Courses of Study in Spanish & Portuguese	version
Language and Literature | Language and Linguistics | Spanish and Portuguese Concentration | Secondary School Teaching Major | Spanish Minor | Portuguese Minor | Spanish Teaching Minor

Overview of the Spanish Major

The Spanish program at the University of Arizona offers students a comprehensive liberal arts education and provides them with a body of knowledge and the analytical skills necessary to undertake linguistics, cultural and literary investigations. Students perfect their language skills so that they are able to communicate their views effectively in written and spoken Spanish. Students may elect a major that concentrates in either language and literature or language and linguistics. A major for those wishing to pursue a career in secondary school teaching is also available through the College of Education, as is an interdisciplinary major in which students combine Spanish and two other areas of study. All majors in the Department are assigned to Prof. Melissa Fitch, who will serve as their faculty advisor and mentor to the student for the duration of the student's academic program.

Spanish majors are strongly encouraged to complete part of their degree requirements through participation in a foreign study program. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese currently sponsors programs in Spain and Chile. Students may also elect to participate in programs in Mexico through the University's Guadalajara Summer School or at other sites in the Hispanic world through the Office of Global Student Programs.

Majors in Spanish are encouraged to take elective courses in areas related to their area of study such as Latin American Studies or Mexican and Mexican American Studies. Eligible students are encouraged to complete their degree work through the Honors Center and write an Honors thesis. The Department also encourages majors to pursue work in Portuguese as an elective or as a minor.

The Spanish major for the B.A. requires 36 upper division credits, consisting of two qualifing courses, 325 Intermediate Grammar and Writing and 330 Intermediate Conversation (323/333 for Heritage Speakers) of three units each, plus 30 upper division units with a primary concentration in either language and linguistics or language and literature, (eight courses minimum) and a secondary emphasis (two courses minimum) in the alternative area. All Spanish majors will complete 350 Reading Literary Genres and either 340 Phonetics (343 for Heritage speakers) or 452 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics as part of the program.

Note: All majors since the Fall 2001 catalogue must also complete PORT 305 and 325.

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Language and literature concentration

All students will present two of the three survey courses (400 Survey of Spanish Literature, 401 Survey of Spanish-American Literature, 403 Survey of Mexican and Mexican-American Literature) and five elective courses chosen in consultation with Prof. Fitch and balanced among the three regions. Students may elect to have the senior thesis (496a) be one of the elective courses. The complementary language and linguistics component shall consist of 425 Advanced Gramar and Composition or 450 Advanced Conversational and Writing Skills.

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Language and linguistics concentration

All students will take 340/343 Phonetics, 425Advanced Gramar and Composition or 450 Advanced Conversational and Writing Skills, 452 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics , 453 Theory of Spanish Morphosyntax, 457 Applied Linguistics, one of the culture and civilization courses (430 Spanish Civilization, 431 Spanish-American Civilization, 433 Mexican and Mexican and American Civilization through Literature) and the seminar in linguistics, 459 Hispanic Linguistics.

The complementary language and literature component shall consist of 350 Reading Literary Genres and one of the semester surveys of literature (400 Survey of Spanish Literature, 401 Survey of Spanish-American Literature, 403 Survey of Mexican and Mexican-American Literature).

A Spanish subject area within the interdisciplinary major shall consist of at least 21 units beyond the 102 level, of which 12 shall be upper division courses, including 323/325, 330/333, 340/343 and 350.

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The Spanish Major with Portuguese Concentration

Completes course work in two languages. Students begin at whatever level is deemed appropriate based on a placement exam.  The major consists of 36 credits, 18 in Portuguese and 18 in Spanish.  The required courses are PORT 350, SPAN 350, and two 400 level courses in each language.

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Teaching Major in Spanish

The teaching major in Spanish shall consist of 24 units of upper division coursework: 323/325, 330/333, 340/343, 350, 425 or 450, one semester of literature survey (400, 401, 403), one of culture surveys 430,431, 433 and either 457 or 473.

The Minor in Spanish

The minor in Spanish shall consist of no less than 20 units of work beyond the 102 level, and must include at least nine units of upper division coursework. Recommended courses include 323/325, 330/333, 340/343, and 350. Students must meet prerequisites to take 400-level courses.

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The Portuguese Minor

Consists of no less than 18 units, starting at 200 with at least 9 units of upper division courses.

Teaching Minor in Spanish

The requirements for the teaching minor in Spanish are the same as those of the general minor in Spanish.