Bilingual/Crosscultural programs should also contact the College of Education (916) 278-6840 for more details.

Many students find that the acquisition of skills in Spanish is a valuable adjunct to their career goals in other areas such as business administration, public administration, international relations, etc.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Study Abroad Programs

Students having a 2.75 GPA average overall are eligible to apply for admission to the CSU International Programs in a Spanish-speaking country such as Chile, Mexico, or Spain for their junior or senior years or during graduate studies. Spanish skills must be sufficiently developed to permit satisfactory performance in a Spanish- language university; planning from the beginning of the freshman year is advisable. Programs are also available for beginning students in Spain and Mexico. For details, contact International Programs and Global Engagement and consult a member of the Spanish faculty about developing your language skills.

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 42
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
All Spanish majors must earn a grade of "C" or better in all courses counted toward the major.

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Required Lower Division Courses

It is assumed that Spanish majors will have completed the equivalent of college level elementary and intermediate Spanish in high school, at a community college, or by completing SPAN 2B at Sacramento State, prior to beginning upper-division courses.

B. Required Upper Division Courses (36 units)

(3)

LING 130

Introduction to Language and Linguistics

(3)

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature (SPAN 47)

(3)

SPAN 101

Advanced Oral Practice and Vocabulary Development (SPAN 2B or equivalent) OR

SPAN 142

Advanced Spanish Conversation (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 102

Phonetics and Pronunciation Practice (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

SPAN 106

Advanced Spanish Composition (SPAN 103 and completion of all lower division requirements)

(3)

SPAN 110

Survey of Spanish Literature to 1800 (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 111

Survey of Spanish Literature, 1800-Present (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 113

Latin American Literature, Beginnings to Modernism (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 114

Latin American Literature, Modernism to Present (SPAN 100)

(3)

SPAN 152

The Civilization and Culture of Spain (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

Select one of the following (3 units):

SPAN 151

Civilization and Culture of Hispanic America (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 153

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 156

Hispanic Folklore (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

C. Electives (6 units)

Select two of the following:

SPAN 42

Conversation in Spanish (SPAN 2B or equivalent, or instructor permission)

SPAN 47

Introduction to Composition and Grammar Review (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 115

Magical Realism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 121

Spanish for Professionals (SPAN 2A or equivalent)

SPAN 123

Topics in Spanish Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 130

Contemporary Mexican Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 134

The Short Story in Latin America (SPAN 100)

Requirements - Minor

Units required for Minor: 20; Twelve units must be upper division courses
Minimum total units required for BA: 120
All Spanish minors must earn a grade of "C" or better in all courses counted toward the minor
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

(3)

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature (SPAN 47)

(3)

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

(3)

One course from the SPAN 150 series (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

Select one of the following (3 units):

 

SPAN 101

Advanced Oral Practice and Vocabulary Development (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

 

SPAN 106

Advanced Spanish Composition (SPAN 103 and completion of all lower division requirements)

 

SPAN 121

Spanish for Professionals (SPAN 2A or equivalent)

 

SPAN 142

Advanced Spanish Conversation (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

Subject Matter Program (Pre-Credential Preparation)

Spanish majors wishing to pursue a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Spanish should contact the Spanish credential advisor to have their transcript reviewed for courses currently required for the credential program and then have single subject competency assessed. Specific course requirements are the same as for the BA in Spanish plus successful completion of a proficiency examination in Spanish. The Single Subject Credential in Spanish is valid for teaching Spanish in grades K-12.

Teaching credential candidates must also complete the Professional Education Program in addition to other requirements for a teaching credential. Consult the department credential advisor for details. You may also obtain information about the Professional Education Program from the Teacher Preparation Credentialing Office, Eureka Hall 216, (916) 278-6403.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts program in Spanish affords an opportunity for specialized work in Spanish linguistics, Peninsular and Latin American Literature, and in the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The program is of particular value to those who plan to teach Spanish at the secondary school level  (or already do so) or in a  community college, and to those who plan to continue working toward a doctorate in Spanish.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in Spanish requires:

  • a baccalaureate degree;
  • a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units attempted;
  • a satisfactory score on the Graduate Examination designed and administered by the Spanish Area of the Department of World Languages and Literatures. The student must take the Graduate Examination prior to entrance into any 200 series graduate course and must successfully pass the entire examination before being advanced to candidacy. The student may pursue graduate work while concurrently correcting any deficiencies noted as a result of the examination and must retake the exam sections failed only after the passage of one semester. Three-summer MA applicants will take the Graduate Exam during their first summer in the program and will retake any sections not passed during the second summer that they attend the program. Consult the Graduate Coordinator in Spanish regarding steps to complete this requirement; and
  • completion of the following Sacramento State courses (or equivalents):

 

LING 130

Introduction to Language and Linguistics

 

SPAN 100

Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literature (SPAN 47)

 

SPAN 102

Phonetics and Pronunciation Practice (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

 

SPAN 103

Advanced Spanish Grammar (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

One upper division course in Peninsular Literature
One upper division course in Latin American Literature
One upper division course in Hispanic culture

Students not meeting all these requirements may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status and work toward the MA degree while the admission requirements are being completed. (SPAN 102 and SPAN 103 may be met by challenge examination.) Units taken to remove admission requirement deficiencies do not count toward the MA program. Any such deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the admission application.

Admission Procedures

Applications are accepted as long as room for new students exists during the application filing period. The University operates under a completion deadline system; all transcripts and materials must be received by the filing deadline.  Only completed applications will be reviewed.  All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies:

  • an online application for admission; and
  • two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.

For more admissions information and application deadlines please visit http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/.

At the same time, each applicant must forward to the Spanish Graduate Coordinator a transcript of all college-level courses attempted or a list of all courses attempted. Applicants should contact the Department of World Languages and Literatures for instructions on when and where to take the Graduate Examination, indicated above.

A decision regarding admission will be mailed from the Office of Graduate Studies approximately 6 weeks after the completion deadline.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

  • removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
  • completed at least 18 units in the graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA, including at least four 200-level courses; and
  • taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.

The Advancement will list all of the courses presented for the degree and must be approved by the Spanish Graduate Coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Requirements - Master of Arts Degree

Units required for the MA: 30
Minimum required GPA: 3.0

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Required Courses (24 units)

Note: Take at least one 200-level course in each of the following four categories; a minimum of 18 graduate level units required.

Latin American Literature

Select two of the following (6 units):

SPAN 113

Latin American Literature, Beginnings to Modernism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 114

Latin American Literature, Modernism-Present (SPAN 100)

SPAN 115

Magical Realism (SPAN 100)

SPAN 130

Contemporary Mexican Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 134

The Short Story in Latin America (SPAN 100)

SPAN 224A

Spanish-American Literature to 1825 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224B

Spanish-American Literature, 1825-1880 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224C

Spanish-American Literature, 1880-1945 (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 224D

Spanish-American Literature, 1945-Present (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Latin American Literature; or equivalent)

Spanish Literature

Select two of the following (6 units):

SPAN 110

Survey of Spanish Literature to 1800 (SPAN 100)

SPAN 111

Survey of Spanish Literature, 1800-Present (SPAN 100)

SPAN 123

Topics in Spanish Literature (SPAN 100)

SPAN 220A

Spanish Literature in the Middle Ages (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220B

Spanish Literature in the Golden Age (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220C

Spanish Literature, 18th and 19th Centuries (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

SPAN 220D

Contemporary Spanish Literature (SPAN 100 and an upper division course in Peninsular Literature; or equivalent)

Hispanic Culture

Select two of the following (6 units):

SPAN 151

Civilization and Culture of Hispanic America (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 152

Civilization and Culture of Spain (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 153

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 156

Hispanic Folklore (SPAN 2B or equivalent)

SPAN 250A

Civilization and Culture of Spain (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250B

Civilization and Culture of Modern Spain (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250C

Civilization and Culture of Hispanic America (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

SPAN 250D

Civilization and Culture of Mexico (Graduate status with fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing contemporary Spanish)

Linguistics
Select two of the following (6 units):

SPAN 201A

General Spanish Linguistics (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201B

History of the Spanish Language (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201C

Contrastive Grammatical Structures of Spanish and English (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

SPAN 201D

Applied Spanish Linguistics (LING 130, SPAN 102, SPAN 103; or equivalent)

B. Other Course Requirements (2-6 units)

Select 2-6 units of Spanish courses or a related field in consultation with the Spanish Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator will coordinate the examination process with the faculty involved.

C. Culminating Requirement (3-4 units)

(Thesis, Project, or Comprehensive Exam)
SPAN 500 Culminating Experience

Career Possibilities

International Business Personnel · Trade and Commerce · Export/Import · Interpreter/Translator · Banking Representative · Buyer/Sales Representative · Foreign/Diplomatic Service · Airlines Personnel · Travel Industry · Media Personnel/Foreign Correspondent · Public Relations · U.S. Immigration/Customs · U.S. Information Agency · Peace Corps · Language Teacher · Bilingual/Foreign Secretary · Foreign Publications/Textbook Editor · Research Assistant · Bilingual: Counselor, Social Worker, Civil Service, Law Enforcement Officer, Medical/Health Worker, Realtor, IRS/Franchise Tax Board · Court Interpreter

Faculty

Edward Baranowski, Mario Blanc, Euisuk Kim, Maria Mayberry, Mariela Santana

Contact Information

Curtis Smith, Department Chair
Erika Mendoza, Administrative Support Coordinator
Mariposa Hall 2051
(916) 278-6333
www.csus.edu/wll



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