- Spanish Language Program
- Intermediate Spanish
- Heritage Speaker Courses
- Advanced Courses
- Language Support Office (LSO)
Spanish Language Program
In order to find out where you should start in our course sequence, you should take our placement test or consult with our advisor about credit equivalences. The test costs $30 and any credits you gain through it are free.
Our program covers both lower division (basic and intermediate Spanish) and upper division (advanced language development and content courses in literature, culture, linguistics, and Spanish for the professions). We have a sequence of courses that is especially designed for heritage learners of Spanish.
Intermediate Spanish
Our intermediate courses, SPAN 201 and 202, are three credit classes. They are meant specifically for second language learners, that is, students who have learned Spanish mostly in a classroom setting, and they offer an expansion on basic knowledge, more vocabulary and an emphasis on communication in authentic contexts.
Heritage Speaker Courses
At the intermediate and advanced level, the department offers courses that are designed specifically for students who acquired Spanish in their family or community. The first of these, SPAN 203, Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Learners, aims to develop basic literacy (reading, writing, spelling) and to provide opportunities for oral communication in an academic context. The second course, SPAN 304, Advanced Grammar for Heritage Speakers, is meant to develop awareness of the structures of Spanish, including the language needed to talk about language itself. It also provides opportunities for reading and writing at the advanced level.
Advanced Courses
Our curriculum at the upper division includes over twenty different courses in Spanish meant to develop advanced language skills and familiarize students with the rich history, culture, and literary production of the Spanish-speaking world. Through these courses, students have ample opportunity to develop their listening and speaking skills, as well as their reading and writing. Moreover, they can learn in depth about the structure of Spanish the history of Spain and Latin America, familiarize themselves with literature and arts of every period and country, and acquire terminology and language skills required in the professions.
Language Support Office (LSO)
The Language Support Office (LSO) is located in the Academic Building room 124 and is open five days a week. Here, tutors offer one-on-one conversational practice, and help with special projects students may have in their Spanish classes. The LSO is open to all our students, at any level. All tutors are native or near-native speakers of Spanish who are graduate students in the Department of Hispanic Studies. Here is the schedule for Summer 2018:
Summer 2019 Schedule
As part of the department’s commitment to language support beyond the classroom setting, our department organizes a Conversation Club where anyone interested in practicing Spanish is welcome. The Conversation Club meets bi-weekly and provides a relaxed and informal social environment where students can improve their oral skills as they engage native speakers and one another in Spanish. The club is organized and run by our enthusiastic and talented graduate assistants.