This post is an introduction to most Spanish courses offered in undergraduate programs in the United States. The main purpose is to help students understand the content of Spanish courses and their sequence in most Bachelor’s degree programs. Students are encouraged to read course descriptions offered by their current or prospective programs.
One mistake students often make during their undergraduate studies is not paying enough attention or taking the time to understand the courses. Surely, degree requirements must be fulfilled and some courses are required whether students like them or not. In addition, some small departments do not have the resources to provide many options to students.
Understanding the courses helps you to have a complete picture of the Spanish language, literature and linguistics. More importantly, this understanding is critical to knowing what you are getting with your degree, how well prepared you are to pursue a Ph.D. in Spanish, what gaps you have, and how you compare to students completing similar degrees at other universities.
In selecting a program or a course, make sure that you understand it.
Course Descriptions
The first step is to read the course description. You can find descriptions in the university catalog and, more often than not, on the department’s website. Semester schedules offer an abbreviated description that can give you a quick idea of the content of the course.
Some departments make it easy for students to find this information by having organized and user-friendly websites. Unfortunately, other departments expect students to find the information on their own or have faculty explain the differences to students.
Pay attention to the descriptions offered by your program. A good description must contain the title, the period, the approach, the requisites, credit numbers, and learning outcomes.
Language Courses: First and Second Year
The first courses you are expected to take are language courses. Depending on your level, you can begin from scratch and take first-year Spanish. These courses are designed to teach you basic grammar and vocabulary, and develop writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills. At the end of the year, you will be able to have a basic conversation, conjugate verbs, and write short paragraphs.
The second year of Spanish allows students to keep building the knowledge and skills they acquire in the beginning level with a degree of difficulty to gain more proficiency. Usually, these courses do not count for the Minor or Major, as they are seen as requirements for students at the college level. In other words, it is expected that you have a good command of Spanish by understanding its structure and being able to communicate with other speakers in order to graduate from any program.
Students who have taken Spanish before college or have extensive experience with the language might take a placement test and start the Minor or Major with composition courses. You must do your best on the test. Sometimes, students placed in composition courses are afraid to be placed in that level and try to enroll in first or second-year courses, thinking it will be easy for them to get a good grade. You should be aware that the first two weeks of a course are the hardest, as you probably did not practice the language before beginning. If you are placed in a composition course, go ahead and enroll. On the other hand, if you are placed in a first- or second-year Spanish course, do the same. In the end, being placed at the right level for you matters more than the grade or your fear of failing.
Composition Courses: Writing and Speaking
If you started from the beginning level, you can expect to complete composition courses during the second or third year. These courses are designed to improve your language skills before you enroll in more advanced courses, such as culture and civilization, linguistics, or literature. In most cases, these courses allow students to review the material learned in previous courses and add new information.
In writing courses, you are expected to write more, review your writing, and be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses. In speaking courses, you are expected to speak more, do presentations, and take oral tests to assess your level. These particular courses usually count for the Minor and the Major.
Culture and Civilization Courses: Spain and Latin America
After completing language and composition courses, students are expected to take culture and civilization courses. These courses are designed to teach you about cultural aspects of Spain or Latin America. You will learn about history, music, art, food, and literature. You will also learn important concepts related to a country and a region, such as “civilización y barbarie,” “Reconquista,” or “la Movida,” and about historical events, such as invasions, independence, or transition to democracy.
Keep in mind that understanding a culture implies learning about the historical conditions that shaped the country or region. Therefore, be prepared to learn about history in these courses.
Have you taken one of these courses? What did you like about them? Were you familiar with the course requirements before you started the degree?
Disclaimer: Information shared and advice offered in this post does not substitute academic advising at your institution. As a student, it is your responsibility to carefully read degree requirements, understand the sequence of courses, and communicate effectively with faculty members and administrators.