Modern Languages and Literatures – Spanish

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Andrew Harris

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/spanish-program

Chair: Charles Egan
Program Coordinator: Ana Luengo Palomino
Undergraduate Advisors: Gustavo Calderón (A-H), Michael Hammer (I-P), Ana Luengo Palomino (Q-Z)
Graduate Advisor: Michael Hammer

Program Scope

The Spanish program offers a Bachelor of Arts, a minor, and a Master of Arts in Spanish. At the undergraduate level, coursework in linguistics, culture, and civilization are aimed at improving one’s understanding of the language and the people who speak it.

An ever-increasing Spanish-speaking population has made Spanish the second most spoken language in the state of California and other states of the Union. The study and knowledge of this language, therefore, offers career alternatives in practically all fields of work and is an asset when seeking employment.

Professor

GUSTAVO ADOLFO CALDERON (1989), Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures; B.A. (1979), M.A. (1981), Ph.D. (1987), University of Iowa.

Associate Professor

MICHAEL HAMMER (2003), Associate Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures; B.A. (1991), M.A. (1997), Brigham Young University; Ph.D. (2003), University of California, Los Angeles.

Assistant Professor

ANA LUENGO (2015), Assistant Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures; Licenciatura (1997), Universidad de Barcelona; Ph.D. (2003), Hamburg Universität.

Major

Minor

Masters

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

SPAN 101 First Semester Spanish (Units: 4)

Introduction to understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities

SPAN 102 Second Semester Spanish (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: SPAN 101 or equivalent.

Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish; Spanish.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities

SPAN 150 Don Quixote as Self-Made Superhero: Art and Life in an Unjust World (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2* or consent of the instructor.

A writing-intensive course examining Don Quixote through the lens of 21st-century popular culture. Building on the skills acquired in Written English Communication (A2), learn and practice the components of effective arguments: analyzing genre, audience, and purpose, as well as how to draft and give feedback. Reflection on contemporary issues of identity, social justice, well being and the relationship between fiction and life itself through writing and deep reading of the novel.
(This course is offered as SPAN 150 and MLL 150. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • E: Lifelong Learning Develop

SPAN 205 Intermediate Spanish I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: SPAN 102; placement by advisor; or consent of the instructor.

Intermediate course that reinforces and builds on four skills (listening, understanding, reading, and writing) learned in SPAN 101/SPAN 102.

SPAN 206 Intermediate Spanish II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: SPAN 205; placement by advisor; or consent of the instructor.

Continuation of SPAN 205 which reinforces and builds on four skills (listening, understanding, reading, and writing) learned in SPAN 101 and SPAN 102.

SPAN 215 Spanish for Heritage Speakers (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Spanish heritage learner and consent of the instructor.

Designed for heritage language learners with an emphasis on conversation, writing styles, and specific grammatical problems. Additional focus on short stories, essays, poems, plays, newspaper articles, and films, all in Spanish.

SPAN 217 Spanish for Health Care Professionals (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Two semesters of lower-division Spanish or equivalent or consent of the instructor.

Basic Spanish for students planning to work in healthcare or related professions. Topics include the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and culture as applied to the specific milieu of the healthcare professions. [Formerly SPAN 316]

SPAN 223 Bilingual English and Spanish Newswriting (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Written and verbal fluency in Spanish. Language assessment test.

Development of news judgment, basic reporting, and clear writing skills for Spanish-language media, media produced in both English and Spanish, and media focused on Spanish-speaking cultures. A grade of C or better required for Journalism majors and minors. (ABC/NC grading only)
(This course is offered as JOUR 223 and SPAN 223. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives

SPAN 301 Advanced Grammar (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Four semesters of lower-division Spanish or equivalent.

Problematic aspects of Spanish grammar; practice in expository writing.

SPAN 305 Advanced Composition (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or consent of instructor.

Practice in expository writing: forms, development, and organization of the short essay including the study of style.

SPAN 306 Advanced Reading and Conversation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or consent of the instructor.

Oral presentations/group discussions based on readings from novels, plays, and poetry. Not designed for native-level speakers.

SPAN 323 Editing and Translation for Bilingual Spanish Journalism (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JOUR 300GW* and SPAN 301* with grades of C or consent of the instructor.

Theoretical and practical aspects of translation applied to news writing. Exercises in translating Spanish to English and vice-versa. Conducted in both Spanish and English. (ABC/NC grading only)
(This course is offered as JOUR 323 and SPAN 323. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

SPAN 326 Applied Spanish Linguistics: Morphology and Syntax (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or equivalent.

Application of modern descriptive linguistics to the study of morphology and syntax.

SPAN 341 Introduction to the Reading of Literary Texts (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or consent of the instructor.

Introduction to the reading and analysis of literary texts.

SPAN 350 Introduction to Translation (Spanish to English) (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Native fluency in English and moderate competency in understanding, speaking, and reading Spanish.

Theoretical and practical aspects of translation. Exercises in translating Spanish to English. Conducted in both Spanish and English.

SPAN 371GW History and Development of the Spanish Language - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2.

Examination of the historical, social, political, cultural forces that shaped the development of the Spanish language from its Indo-European prehistory to its modern worldwide diffusion. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC not allowed) [Formerly SPAN 571]

Course Attributes:

  • Graduation Writing Assessment

SPAN 401 Culture and Civilization of Spain (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 (may be taken concurrently).

Culture and civilization of Spain from the Middle Ages to the present. [Formerly SPAN 401GW]

SPAN 405 Culture and Civilization of Spanish America (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or equivalent.

Background for Spanish American literature.

SPAN 521 Spanish Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent or consent of the instructor.

Exploration of one or more topics relevant to medieval and early modern Spanish literature. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 523 19th Century Spanish Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

Romanticism, realism, naturalism, and modernism in Spain.

SPAN 525 The Contemporary Spanish Novel (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

The contemporary Spanish novel through five of its most representative authors in a selection of novels covering the last decade.

SPAN 531 Creative Writing in Spanish: Poetry, Fiction, and Drama (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or consent of the instructor.

Reading and analysis of literary texts from Spain and Latin America. Practice in writing poetry, fiction, and plays in Spanish. Improve writing skills while practicing creative writing and performing in front of others. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC grading allowed)
(This course is offered as SPAN 531 and LTNS 531. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

SPAN 543 Spanish American Literature: Romanticism to Modernism (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

A study of the most representative works of the leading Spanish American writers of the second part of the 20th century in poetry, essay, short story, and novel.

SPAN 545 20th Century Spanish American Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

Exploration of one or more topics of 20th century and contemporary Latin American literature. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 562 Cervantes: The Quijote (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

Reading and analysis of Don Quijote.

SPAN 580 Hispanic Women Writers (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

An exploration of Peninsular and Latin American literature, mainly written by women that focuses on gender and femininity.

SPAN 595 Senior Survey in Spanish or Spanish American Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: SPAN 341 or equivalent.

Advanced survey of Spanish or Latin American literature. Topics to be specified in the class schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 615 Applied Linguistics: Principles and Methods in Teaching Spanish (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: MLL 325 and SPAN 301; or graduate Spanish students; or consent of the instructor.

Discussion of both general and Spanish linguistics as well as how native and non-native speakers learn the Spanish language. Examination of past and current trends in language pedagogy to better inform choices in course preparation, lesson planning, and curriculum decisions. Topics include error correction, fluency vs. accuracy, language transfer, and learnability. Examination of commercial textbooks and their assumptions about language learning.

SPAN 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair and instructor.

Special topics in Spanish. Written projects requiring critical analysis and interpretation of linguistic or literary problems. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.

SPAN 821 Seminar in Spanish Literary Genres (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Spanish students or consent of the instructor.

Focus on a specific literary genre in Spanish or Latin American literature. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 831 Seminar in Literary Movements or Periods (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Spanish M.A. students; advanced Spanish level; or consent of the instructor.

Focus on a particular literary movement or period in Spanish or Latin American literature. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 850 Seminar-Spanish and Latin American Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Spanish students or consent of the instructor.

Focus on a topic, theme, or problem specific to Spanish or Latin American literature. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to, questions of class, gender, race, national identity, etc. Topics to be specified in Class Schedule. May be repeated as topics vary.

SPAN 851 Seminar in Medieval, Early Modern Peninsular, and Colonial Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Spanish MA students or consent of the instructor.

Critical examination of literary texts and other cultural products from the Medieval and Early Modern periods of Spain and the Conquest/Colonial period of Latin America. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 868 Contemporary Literature from a Transatlantic Approach (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Spanish students or consent of the instructor.

Focus on topics having to do with contemporary cultural production (Literature, Cinema, Art, and Theater) in Spanish and Latin American literature from a transatlantic perspective. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 880 Seminar in Individual Authors or Works (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate Spanish students or consent of the instructor.

Focus on topics having to do with individual authors and works in Spanish or Latin American literature. Topics to be specified in Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

SPAN 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

Enrollment in 896EXAM required for students whose culminating experience consists of an examination only. (CR/NC, RP)

SPAN 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Arts in Spanish and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

Thesis must be written in Spanish. Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC, RP grading only)

SPAN 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Graduate Spanish students; consent of the graduate major adviser and supervising faculty member. Enrollment by petition.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the department faculty. Open only to graduate students who have demonstrated the ability to do independent work. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.