MINOR IN SPANISH AND LATINO STUDIES

The Minor in Spanish and Latino Studies consists of a total of 15 credits. The student will take four required courses (12 credits) and one elective course (3 credits). Total credit hours: 15. No minimum grade but overall 2.0 in courses must be obtained.

The Minor goal is to give students a broad knowledge of Spanish language, history, and culture, while strengthening your language skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening comprehension, and grammar). Students can start their minor after Spanish III or an equivalent.  Spanish III will give students a solid command of Spanish language to start the minor. The Minor requirement courses cover the fundamental aspects of Spanish language and culture: conversation, composition, civilization, history and literature. Please, see below for a full description of courses.

REQUIRED COURSES (12)

SPN 2201 Spanish IV (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2200 or equivalent.

This course is offered to students who finished Spanish III or an equivalent level.  This course continues to develop the basic skills in listening, reading, speaking, comprehension, and writing. The textbook is Mundo 21, ISBN: 0-618-27578-9. This book explores Spanish traditions and cultures of Latinos in the U. S. It also offers students a cultural journey throughout different Latin American and Caribbean countries, such as Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panamá, Argentina and Venezuela, among others.  At the end of the semester students have gained the knowledge that allows them to keep working with Conversation classes or Advanced Grammar and Composition.

SPN 2240 Conversation I (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2201 or equivalent.

This course’s main goal is to develop basic conversation skills. In order to achieve this task, students will read and discuss different cultural topics such as tourism and hotels, health and diseases, family and hobbies, sports, etc. Students also will work in the vocabulary of each lesson, and actively participate in class debates. At the end of the course students will be able to express ideas about different themes in Spanish. The textbook Conversaciones creadoras  (ISBN: 0-618-48107-9) is an excellent tool to achieve the conversation level required.

SPN 3300 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2201 or equivalent.

In this course students will develop skills for organizing and writing different kind of texts.  There is a special emphasis in developing the capacity to acquire synthesis in the process of writing. Grammar review and compositions are an essential part in this class. The textbook, Composición proceso y síntesis, ISBN: 0-07-281889-1, not only helps students to acquire rhetorical strategies, it also gives them models to write different genres of texts, such as descriptions, narrations, expositions, etc. At the end of the semester students will have the capacity to write well in Spanish. 

SPN 3520 Spanish American Civilization (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2240 or equivalent.

This course gives an exciting overview of the social and political history of Latin America. The textbook, Latinoamérica. Presente y pasado, ISBN: 0-13-223146-8  begins with the quest of Christopher Columbus and goes through the centuries and countries to the twenty-first century.  It offers an excellent opportunity to learn and understand many issues in Latin American countries, such as corruption, nepotism, dictatorship, etc.

ELECTIVES (3)

Any SPN or SPW 3000, 4000, or 5000 level course not listed above.

Examples of Courses students may take (list is not comprehensive):

SPN 3500 Spanish Civilization (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2240

This course gives students a wide perspective about the social and cultural components that constitute the civilization of Spain.  It is a window to the Hispanic culture through the history of Spain. The textbook is Civilización y cultura de España ISBN: 0-13-194638-2 and covers Pre-historic Spain to contemporary Spanish life and culture. 

SPN 3440 Spanish for Business and International Trade I (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2240

The class is a friendly approach to the Spanish business world. Students learn and practice the terminology and vocabulary that is used by Spanish-speaking business people.  The course emphasizes the cultural differences within the Spanish-speaking world and their impact on business and international trade.  The textbook is Basic Spanish for Business and Finance, ISBN: 0-618-50574-1.

SPN 4470 Advanced Overseas Study (1-6) Departmental approval required. Pre-requisite: SPN 2201

This one-month- program that USF St. Petersburg offers in conjunction with Universidad Marista in Mérida, Yucatán is an outstanding opportunity for students who are interested in improving their skill in the Spanish language and culture.  Besides the classes offered by Universidad Marista, students will enjoy several field trips to Mayan ruins, beaches, museums, cultural and recreational activities.  Every student who participates in the program lives with a family,which allows for maximum language and cultural immersion.  Please, visit our Spanish website in order to learn more about this exciting program.  

SPN 4410 Advanced Conversation (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2240.

This is a course for students who have some Spanish command and are interested in receiving an intensive speaking training in Spanish.  The course covers different topics about life and cultures in Latin America such as popular culture, science and technology, legends, traditions and art, etc.  The textbook is Identidades, ISBN: 0-13-030463-8.

SPW 3030 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies (3) Pre-requisite: SPN 2240 or SPN 4470.

This class is an introduction to the study of Spanish American Literature. The textbook is a collection of the most representative literary works in the New World: from the documents written by the Conquerors such as Diario de Cristobal Colón and Cartas de Relación by Hernán Cortés, through the poetry of the Renaissance period until the Romanticism and Modernism in Latin American countries. The Textbook, Huellas, ISBN: 0-13-825100-2, is an anthology of the most representative works that cover all those periods.

This course explores the most important literary and cultural works of Spain.  It is a general approach to prose fiction, poetry, etc. from the Renaissance to the Golden Age. The textbook is Antología de la literatura Española: Renacimiento y Siglo de Oro, ISBN: 13-9781556357787.  At the end of the course students will have a general view of the most important literary works of those periods in Spain.