Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 
    
Undergraduate Record 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Spanish


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, such as SPAN 3020, 3040, or 3300.

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. Heritage speakers will need to be assessed via SAT II, AP, or UVA placement exam scores, but are welcome to consult with the Director of Undergraduate Program as well.

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. As in the case of any major in the College of Arts and Sciences only courses taken for a grade will count for 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 are reminded that they may not count the same Spanish course twice for the fulfillment of the Spanish major. For example: If a student takes SPAN 4700, Spanish Culture and Civilization to fulfill the major requirement for one Culture and Civilization course, they may not also count that same course as one of the “Four courses at the 4000 level.” The Spanish major is 10 different courses (30 credits). Spanish majors may not take a survey course (3400s) during their fourth year, unless: 1) they are on the Linguistics and Philology track; or 2) they began upper level Spanish study late enough that it would have been impossible to have taken the survey course any earlier.

Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the Spanish Literature AP exam may not take SPAN 3300 for credit, and may proceed to any course for which either SPAN 3010 or 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. Students who place out of SPAN 3010 and/or 3300 must provide the department with proof of placement (e.g. copy of AP scores).

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 and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of the Undergraduate Programs, or the department website, 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. Two non-consecutive semesters of study abroad will be treated as a continuous year abroad for the purpose of transferring credit toward the major or minor, as will any combination of a semester abroad with a summer term.

General Spanish Major


One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.

Four courses at the 4000-level.


At least two of these must be in literature.

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. Please note that Spanish majors may not take literature survey courses during their fourth year.

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. Please note that Spanish majors may not take literature survey courses during their fouth year.

Major in Spanish Linguistics and Philology


One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.

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 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 and UVA in Costa Rica. Consult the Director of Undergraduate Programs, or the departmental website 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 in Spanish, please consult the sections on the major above.

Business Spanish Minor


One prerequisite and 6 additional courses (18 credits).

Prerequisite:   SPAN 3010 – Grammar Review Credits: 3 (Must be completed before declaring the major).

1. 3300-Texts and Interpretation (Charlottesville & Valencia)
2. 3040-Business Spanish (Charlottesville & Valencia)
3. 4040-Translation from Spanish to English (Charlottesville & Valencia)
4. 4050-Business Practices in the Spanish Speaking World (Valencia)
5. One of the following:
     a. 4710-Latin American Culture & Civilization (Charlottesville & Valencia)
     b. 4700-Spanish Culture & Civilization (Charlottesville & Valencia)
6. One of the following:
    a. 4705-Spanish Mass Media (Valencia)
    b. 4713-Spanish Economy (Valencia)

Additional Information

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

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. For an independent study course to count for the Spanish major it must be taken for a grade.

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 true beginners, students who have never studied Spanish before entering UVA. Students who have studied Spanish prior to coming to UVA 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. Once students begin the sequence of courses, they cannot skip any course in the sequence. Students who place themselves incorrectly will not receive credit for the courses in which they enroll without permission. All Spanish courses to be counted toward the language requirement must be taken at UVA or at a UVA approved study abroad program.

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.

Transfer Credit


With approval from the Department, a student who transfers to UVA from another college or university may apply up to 12 credit hours for the major requirements and up to 6 credit hours for the minor requirements.

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 2120.

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.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs