Hispanic Studies

Students demonstrate advanced communicative competence in Spanish by reading, discussing, and writing about sophisticated literary, historical, and critical texts in the target language. Students in the modified major combine that study with advanced study in another department or discipline. They recognize major figures and debates in Hispanic World cultural production. They compare and analyze various modes of creative and critical discourse. They conduct original research or analysis on creative products and cultural/social movements in Spanish.

The curriculum encourages students to explore the cultural, social, political, and economic specificities of these regions. To that end, courses cover a variety of historical periods, regional traditions, modes of artistic expression, and forms of cultural critique. The major provides students with interpretive and writing skills that are key for careers in the arts and humanities, education, government, international relations, international business, law, and social service. It also directly prepares students to succeed in graduate school in such fields as Hispanic and Lusophone Studies, Cultural Studies, History, and Comparative Literature, among others.

Major in Hispanic Studies

Prerequisite: SPAN 9 Culture and Conversation: Advanced Spanish Language (or equivalent)
The major program in Hispanic Studies consists of at least 9 courses numbered 20 or higher. All courses for this Major are taught in Spanish. In special cases, students may substitute one upper level course offered in English in a related field toward this requirement. Approval for this option will be granted on a case-by-case basis, and only for a course taken after a student has completed Spanish 20. Students must submit a written petition to the Chair during the term preceding the English language course and the petition must be approved by the Department. This option is not available for Majors in Romance Studies or Modified Majors.
Courses must be distributed as follows:
1. SPAN 20 Writing and Reading: A Critical and Cultural Approach
SPAN 20 is required for majors and minors and counts towards the major and minor. It can be taken concurrently with other 30-level courses, but it is a prerequisite for upper-level courses (SPAN 40 and higher).
2. Spanish Survey Courses and Foreign Study Programs
a. Survey Courses: SPAN 30 Introduction to Hispanic Studies I: Middle Ages-17th Century, SPAN 31 Introduction to Hispanic Studies II: 18th and 19th Centuries, SPAN 32 Introduction to Hispanic Studies III: 20th-21st Centuries
These are introductory courses with a historical or survey approach. All students must take at least one of these courses.
Students not participating on a Foreign Study Program may count up to two of these courses toward the major. Foreign Study Program students may count only one.
b. Foreign Study Courses: SPAN 33 Argentine Civilization: Society, Culture and Politics in Argentina, SPAN 34 Society, Culture and Politics in Spain, SPAN 35 Studies in Spanish-American Literature and Culture, SPAN 36 Studies in Modern and Contemporary Spanish Literature
Prerequisites: Students participate in a Foreign Study Program after having successfully completed SPAN 9 (or equivalent) and one course from the 30, 31 and 32 survey sequence.
Students may count up to two Foreign Study Program courses (SPAN 33-36) toward the major. The total number of courses that Foreign Study Program students may count towards their major from the 30 sequence (Spanish 30-36) will never exceed three.
Note: Students studying on two Foreign Study Programs will consult with the Major Advisor and petition the department for individual adjustments.
3. Topics Courses: SPAN 40- 77 SPAN 40.01 War in 19th Century Latin American Culture, SPAN 43.01 Ballads in Medieval Hispanic Literature, SPAN 45.01 Slaves from the Past, Slaves Next Door, SPAN 50.02 New Sexual and Social identity in Film and Literature in Post-Franco Spain, SPAN 53.02 History of the Spanish Language, SPAN 55.04 Humor and Politics in Latin American Literature, Film and Culture, SPAN 60 Race and Ethnicity in Hispanic Studies, SPAN 63 Hispanic Film Studies, SPAN 65.01 The Freak Onstage, SPAN 70.01 Great Works of Hispanic Literature: Don Quixote and One Hundred Years of Solitude, SPAN 72 Latin American and Latina Women: Gender, Culture, Literature, SPAN 73.02 Under the Influence. Intoxicating Goods and Vicious Texts from Early Modern Spain, SPAN 73.03 Spanish Leviathan: Literature and State Violence from 1812 to 2009, SPAN 75 Creative Writing in Spanish, SPAN 77.02 Manuel Puig: The Evolution of a Narrative Poetics. From La traición de Rita Hayworth (Betrayed by Rita Hayworth), to Cae la noche tropical (Tropical Night Falling)
In consultation with the Major Advisor, students choose at least four of these upper-level courses from among the offerings of the department. Students who do not participate in a Foreign Study Program must choose at least five.
4. Independent Study: SPAN 83
One Independent Study (SPAN 83) may count as an upper-level course for the major. The Department projects its upper-level offerings up to two years in advance so that students can thoughtfully plan an individualized course of study in consultation with the Major Advisor. Students interested in pursuing an Independent Study must identify their topic, faculty advisor, and present a proposal to their faculty advisor and to the Department for approval no later than the seventh week of the term preceding the term they wish to undertake the Independent Study.
5. Culminating Experience: Senior Seminar (SPAN 80)
The Senior Seminar is required for all seniors. SPAN 80 allows students to explore, debate, and creatively produce written work or other forms of knowledge (plays, short films, photographic essays, etc.) on a topic relevant to Hispanic Studies, a process enhanced by the small group setting of the seminar. SPAN 80 fulfills the Culminating Experience required for the major and will be offered several times each academic year.
*In special cases, the Culminating Experience may be fulfilled by a different upper-level course. In that case, students will be required to complete additional work as established by the course professor. A petition to the Major Advisor and Chair must be made by the last week of the term prior to registering for this alternate course.
*Upon formal request, juniors may be allowed to take the Senior Seminar when petitioned for approval to the faculty member teaching the course and to the Major Advisor.

Minor in Hispanic Studies

All minor cards must be signed by the Major/Minor Advisor of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Prerequisite: SPAN 9 (see description of SPAN 9)

The minor in Hispanic Studies consists of at least five additional courses, which must be distributed as follows:

1. SPAN 20

SPAN 20 is required for majors and minors and counts towards the major and minor. It can be taken concurrently with other 30-level courses, but it is a prerequisite for upper-level courses (SPAN 40 and higher).

2. Survey Courses (SPAN 30-32) and FSP Courses (SPAN 33-36)

Students must take at least one of these courses. No more than two may count toward the minor, except for students doing a Foreign Study Program who can count a maximum of three.

3. Upper Level Courses (SPAN 40 - 77) and Independent Study (SPAN 83)*

In consultation with a faculty advisor, students choose the remaining courses from the upper-level offering. The Department projects its course offerings up to two years in advance so that students can thoughtfully plan an individualized course of study in consultation with the Major Advisor.

*One Independent Study (SPAN 83) may also count as an upper-level course for the Minor. Students interested in pursuing an Independent Study must identify their topic, faculty advisor, and present a proposal to their faculty advisor and to the Department for approval no later than the seventh week of the term preceding the term they wish to undertake the Independent Study.

4. Senior Seminar (SPAN 80)

Seniors pursuing a Minor in Spanish are encouraged to register for a Senior Seminar. This course automatically counts as one of the required upper level courses for the Minor.

1.       SAT Reasoning or ACT (with Writing);

2.       2 SAT Subject Test Scores;

3.       The common application essay;

4.       Within the Common Application, Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write a brief response to one of the following supplemental essay prompts. Candidates choose one topic and respond;

5.       A counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations. In addition, a peer recommendation is strongly encouraged;

6.       Resume;

7.       Brief abstract of an independent research project;

8.       IELTS or TOEFL (no minimum scores).

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