Spanish Bachelors And Minor Course Offerings

The credit value for each course in semester units is indicated for each term by a number in parentheses following the title. For course availability, please see the list of tentative course offerings in the current Class Schedule. 

LOWER-DIVISION COURSES

SPA 110 Beginning Spanish I (3)

Prerequisite: Grade of “C” or better in SPA 100.

Basic instruction in Spanish. Training in speaking, listening, reading, and writing for students who have had no previous work in Spanish.

SPA 111 Beginning Spanish II (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 110 or equivalent.

A continuation of Spanish 110.

SPA 151 Introduction to Hispanic Culture (3)

Introduction to Hispanic Culture. A designated geographical area studies course focusing on patterns of culture in the Spanish-speaking world. Topics will vary from semester to semester; for example, Mexico and the Southwestern U.S., or Contemporary Spain. Conducted in English.

SPA 220 Intermediate Spanish I (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 111 or equivalent.

A continuation of Spanish 111, with emphasis on oral communication skills.

SPA 221 Intermediate Spanish II (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 220 or equivalent.

A continuation of Spanish 220, with emphasis on reading and writing.

SPA 230 Spanish Conversation (3)

Intermediate-level Spanish conversation with special emphasis on increasing the oral proficiency of second-language learners of Spanish. Conversational functions practiced will include describing and identifying people, places, things, and events, requesting and providing information, and expressing opinions. Students will be exposed to various aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures.

SPA 280 Grammar for Spanish Composition (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 221 or equivalent

In this course, students advance their knowledge of Spanish grammar in the areas of orthography, accentuation, punctuation, parts of speech, verb morphology, sentences types, and they study essay types, with an emphasis on narration.

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES

SPA 302 Business Spanish (3)

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Spanish.

The principal objective of this course is to prepare students to use Spanish for business. Topics for this course include: 1) informal vs. formal Spanish; 2) the communicative purpose: informative vs. persuasive presentation; 3) technology and business; 4) the language of finance; 6) legal language for business; and 7) ethical considerations and their reflection on language use.

SPA 305 Advanced Composition, Syntax and Stylistics I (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 221 or equivalent.

A reading, composition, and discussion course concerned with elements of style and syntax, with emphasis on creative writing by the students.

SPA 306 Advanced Composition, Syntax and Stylistics II (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 305.

A reading, composition and discussion course that focuses on expository writing and literary criticism. Three hours of lecture per week.

SPA 311 The Structure of Spanish (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 280.

An analysis of the sounds, formations, and routines of the language, focusing on global characteristics of Spanish that English speakers need to acquire. Selected language acquisition problems of English speakers featured.

SPA 330 Interpreting Hispanic  Literature (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 305.

Analysis and interpretation of representative Hispanic prose, poetry, and drama.

SPA 340 Practical Spanish for Interpreters and Translators (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 305 or equivalent.

Translation from Spanish to English and English to Spanish with practical application for journalistic, advertising, commercial, and governmental activities. Introduction to the art of consecutive translation.

SPA 341 Advanced Conversation (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 221 or equivalent.

Intensive conversation leading to fluency in the use of academic Spanish. The course aims to develop a comprehensive vocabulary which prepares the student for persuasive and oratory speeches, as well as for upper division linguistics and literature courses. Useful for public service and the bilingual/cross-cultural credential      program. 

SPA 350 Contemporary Hispanic Culture: Spain (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 221 or equivalent.

An area studies course focusing on patterns of culture in contemporary Spain.

SPA 351 Contemporary Hispanic Culture: Spanish-Speaking America (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 221 or equivalent.

A designated geographical area studies course focusing on patterns of culture in the Spanish-speaking world. Specific topics may vary from semester to semester. Norms, intergroup relations, institutions, language, and societal values of rural and urban people.

SPA 400 Teaching School Subject Matter in Spanish (3)

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Spanish or consent of instructor.

Vocabulary and materials used in elementary or secondary schools for teaching reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies in Spanish. Aspects and problems of language acquisition and linguistic transitions made by English speakers acquiring Spanish proficiency. Required for credential candidates.

SPA 414 Spanish Phonology (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 311.

A beginning course in the segmental and supra-segmental phonetic systems: phonological pronunciation phenomena of standard and regional Spanish.

SPA 430 Spanish Morphology (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 311; SPA 305 is recommended.

In-depth introduction to selected topics of Morphology. Topics include inflection, derivation, and compounding, as well as the relation of morphology to phonology, syntax and the lexicon.

SPA 435 A Sociolinguistic  Approach to Chicano/Latino Dialect (3)

Identification of characteristic linguistic difficulties of Spanish-speaking children correlated to social-cultural background.

Contrastive analyses of the linguistic competencies and performances for these children learning English. Repeatable course.

SPA 440 Spanish Syntax (3)

Prerequisites: SPA 305, SPA 311. SPA 430 is recommended.

Study of the formation and structure of phrases, clauses, and sentences in Spanish, informed by the generative Syntax theoretical framework.

SPA 450 History of the Spanish Language (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 311

History of the development of Spanish language from Vulgar Latin to present.

SPA 453 The Literature of Spain (3)

Prerequisites: SPA 330.

Readings and analysis of Spanish literary works in all genres. Topic varies from semester to semester. Repeatable course.

SPA 454 Cervantes: Don Quijote (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 330 or equivalent.

Reading and analysis of the major work of Spanish literature.

SPA 456 Literature of Spanish America (3)

Prerequisites: SPA 330.

Readings and analysis of selected works of Spanish-American   literature. Course content may cover a single country or a literary movement or genre as represented in various Spanish-American countries. Topic varies from semester to semester. Repeatable course.

SPA 461 Lecturas Mexicanas y Chicanas (3)

Prerequisites: SPA 330.

Reading and analysis of Mexican and Chicano literary works in all genres. Specific genre and country will vary from semester to semester. Three hours of lecture per week.

SPA 490  Seminar in Special Topics: Literature (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 305, SPA 306, SPA 311, SPA 330, SPA 340, SPA 350, SPA 351.

Intensive study of a single author, a literary movement, a literary genre, or a single literary work, or an issue/topic in linguistics. Repeatable with different topics for credit. Three hours of seminar per week.

SPA 490  Seminar in Special Topics: Linguistics (3)

Prerequisite: SPA 311,SPA 314

An intense study of topics in Spanish and Spanish-American linguistics.

SPA 494 Independent Study (3)

Prerequisites: “B” average in Spanish; consent of instructor and department chair.

Independent study of a literary or linguistic problem, an author, or a literary movement. Repeatable course.

SPA 495 Special Topics in Spanish (3)

Prerequisites: Senior Standing and consent of the instructor.

Intensive study of a topic in Spanish literature, linguistics or culture. May be repeated with a different topic for up to six units.