Spanish Placement
Secondary Teacher Certification
Courses of Instruction

(SPAN)

Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Spanish. The Spanish major consists of 30 credits at the level of 30000 and above. Up to 15 of those credits may be taken at an approved study abroad site. Courses taken pass/no credit and courses in which the student earns below a C will not count toward the major.

Students pursuing the Spanish major must take at least three of the following courses:
SPAN 30103 Spanish for Heritage Speakers
SPAN 30203 Intensive Grammar
SPAN 30303 Conversation
SPAN 30503 Composition & Reading
SPAN 40103 Analyzing Literary Texts
One culture course from this list: 30813, 30833, 30843, 30853.

All students majoring in Spanish must take a Senior Seminar. In exceptional cases, with the written permission of the Chair of the Spanish Department, students may substitute two literature classes for the Senior Seminar. Students may take the Senior Seminar beginning the second semester of their junior year. A grade of B or better must be earned in the Senior Seminar in order for the student to graduate with a major in Spanish; with a grade of C, the student may graduate with a minor in Spanish.

Requirements for a minor in Spanish. The Spanish minor consists of 18 credits at the level of 20203 and above. Up to 9 of those credits may be taken at an approved study abroad site.

Pass/No Credit Option. Students majoring in AddRan College may take up to 9 semester hours of courses on a P/NC basis. No courses applied to a Department's Major or Associated Requirements may be taken on the P/NC basis. Courses applied to the minor may be taken on the P/NC basis. Students minoring in Spanish are subject to the pass/no credit policy of their major department.

Placement

Students with academic or life experience in a foreign language are urged to enroll at a level appropriate to their skills. In order to encourage students to enroll in a first course appropriate to their ability, TCU offers the following incentive-based placement policy:

Students whose first language class at TCU is beyond the first semester level may earn additional language credit (if credit has not already been awarded for transfer, CLEP, or AP work) as follows:

· If the first foreign language class is at the second semester level (10203) and a grade of B or higher is earned, as a reward for superior work, three semester hours credit will also be awarded for the first-semester course (10103).
· If the first foreign language class is at the third semester level (20103) and a grade of B or higher is earned, as a reward for superior work, six semester hours credit will also be awarded for the first and second semester courses (10103 and 10203).
· If the first foreign language class is at the fourth semester level (20203) and a grade of B or higher is earned, as a reward for superior work, nine semester hours credit will also be awarded for the first, second and third semester courses (10103, 10203 and 20103).
· If the first foreign language class is beyond the fourth semester level (numbered 30000 or above) and a grade of B or higher is earned, as a reward for superior work, nine semester hours credit will also be awarded for the second, third and fourth semester courses (10203, 20103 and 20203).

If the student takes a foreign language class at a level beyond the first one and earns a C or D, no additional credit will be awarded, but the student will be deemed to have satisfied the foreign language requirement of the UCR consistent with the level of the course passed. For example, if a student's first foreign language class at TCU is at the fourth semester level (20203), and the student earns a C as the final grade, the student will not receive additional credit, but will have satisfied the foreign language requirement at the sophomore level.

To determine proper placement level, students should consult the level descriptions on the department's website or consult with an advisor in the Department of Spanish.

Additional credit may also be earned by means of exams administered by the College Board (AP or CLEP). Please consult the TCU Credit by Exam booklet, available through the Office of Admissions, for details.

Students considering a major in Spanish should bear in mind that 10000 and 20000 level courses do not count toward a major. However, SPAN 20203 may count toward a minor. Note: Students entering the program at a certain level may not receive credit for course work taken below that level.

Credit by AP exam: AP3, 6 credit hours (10103, 10203); studies begin in 20103. AP4, 9 credit hours (10103, 10203, 20103); studies begin in 20203 or above. AP5, 12 credit hours (10103, 10203, 20103, 20203); studies begin in 30203 or above.

Honors Program. Spanish majors who plan to pursue Departmental Honors must be members of the Honors Program and should enroll in SPAN 40623 during the fall semester of their senior year.

Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society. The department annually recognizes its outstanding students by inviting them to join Sigma Delta Pi, the national honor society for Spanish scholars.

Study Abroad. TCU and the Department of Spanish offer a wide range of opportunities for a summer, semester or academic year abroad through prestigious programs and institutions.

Secondary Teacher Certification

Students seeking certification for teaching in Spanish at the secondary school level should be advised by the departmental secondary certification advisor.

All individuals seeking Texas teaching certification with an elementary specialization (including bilingual education) or secondary teaching field in Spanish must take the TOPT (Texas Oral Proficiency Test). This test must be taken in addition to the ExCet exams required. Candidates who attain the TOPTs passing standard of advanced oral proficiency or higher will be recommended for certification. Candidates who do not meet the TOPTs passing criteria, but who have met all other coursework and certification requirements, may be recommended for a general elementary certificate or a single secondary teaching field.

Students who plan to earn a teaching certificate requiring a passing score in the TOPT must submit a language assessment from the Department of Spanish when applying to the Teacher Education Program of the University.

Courses of Instruction

LAST 40003 Latin American Studies Seminar. Prerequisites: Senior standing all required core courses for the Latin American Studies major. A critical study of contemporary Latin America from various perspectives within the social sciences, the humanities, and the arts, among others.

PORT 10103 Portuguese for Beginners. A beginning course intended for students with no previous knowledge of the language. The skills of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing are taught at the elementary level, with an emphasis on oral proficiency in everyday situations encountered in Portuguese-speaking countries. No prerequisite. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

PORT 10203 Portuguese for Beginners 2. Prerequisite: PORT 10103 or equivalent. Continued study of beginning Portuguese. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

PORT 20103 Portuguese for Beginners 3. Prerequisite: PORT 10203 or equivalent. Completion of the beginning-level survey of the Portuguese language. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

PORT 20203 Intermediate Portuguese. Prerequisite: PORT 20103 or equivalent. Review, reinforcement, and integration of the skills at the beginning level. This course bridges the beginning level and the next level of intensive study. (No credit given to native speakers; heritage speakers may receive credit with permission of the department.)

PORT 30000 Portuguese Study Abroad. Credits, from 1 to 15, taken at an approved study abroad site. Credits accepted only for graded courses taught in Portuguese.

PORT 30863 Culture of Brazil. Prerequisite: PORT 20203 or equivalent. A study of the cultural institutions, both historical and contemporary, that distinguish Brazilian society.

SPAN 10103 Spanish for Beginners. A beginning course intended for students with no previous knowledge of the language. The skills of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing are taught at the elementary level, with an emphasis on oral proficiency in everyday situations encountered in Spanish-speaking countries. No prerequisite. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

SPAN 10203 Spanish for Beginners 2. Prerequisite: SPAN 10103 or equivalent. Continued study of beginning Spanish. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

SPAN 10433 Freshman Seminar in Spanish. Topics may vary each time it is offered.

SPAN 10533 Freshman Seminar in Spanish. Topics may vary each time it is offered.

SPAN 20103 Spanish for Beginners 3. Prerequisite: SPAN 10203 or equivalent. Completion of the beginning-level survey of the Spanish language. (No credit given to native or heritage speakers.)

SPAN 20203 Intermediate Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 20103 or equivalent. Review, reinforcement, and integration of the skills at the beginning level. This course bridges the beginning level and the next level of intensive study. (No credit given to native speakers; heritage speakers may receive credit with permission of the department.)

SPAN 30000 Spanish Study Abroad. Credits, from 3 to 15, taken at an approved study abroad site. Credits accepted only for graded courses taught in Spanish.

SPAN 30003 Junior Honors Seminar. Junior honors seminar.

SPAN 30103 Spanish for Heritage Speakers. A comprehensive Spanish course for heritage students with proficiency in spoken Spanish but whose formal education has been in English. The course covers all basic language skills, with emphasis on reading and writing taught through literary and cultural readings, compositions, and exams.

SPAN 30203 Intensive Grammar. Prerequisites: SPAN 20203 or equivalent. An intensive review of Spanish grammar with emphasis on practical applications of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.

SPAN 30303 Conversation. Prerequisite: SPAN 20203 or equivalent. Development of oral proficiency skills through intensive practice in a wide variety of common situations and topics. (No credit given to native speakers; heritage speakers may receive credit with permission of the department.)

SPAN 30503 Composition and Reading. Prerequisites: SPAN 20203 or equivalent. Intensive practice in both writing and reading skills. Includes directed compositions, applications of effective reading techniques and strategies, and a review of grammar. Not recommended for native speakers of Spanish whose education has been in Spanish.

SPAN 30603 Spanish for the Workplace. Prerequisites: SPAN 20203 or the equivalent. The vocabulary, grammar, and culture needed in specific professions. Alternating topics, such as Spanish for Business, Spanish for Health Care, Spanish for School Teachers, Spanish for Criminal Justice, etc. May be repeated for credit, as topic changes; maximum of 6 credits.

SPAN 30816 TCU in Mexico. Prerequisites: SPAN 20203 or permission. Two classes of Spanish (language, culture, or literature) in a combination selected in consultation with the supervising professor. Taught on site in Mexico

SPAN 30826 TCU in Spain. Prerequisite: SPAN 20203 or by permission. Two classes of Spanish (language, culture, or literature) in a combination selected in consultation with the supervising professor. Taught on site in Spain.

SPAN 30843 Culture of Spain. Prerequisite: a 30000-level Spanish language course. A study of the cultural institutions, both historical and contemporary, that distinguish Spanish society.

SPAN 30853 Culture of Latin America. Prerequisites: a 30000-level Spanish language course. A study of the cultural institutions, both historical and contemporary, that distinguish the societies of Latin America.

SPAN 30873 Great Ideas and Events of Spain or Latin America. The ideas (such as the avant-garde, magical nature, liberation theology, or purity of blood) and events (such as the Spanish Civil War, Islamic Spain, the Conquest of the Americas, or the Spanish-American War) that have changed the outlook of Spanish or Latin American culture. Varying topics. May be repeated for credit, as the topic changes; maximum of 6 credits. May be taught in English or Spanish, depending on the topic.

SPAN 30903 Seminar on Culture or Language. Prerequisites: two 30000-level Spanish language classes. Special topics in Hispanic culture or language, such as Religion in Hispanic America, Family in Hispanic America, Dialects of Spanish, or Spanish Pronunciation. May be repeated for credit as the topic changes, up to 6 credits.

SPAN 40103 Analyzing Literary Texts. Prerequisites: SPAN 30203 or 30103. Introduction to the techniques of literary analysis, including the learning of analytical vocabulary and concepts, as well as the development of critical thinking skills.

SPAN 40203 Masterpieces of Spanish Literature. Prerequisite: SPAN 40103. An introduction to the major works of Spanish literature.

SPAN 40303 Masterpieces of Latin American Literature. Prerequisites: SPAN 40103. An introduction to the major works of Latin American literature.

SPAN 40403 Hispanic Film. Prerequisite: SPAN 40103. An introduction to major works of Latin American and Spanish film. This course explores the cinematic representations of significant aspects of Hispanic culture while serving as an introduction to film rhetoric, narrative techniques, and terminology.

SPAN 40503 Many Voices: Seminar. Prerequisite: SPAN 40103. Special topics in literatures that represent alternatives to the dominant literary currents. Topics may include Hispanic Literature in the US, AfroHispanic Literature, Women Writers, or Contemporary Indigenous Literature. May be repeated for credit as the topic changes, up to 6 credits.

SPAN 40623 Senior Honors Thesis. Independent projects in literature or linguistics or cultural studies resulting in a Senior Honors Thesis.

SPAN 40703 Seminar in Spanish Literature. Prerequisites: SPAN 40103. Special topics in the literature of Spain such as Moorish Spain, Post-Franco Writers, or Rebels, Lovers, and Madmen. May be repeated for credit as the topic changes, up to 6 credits.

SPAN 40803 Seminar in Latin American Literature. Prerequisite: SPAN 40103. Special topics in the literature of Latin America, such as Women Writers, Poetry, Literature of the Mexican Revolution, or Magical Realism.

SPAN 40970 Directed Research in Spanish. Prerequisite: permission of department chair. Opportunity for independent study, culminating in a substantial written research project.

SPAN 40993 Senior Seminar. Prerequisite: a minimum of two 30000-level Spanish language courses, one course on culture, and two courses on literature. The purpose of this course is to ensure mastery of spoken and written Spanish for students on the verge of graduation. A grade of B or better must be earned in order for the student to graduate with a major in Spanish. With a grade of C, the student may graduate with a minor in Spanish.

SPAN 50203 Graduate Study in Hispanic Topics. Special topics in Hispanic literature, culture, language, or pedagogy. May be repeated for credit, up to 9 credits. Taught in Spanish.

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