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 at the University’s Hispanic Studies Program in Valencia, Spain.
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. Credit will only be granted for study completed at a program approved by the department for major or minor credit. A list of these programs is available on the department website. .
Students who wish to study in a program that does not appear on the department’s list must go through the petition process administered by the International Studies Office and must also apply to the Director of Undergraduate Programs in Spanish. They must provide a compelling academic reason for studying in a non-approved program. Students who study in a U.Va. program (currently, only the program in Valencia provides 3000-4000 level courses) may count all of the courses taken abroad toward their Spanish major or minor. Students who study in an approved program in Spain or Latin America that is not run by U.Va. 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.
One Survey of Spanish Literature:
One Survey of Latin American Literature:
One Culture and Civilization Course from the following options:
Two Language or Linguistics courses from the following options:
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, the U.Va. program in Valencia, or through an approved study abroad program.
In order to take a 4000-level course in literature or in culture and civilization, a student must have previously completed at least one survey (3400s) course. Ideally a major will take both survey courses before advancing to the 4000-level courses in literature and in culture and civilization. Please note that Spanish majors may not take literature survey courses (3400s) during their fourth year, except as described above.
Note that only one conversation course will count for the major.
Major in Literature and Culture
One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.
One Survey of Spanish Literature:
One Survey of Latin American Literature:
One Culture and Civilization Course from following options:
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 fourth year.
Major in Spanish Linguistics and Philology
One prerequisite and 10 additional courses.
Prerequisite:
(Must be completed before declaring the major)
* Students with a Linguistics & Philology Concentration, may take SPAN 3400 – Survey of Spanish Literature I (Middle Ages to 1700) during their fourth year.
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 approved by the department.
The department operates two direct-credit programs, one in Costa Rica and the other in Valencia, Spain. Currently, only the Valencia program offers courses at the 3000 and 4000 level. Students may also study in a number of other programs in Spain and Latin America that have been approved by the Spanish faculty. 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 must apply to the Director of Undergraduate Programs in Spanish. They must 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.
Spanish Minor
Students must apply to the Spanish Minor, as available space is limited. To apply, students must submit an informal transcript and a one-page statement explaining why they want to minor in Spanish to the Spanish Minor Advisor. Application may be made by email. Applications are accepted twice a year, on October 1st and February 1st.
One prerequisite and 6 additional courses (18 credits).
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010 – Grammar Review Credits: 3 (Must be completed before declaring the minor).
- 3300 – Texts and Interpretation (Charlottesville and Valencia)
- One survey course (3400s)
- One other course at the 3000 level.
- Three courses at the 4000 level.
Students may count up to nine hours of credit earned in an approved study abroad program toward their Spanish minor. The restriction to nine hours does not apply to coursework done in UVA’s Hispanic Studies Program in Valencia. Since those courses earn UVA credit, they are considered interchangeable with courses taken in Charlottesville.
Business Spanish Minor
The department, in conjunction with UVA Hispanic Studies in Valencia, Spain, offers a Minor in Business Spanish consisting of six (6) courses in addition to an internship or attendance at business symposia in Valencia. Three of the courses (two of which are required), as well as the internships and symposia, are only offered in Valencia.
One prerequisite and 6 additional courses (18 credits).
Prerequisite: SPAN 3010 – Grammar Review Credits: 3 (Must be completed before declaring the minor).
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, 444 New Cabell Hall, P.O. Box 400777, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777; (434) 924-7159; www.spanitalport.virginia.edu.
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 Span 4890, “Distinguished Major Colloquium” (a 3-credit credit/no credit course), and meet regularly with the Coordinator to discuss research strategies and set intermediate goals. In the second semester of their 4th year, DMPs enroll in Span 4989, “Distinguished Major Thesis” (3 credits, grade option), meeting regularly with a faculty thesis adviser. DMPs present their research at a departmental colloquium in the spring of their final year. 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 are not permitted to self-place in a language course. Students who place themselves incorrectly will receive an F for the courses in which they enroll without permission. SPAN 1010 is offered in Fall only and SPAN 1020 is offered in Spring only. 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 who wish to pursue a career teaching Spanish in K-12 schools may apply to the B.A./M.T. Teacher Education Program, a five-year combined program with the Curry School of Education. Interested students should contact Professor Ruth Ferree in the Curry School of Education or Professor Randolph Pope, the program adviser in Spanish. The five-year program leads toward teaching certification and a Masters of Teaching. Because it is a Virginia-approved Teacher Education Program, prospective teachers must fulfill requirements beyond the major, including mandatory study abroad and an advanced score on a standardized proficiency exam 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 Professor Thomas Klubock, Department of History, 323 Nau Hall, P.O. Box 400180, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4180; (434) 924-7147; www.history.virginia.edu/home.
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.
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