School of Arts and Sciences
MAJOR AND MINOR DESCRIPTIONS BY DEPARTMENT
HISPANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
The study of a foreign language, literature, and culture like Spanish traditionally has been one of the central components of an undergraduate education in the humanities. Today there is an added practical dimension to this. With economic and cultural globalization, our links as a nation with Spain and Latin America, including Brazil, have become much closer. At the same time, Spanish is not only a foreign language for us; it has become much like French in Canada, a de facto second language in the United States, which now has a Spanish-speaking population of more than 30 million. As a result, there is a growing demand for persons trained in Spanish (and also Portuguese) in many fields, especially education, where there is a shortage of new teachers of Spanish language and culture.
The undergraduate major in Spanish at the University of Pittsburgh offers a balanced combination of courses designed to strengthen oral and written language skills, and courses that introduce students to the study of Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures. Majors also have the opportunity to enroll in the minor in Portuguese Language and Luso-Brazilian cultures, thereby opening channels of communication with millions of people around the world, including Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most heavily populated country. We are currently working on a minor in Hispanic Languages and Literatures and hope to have it in place by Fall 2009.
We encourage majors to include at least a semester of study abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country and offer a study-abroad program. Students interested in going on to graduate school should strongly consider the honors major; those who want to teach Spanish can obtain a teacher certification through the School of Education. The department also offers courses taught in English for non-majors interested in Hispanic, Latin American, Luso-Brazilian, or U.S. Latino cultures. Students can also take advantage of the non-curricular activities organized by the department, which include conversation clubs and films series.
Major requirements
Pre-requisites
Before declaring the major, students must complete four Spanish language courses in order to gain the indispensable skills to effectively read, write and discuss in a foreign language. Students with any previous knowledge of Spanish must take a placement test. Please note that a grade of B+ or higher in SPAN 0004 is required to declare the major.
Required Courses (38 credits)
Basic Level (2 courses, 6 credits)
- Spanish 0020, Conversation
- Spanish 0025, Grammar and Composition
Mid Level (6 courses, 20 credits)
- Spanish 0050, Hispanic Civilizations
- Spanish 0055, Introduction to Hispanic Literature and Cultural Studies
- Portuguese 0001, Elementary Portuguese
- Spanish 1400, Latin American Literature
- Spanish 1600, Spanish Literature
- any Spanish 1300-level course except 1303
Upper Level (4 courses, 12 credits)
- Spanish 1303, Senior Capstone Seminar 3
- Three electives from 1300 (not including 1303), 1400, 1600, 1700, 1800 level courses, or Portuguese 0002 (no more than one course in any one of the above series will count towards the major requirement). These courses include, for example, Advanced Composition, Hispanic Sociolinguistics, Pre-Columbian Literature and Cultures, Latin American Novel, U.S. Latino Literature and Film, African Presence in Hispanic Literature and Culture, Don Quixote, Modern Spanish Novel and Film, etc
Additional information and requirements
- Related area: Students must complete a 12-credit related area in order to fulfill A&S graduation requirements. Students interested in Latin America should consider the Latin American Studies Certificate program for a related area.
- W requirement: Spanish 0055 (Introduction to Literary and Cultural Studies) satisfies this requirement.
- Grade requirements: Students must maintain an average GPA of 2.0 or above in all department courses.
- Satisfactory/No-Credit option: Majors may take one required course on a S/NC basis.
- Placement into language courses: For the Spanish placement test, please contact the Spanish Language Coordinator, Carlos Ramírez, cramirez@pitt.edu. For the Portuguese placement test, please contact the Portuguese Language Coordinator, Ana Paula Carvalho, apcst11@pitt.edu.
- Credit by examination: Students may receive credit by examination for the Spanish language courses up to and including SPAN 25 Advanced Grammar. Similar credits may be earned in Portuguese.
Double majors, dual degrees and CLAS certificates
Students who have declared an additional major or pursue a dual degree need to take need to take only three upper level courses –one of which must be the Span 1303–instead of four. The CLAS Field trip to LA can be taken in lieu of one upper level elective.
18 credits in residence
To complete the Spanish major, students are required to take in residence at the University of Pittsburgh a minimum of eighteen credits of the thirty eight required for the major.
Minor in Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian Culture
The requirements for the minor are PORT 0002/1002, PORT 0003/1003, PORT 0004/1004, PORT 0020/1020, and PORT 0025/1025, for a total of 17 credits. Students who participate in a university-level study abroad program in a Portuguese-speaking country and take Portuguese-language or Luso-Brazilian cultural courses while there can receive up to six credits toward the total of 17 credits needed for the minor, subject to approval by the undergraduate Portuguese advisor.
Minor in Hispanic Languages and Literatures
The department is currently working toward having a minor in Hispanic languages and literatures in place. Please consult with a departmental advisor for the latest information about it.
Departmental Honors requirements
Especially for students interested in graduate work, the department offers honors in the major, which requires:
- a 3.5 average in departmental courses and 3.0 overall
- a senior thesis of 25–30 pages, written under the supervision of a faculty member close to the field of the thesis
- at least a semester of study abroad is strongly recommended but not required
Teacher Certification
Students who plan to teach Spanish after completing the major should consult with their advisor or the director of undergraduate studies in the Department, as well as with Kenneth Pawlik the advisor for Pennsylvania Teaching Certification and Masters of Arts in Teaching Programs, in the School of Education (kpawlik@pitt.edu, 5504 Posvar Hall, 412 648-7413).
Study Abroad Options for Majors in the Hispanic Languages and Literatures Department
You are strongly encouraged to add an international dimension to your undergraduate education through studying abroad. By participating in a study abroad program, you will earn credits toward your degree. We currently have one study abroad program in Spain and run by the department, and are working to having one in Latin America as well.
For the Spain study abroad program, please contact Sarah Williams, smuniain@pitt.edu. To learn about the variety of other programs available, contact Dr. Annagene Yucas in the Study Abroad Office at 412-648-7419, 802 William Pitt Union, stdyabrd@pitt.edu or Julian Asenjo in CLAS at 412-648-7396, 4E04 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, juasenjo@ucis.pitt.edu.
We invite you to investigate these and other options further. You can call for an advising appointment or stop in any time to receive information. Scholarships are available, and financial aid is applicable.
University of Pittsburgh Latin American Studies Field Trip (CLAS)
- Location: Latin America (location varies each summer)
- Dates: Spring term seminar at Pitt plus summer session 1 field trip
- Fields of Study: Local history and culture
- Language of Instruction: Spanish or Portuguese
- Special Features: Program offers interdisciplinary seminar, research methodology field research projects, and housing with host families
- Eligibility: Proficient in language of instruction by end of spring term
Pitt in Cuba
Dates: Summer
For further information, contact Professor Mark Ginsburg, School of Education, 412-648-1783; sg3@pitt.edu.
Institute of European Studies (IES), Madrid
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Dates: Semester, full year, or summer options available
- Fields of Study: Liberal Arts courses including Spanish language and literature
- Language of Instruction: Spanish
- Special Feature: Housing in Spanish homes
- Eligibility: Four or five semesters of college-level Spanish
Council International Educational Exchange
- (CIEE), Brazil
- Location: University of Sao Paulo
- Dates: Academic year only
- Fields of Study: Portuguese language
- Special Features: Program offers various weekend excursions
- Eligibility: Two years of college-level Portuguese or Spanish or one year each of Spanish and Portuguese; junior status by start of program