Hispanic Studies

Major in Hispanic Studies

A minimum of 36 semester hours beyond HISP 201, including:

  • HISP 202 or 252, 301, 321, 322, 325
  • One course from: HISP 421, 422, 423
  • One course from: HISP 431, 432, and 433
  • One additional 400-level course (selected from HISP 401, 403, 421, 422, 423, 431, 432, 433, or 441)
  • HISP 499

Majors are strongly encouraged to pursue at least one semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country on a program approved by the Hispanic Studies faculty. Majors may not normally fulfill the requirements for the major through the election of 300-level courses during the senior year.

Continuation Policy

To remain in the Hispanic Studies major, students must maintain a 2.50 overall grade point average (GPA) and maintain a 2.50 GPA in all Hispanic Studies courses required for the major or the minor.

Minor in Hispanic Studies

20 semester hours, including:

  • HISP 202 or 252, 301, 325, and two additional upper-division courses.
  • Courses taught in English (HISP 341 and 441) will not count towards a minor in Hispanic Studies.

HISP 101 : Elementary Spanish

Essentials of pronunciation, intonation, and structure; basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Lab attendance required. Students with more than two years of high school Spanish must enroll in HISP 102. (4, 4)

HISP 102 : Elementary Spanish

Essentials of pronunciation, intonation, and structure; basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Lab attendance required. Students with more than two years of high school Spanish must enroll in HISP 102. (4, 4)

HISP 190 : FYEP190: Inquiry Seminar

A four-credit seminar to introduce students to the methods and topics of study within a particular academic discipline or field. Students practice the academic skills that are at the center of the General Education Program. (4)

HISP 201 : Intermediate Spanish - C

A continuation of elementary Spanish; reading selections which reflect the Spanish cultural heritage as well as contemporary materials. Lab attendance required. Students cannot take both HISP 201 and 251 for credit. (4, 4)

HISP 202 : Intermediate Spanish - C

A continuation of elementary Spanish; reading selections which reflect the Spanish cultural heritage as well as contemporary materials. Lab attendance required. Students cannot take both HISP 202 and 252 for credit. (4, 4)

HISP 231 : Intensive Spanish in Latin America - C

An intensive Spanish course offered in a Latin American country and geared to students at the intermediate (equivalent to HISP 201 or 202) and advanced (equivalent to 301) language level. Course includes four and one-half hours of class per day for a four-week period, a home stay, a service project, excursions, and guest lectures on a variety of topics related to the history and culture of the host country. Placement at the HISP 231 or 331 levels is determined by the student's background and experience in Spanish. Prerequisite: HISP 102. (4)

HISP 251 : Spanish for Heritage Speakers - A

A course designed for students who have been exposed to the Spanish language at home. The course affirms and builds upon the student's Spanish language abilities through conversation about literary and cultural texts, vocabulary expansion, composition and writing activities, and explicit study of grammar structures. Student cannot take both HISP 201 and 251 for credit. (4)

HISP 252 : Spanish for Heritage Speakers - A

Continuation of HISP 251. The course affirms and builds upon the student's Spanish language abilities through conversation about literary and cultural texts, vocabulary expansion, composition and writing activities, and explicit study of grammar structures. Students cannot take both HISP 202 and 252 for credit. (4)

HISP 287 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 288 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 289 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 301 : Hispanic Voices for Social Change - C

HISP 301 is a content-based intensive reading and writing course that offers an examination of diverse texts from different times and places in Spanish speaking countries, to focus on how people establish different yet coherent strategies of resistance and adaptation which in turn respond to experiences of social injustice, inequality, geographical displacement and human rights violations in their respective communities. Prerequisite: HISP 202 or 252. (4)

HISP 321 : Civilization & Culture of Spain - C

Development of Spanish society from early times to the present as reflected in architecture, painting, and literature, within their socio-historical context. Prerequisite: HISP 301 (or concurrent enrollment). (4)

HISP 322 : Latin American Civilization & Culture - C

Historic, artistic, literary, sociological, and geographic elements shaping the development of the Latin American region. Prerequisite: HISP 301 (or concurrent enrollment). (4)

HISP 325 : Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies - C, LT

Acquaints students with techniques of literary analysis, as applied to examples of narrative, poetry, drama, and essay in the Spanish and Latin American literary traditions. Reading, writing, and speaking-intensive. Ongoing review of advanced grammar. Prerequisite: HISP 301. (4)

HISP 331 : Intensive Spanish in Latin America - C

An intensive Spanish course offered in a Latin American country and geared to students at the intermediate (equivalent to HISP 201 or 202) and advanced (equivalent to 301) language level. Course includes four and one-half hours of class per day for a four-week period, a home stay, a service project, excursions, and guest lectures on a variety of topics related to the history and culture of the host country. Placement at the HISP 231 or 331 levels is determined by the student's background and experience in Spanish. Prerequisite: HISP 102. (4)

HISP 341 : The Latino Experiences in the U.S. - A, LT

Exploration of the histories, experiences, and contributions of the Latino peoples in the United States as they appear in Latino literature and film. Course content is enriched through related service learning experience. Readings are in English. May count toward major, but not toward minor in Hispanic studies. (4)

HISP 387 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 388 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 389 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 401 : Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics - C

HISP 401 is an advanced-level content-based course with an in-depth analysis of Spanish syntax, phonology, and morphology along with the evolution of the Spanish language, including the study of dialects and the history of indigenous languages. Prerequisite: HISP 301. (4)

HISP 403 : Advanced Spanish - C

Advanced listening, speaking, reading, and writing in an approved study-away course. Prerequisite: HISP 301 (4)

HISP 421 : Masterpieces of Spanish Literature - C, LT

A concentrated study of major writers and movements in Hispanic literature from its origins to 1898. Prerequisite: HISP 325. (4)

HISP 423 : Special Topics in Spanish Literature & Culture - C, LT

An opportunity to pursue an in-depth study of a specific aspect or topic in Spanish literature, such as Spanish women writers or the relationship of film to other types of cultural production. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Prerequisite: HISP 325. (4)

HISP 431 : Latin American Literature 1492 to 1888 - C, LT

A study of representative genres from the colonial period to the end of the 19th century. Prerequisite: HISP 325. (4)

HISP 432 : 20th-Century Latin American Literature - C, LT

Development of the literature of Mexico, Central and South America from the Modernista movement (1888) to the present. Prerequisite: HISP 325. (4)

HISP 433 : Special Topics in Latin American Literature & Culture - C, LT

An opportunity to pursue an in-depth study of a specific aspect or topic in Latin American literature and culture, such as Latin American women writers, Latino narrative, or Latin American film and literature. May be repeated for credit with different topic. Prerequisite: HISP 325. (4)

HISP 441 : U.S. Latino Literature - A, LT

Course introduces students to critical concepts in the field of Latino/a literature. Through an examination of narrative texts from different times and places, we will focus on how U.S. Latino/a writers reinscribe native roots, cultures and languages in order to respond to the uncertainties of geographical displacement. For Hispanic studies majors, and English majors with prior approval from the chair of the English department. (4)

HISP 487 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 488 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 489 : Special Topics in Hispanic Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

HISP 491 : Independent Study

To provide individual undergraduate students with advanced study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)

HISP 499 : Capstone: Senior Project - SR

To enable senior students in an academic unit to share their work and receive group criticism. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Capstone and may be followed by a specific title designated by the academic unit. (4)