Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 
    
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese Languages and Literatures


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs

Spanish


Prerequisites for Majoring in Spanish


In order to declare a major in Spanish, a student must have completed SPAN 3010 Grammar Review or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. A C- is insufficient. Students must complete SPAN 3010 at the University of Virginia or through a study abroad program recommended, not merely approved by the department (see below for distinction).  Students who have scored a 4 on the Spanish Language AP exam will proceed directly to SPAN 3010.  Students who have scored 5 on the Spanish Language AP exam may not take SPAN 3010 for credit.  They must proceed to any course for which SPAN 3010 is a prerequisite. 

Native speakers of Spanish must consult the Director of the Undergraduate Program before taking any Spanish courses in order to determine how best to proceed.

Requirements for the Major in Spanish


The Spanish major consists of thirty credits completed above SPAN 3010 with a grade of C or better. Courses in which a student receives a C- or less will not count toward the major. When declaring the Spanish major, all students are required to choose one of the three concentrations described below (the general concentration, the literature and culture concentration, and the linguistics and philology concentration) to give structure to their Spanish studies. Students are expected to take courses in the sequence indicated below for each concentration.

Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the Spanish Literature AP exam may not take SPAN 3300 for credit, but must proceed to any course for which SPAN 3300 is a pre-requisite. Students who are placed out of SPAN 3300 must still earn 30 credits of upper-division Spanish to complete the major, substituting another literature course for SPAN 3300. All students who place themselves incorrectly may lose credit for the courses in which they enroll without departmental permission. Only one conversation course  may be counted toward the major. Native speakers of Spanish may not enroll in conversation courses.

It is expected, but not required, that all Spanish majors will complete at least a summer of study-abroad. All are highly encouraged to study abroad for a semester or a year. The department distinguishes between recommended study-abroad programs and approved study-abroad programs. The recommended programs are UVA in Valencia, UVA in Peru, and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of the Undergraduate Program for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that does not appear on this list must go through the petition process administered by the International Studies Office and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program. Students who study in a recommended program may count up to 15 credits per semester of study abroad or 24 credits per year of study abroad toward their Spanish major. Students who study in an approved program in Spain or Latin America may count up to 9 credits for a semester of study abroad or 15 credits for a year of study abroad toward their Spanish major. All study-abroad courses taken for major credit must be taught in Spanish, but the language of instruction alone does not qualify any course for credit for the Spanish major.

 

General Spanish Major


One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.

 

Four courses at the 4000 level.


SPAN 4040 may count as a literature or as a language course.

3300 must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program.


Taking one survey course is a prerequisite for taking any 4000 level course in literature and culture.  Ideally a major will take both survey courses before advancing to the 4000 level courses in literature and culture. At least one survey must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program.

Note that only one conversation course will count for the major.
 

Major in Literature and Culture


One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.

Six 4000 level literature and culture courses.


At least three of these must be in literature.

3300 must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program. SPAN 4040 may count as a literature course.

Taking one survey course is a prerequisite for taking any 4000 level course in literature and culture. At least one survey must be taken at the University of Virginia or through a recommended study abroad program. Ideally a major will take both survey courses before advancing to the 4000 level courses in literature and culture.

Note that only one conversation course will count for the major.

Major in Spanish Linguistics and Philology


One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.

Requirements for the Minor in Spanish


Completion of SPAN 3010 Grammar Review is a prerequisite with a grade of C or better is a prerequisite for declaring a minor in Spanish.

The Spanish minor consists of 6 Spanish courses beyond the 3010 level completed with a grade of C or better. Courses in which a student receives a C- or less will not count toward the minor. SPAN 3300 Texts and Interpretation: An Introduction. (or placement out of 3300 through AP scores) is a requirement for the minor, and it must be completed before students can take a course with a number higher than 3300. Students may count up to 9 credits of study abroad toward their Spanish minor. Only one conversation course can be counted toward the minor.

Note that credit applied to a minor may not also count toward completion of a major. This is a regulation of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Study Abroad


 All students wishing to earn SPAN credit for work done abroad must have this credit approved by the Spanish program. Students wishing to study in Spain for major or minor credit must enroll in a program recommended or approved by the department. The department distinguishes between recommended study-abroad programs and approved programs. The recommended programs are UVA in Valencia, UVA in Peru, and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of Undergraduate Programs for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that does not appear on this list must go through the petition process run by the International Studies Office, and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program. For information about how to count study-abroad credit toward the major or minor in Spanish, please consult the sections on the major and/or minor above.

Independent Study


Independent study with a faculty advisor is available to advanced students who wish to pursue specific areas in depth that are not included in the regular curriculum. All of these courses are taught in Spanish.

Distinguished Majors Program


Spanish majors of exceptional ability and dedication are encouraged to enroll in the Distinguished Major Program.  Like other Spanish majors, the DMPs are required to take ten courses (30 credits) at the 3000-level or above. However, three of these courses must be 4000-level seminars or, with the approval of the DMP Coordinator, 5000-level courses. In the fall semester of their 4th year, DMP’s enroll in the DMP Colloquium (a 3-credit credit/no credit course), meeting regularly with the Coordinator to discuss research strategies and set intermediate goals. In the second semester of their 4th year, DMPs meet regularly with a faculty adviser to receive guidance on advanced research techniques, critical thinking skills, and effective writing strategies. DMPs receive 3 additional credits upon the successful completion of a thesis. At the end of this year they present their research results to faculty, graduate students, and invited guests. A departmental committee determines different levels of distinction (Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction), based on the quality of the student’s thesis, the student’s overall work in the major field of study, and the student’s overall college record (minimum GPA of 3.4).

 

 

Language Requirement


SPAN 1010 and 1020 are courses reserved exclusively for students who present no entrance credits in the language. Students who enter with two or more entrance credits and who wish to continue in Spanish will be placed according to scores obtained on the College Entrance Examination Board SAT II tests, the AP Exam, or the UVa Spanish placement exam. The sequence of courses, depending on the level at which the student begins, is as follows: SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020; or SPAN 1060, 2010, 2020; or SPAN 2010, 2020; or SPAN 2020. The sequence must be followed to complete the language requirement. Students who place themselves incorrectly will not receive credit for the courses in which they enroll without permission.

Five-year Teacher Education Program


 

 

Students wishing to enroll in the five-year B.A./M.T. Teacher Education Program should contact Professor Ruth Ferree in the Curry School of Education or Professor David T. Gies, the program advisor in Spanish. The five-year program leads toward teaching certification and has special requirements, including a mandatory study abroad and diagnostic and evaluative proficiency exams in Spanish.

Major in Latin-American Studies


For major and minor requirements see the section on Latin American Studies.

Additional Information


For more information, contact the Department of Spanish, 115 Wilson Hall, P.O. Box 400777, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777; (434) 924-7159; www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port.

Italian


Prerequisites for Majoring in Italian


Before beginning the core language courses in the Italian major, students must complete ITAL 202 or the equivalent, with a grade of C or better. However, students may declare the Italian major, and begin to take courses to fulfill it, before they have completed the ITAL 202 requirement. These initial courses will likely be those taught in English on Italian topics. Native speakers of Italian must consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies before taking any Italian courses in order to determine how best to proceed.

Requirements for Major in Italian Studies


The Italian major consists of 30 credits completed at the 200, 300 or 400-level with a grade of C or better. Courses in which a student receives a C- or less will not count toward the major. The combination of 10 courses is constituted as follows:

Group A: Core Italian Language Courses


  • Please view The Record Online for current information regarding Group A courses.

Group B: Italian Literary, Film, and Cultural Studies


  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian
  • 300 or 400-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian.
  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian or English
  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian or English
  • 300, 400 or 500-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian or English

Courses taught in Italian include:

  • ITAL 325 Love Poetry of Italian Medieval and Renaissance Times (offered in Siena)
  • ITAL 330 Fine Young Cannibals and Other Stories: Pulp, Noir, and Impegno in Contemporary Italy (offered in Siena)
  • ITAL 401 Advanced Italian Language III (offered in Siena)
  • ITAL 402 Advanced Italian Language IV (offered in Siena)

As well as:

Group C: Italian Studies in a Wider Context


  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on non-literary topic relating to Italian culture, taught in Italian or English
  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on non-literary topic relating to Italian culture, taught in Italian or English

Note: The 5 courses in GROUP B are a minimum – the 7 courses outside the 3 core language classes (GROUP A) may all be taken from GROUP B, if desired. However, we encourage our students to take up to two courses from other departments (GROUP C) as these courses will enhance their understanding of cultural and historical achievements in Italian. Departments offering these types of classes include: History, Art History, Politics, Architectural History, Music, Classics, English, Linguistics. Students are encouraged to seek out courses that have a strong Italian component and present them for approval, if they are not listed below. The course offerings for this group include but are not limited to:

Requirements for Minor in Italian Studies


The Italian minor consists of 18 credits, exclusive of ITAL 101-202. As with the Italian major, students may declare the minor and take courses toward fulfilling it, before they have completed ITAL 202. These courses will likely be those taught in English on Italian topics. The combination of 6 courses is constituted as follows:

Group A: Core Italian Language Courses


Group B: Italian Literary, Film, and Cultural Studies


  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on Italian literary/film topic taught in Italian

Group C: Italian Studies in Wider Context


  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on non-literary topic relating to Italian culture, taught in Italian or English
  • 200, 300 or 400-level course on non-literary topic relating to Italian culture, taught in Italian or English

(See Requirements for Italian major for specific courses belonging to Groups B and C.)

Study Abroad


The Italian faculty at UVa strongly encourage all students to consider a study period in Italy, whether a shorter summer term, or a more intensive semester-long term. The experience is invaluable, both for non-Italian majors interested in widening their college career, and especially for UVa Italian majors and minors who wish to deepen their academic and cultural experience and accelerate their language acquisition.

Students wishing to study in Italy for major or minor credit must enroll in a program recommended or approved by the department. The department distinguishes between recommended study-abroad programs and approved programs. The recommended programs are UVA in Siena, and UVA in Florence. Consult the Italian Study Abroad Advisor for an up-to-date list of approved programs. Students who wish to study in a program that is not either recommended or on the approved programs list must go through the petition process run by the International Studies Office, and provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program.

Even when a study abroad program has been approved, students seeking to satisfy Italian major or minor requirements must have the specific courses approved by the Italian major/minor advisor.

Students who study in a recommended program may count up to 15 credits per semester of study abroad, or 24 credits per year of study abroad toward their Italian Studies major. Students who study at an approved program in Italy may count up to 12 credits per semester of study abroad or 18 credits for a year of study abroad toward their Italian Studies major.

Indpendent Study


Based on faculty availability, independent study with a faculty advisor is available to advanced students of Italian who wish to pursue specific areas in depth that are not included in the regular curriculum.

Distinguished Major Program in Italian


Prerequisites and curricular requirements are the same as for the major. In addition, students must have, at graduation, a GPA of 3.500 in all major courses, and must take an additional 3 credits (thus reaching a total of 33) in connection with the senior thesis written in Italian. The topic and length of the thesis must be accepted by the faculty sponsor, (selected by the student); the thesis will be evaluated by the sponsor in tandem with at least one other member of the Italian program faculty.

Distinctions and Awards


The Italian program recognizes outstanding students of Italian in a variety of ways. Each spring, the program hosts its Garden Reception, to celebrate and honor our students of Italian at both undergraduate and graduate levels. At this April gathering we award the Lola Pelliccia Undergraduate Prize, the Sonia Raiziss Undergraduate Prizes, and the Lola Pelliccia Graduate Prize. In alternating years, we also present one of our fourth-year students with the Giuliano Prize, for demonstrated academic excellence in Italian language study and contribution to the growth and nurturing of Italian at the University.

Additional Information


For more information, contact Christina della Coletta, Associate Professor of Italian, 115 Wilson Hall, P.O. Box 400777, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777; (434) 924-7159; www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port.

Portuguese


The Portuguese program functions primarily as a service to other programs, including Spanish, Latin American Studies, the Latin American program in the department of Government and Foreign Affairs, Anthropology, and others. Students interested in beginning Portuguese at the University should have considerable prior experience with Spanish or French. Students interested in the minor are strongly encouraged to spend a semester studying abroad in Brazil or in Portugal.

Requirements for Minor in Portuguese


The Portuguese minor consists of eighteen credits beyond PORT 212.

Additional Information


For more information, contact the department, 115 Wilson Hall, P.O. Box 400777, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777; (434) 924-7159; www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port.

Course Descriptions


Spanish


Italian


In Italian, the sequence satisfying the language requirement is: ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202. Advanced standing is determined by an interview with the Italian undergraduate advisor.

Portuguese in Translation


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs