University of Pittsburgh

UNDERGRADUATE
Bulletin

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

MAJOR AND MINOR DESCRIPTIONS BY DEPARTMENT

 

 

HISPANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES

The study of a second 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 second 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. Students with a more general interest in Latin American languages and cultures can choose to minor in Hispanic Languages and Literatures.

In all cases, we encourage students to include at least a semester of study abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country and we offer study-abroad programs. Students interested in going on to graduate school should strongly consider the honors major; those who want to teach Spanish can obtain 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

Prerequisites

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 second 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. The Spanish major requires students to complete 38 credits of coursework as detailed below.

Required Courses

Basic Level

  • SPAN 0020 Conversation
  • SPAN 0025 Grammar and Composition

Mid Level

  • SPAN 0050 Hispanic Civilizations
  • SPAN 0055 Introduction to Hispanic Literature and Cultural Studies
  • SPAN 1400 Latin American Literature
  • SPAN 1600 Spanish Literature
  • SPAN 1300-level course
  • PORT 0001 Elementary Portuguese

Upper Level

  • SPAN 1806 Capstone Seminar
  • Three electives from the SPAN 1400, SPAN 1600, SPAN 1700, and SPAN 1800 level course series, or PORT 0002 Elementary Portuguese 2 of you are pursuing the Portuguese minor or related area. These courses include, for example, Colonial Literatures 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. Note that SPAN 1400, SPAN 1600, and PORT 1010 do not count toward the Spanish major.

 

Additional information and requirements
  • Related area: Students must complete a 12-credit related area in order to fulfill Dietrich School graduation requirements. Students interested in Latin America should consider the Latin American Studies Certificate program for a related area.
  • W requirement: SPAN 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. No courses with a grade of C- or lower will count toward the major.
  • Satisfactory/No-Credit option: Majors may take one required course on an S/NC basis.
  • Language of instruction: Spanish majors can take up to one curse offered by the department that is taught in English. In order to have it count toward minor requirements, written assignments must be submitted in Spanish.
  • Study Abroad: At least one term of study abroad is recommended.
  • Credits in residence: To complete the Spanish major, students are required to take at least half of the credits required for the major while in residence in the Dietrich School.
  • 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 not to take SPAN 1301. The same rule applies to students taking the CLAS Field Trip to Latin America.  Only one course reduction applies if a student meets more than one of these criteria.

 

Minor in Portuguese and Luso-Brazilian Culture

Before declaring the Portuguese minor, students are required to complete PORT 0001 Elementary Portuguese 1or PORT 1001 Elementary Portuguese 1 or take a placement test.

Required courses

PORT 0002 Elementary Portuguese 2 or PORT 1002 Elementary Portuguese 2

PORT 0003 Intermediate Portuguese 3 or PORT 1003 Intermediate Portuguese 3

PORT 0004 Intermediate Portuguese 4 or PORT 1004 Intermediate Portuguese 4

PORT 0020 Conversation

PORT 0025 Grammar and Composition

 

Minor in Hispanic Languages and Literatures

Before declaring the Spanish minor, students must complete four Spanish language courses in order to gain indispensable skills to effectively read, write, and discuss in a foreign language. Students with previous Spanish experience are encouraged to take a placement exam. Students must earn a grade of B+ or higher in SPAN 0004 to declare this minor.

Prerequisite courses

  • SPAN 0001 Elementary Spanish 1
  • SPAN 0002 Elementary Spanish 2
  • SPAN 0003 Intermediate Spanish 3
  • SPAN 0004 Intermediate Spanish 4

 

Required courses

  • SPAN 0020 Conversation
  • SPAN 0025 Grammar and Composition
  • SPAN 0050 Spanish Civilization
  • SPAN 1300-level
  • Two of the following courses
    • Any SPAN 1400-level course except SPAN 1400
    • Any SPAN 16-level course except SPAN 1600
    • Any SPAN 1700-level course
    • Any SPAN 1800-level course

 

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

Students should declare their intention to pursue the honors major no later than at the beginning of their senior year. The thesis will be evaluated by the advisor and two other faculty members in the department. Students may take an independent study with their supervisor that will fulfill the requirement of one upper level course. For further information, consult with the director of undergraduate studies

 

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 the advisors for Pennsylvania Teaching Certification and Masters of Arts in Teaching Programs in the School of Education (Maggie Sikors, mjs 169@pitt.edu, 5504 Posvar Hall, 412-648-7413).

Study Abroad Options for Majors in the Hispanic Languages and Literatures Department

Students are strongly encouraged to add an international dimension to their undergraduate education through studying abroad. By participating in a study abroad program, students earn credits toward their degree. The department offer four programs that are matched directly with major and minor requirements. Information on some of the programs follow.

Study abroad is strongly encouraged. The department offers four programs that are matched directly with major and minor requirements. Information on some of the programs follows.

 

  • Study abroad in Alcalá de Henares, Spain (30 minutes from Madrid) runs every odd-numbered year; for more information, send an e-mail to alcala@pitt.edu.
  • Study abroad in Santiago de Chile runs every even-numbered years; for more information, send an e-mail to chile@pitt.edu.
  • Study abroad in Porto Alegre, Brazil runs every year; for more information, send an e-mail to brazilsa@pitt.edu.
  • Study abroad in Havana, Cuba runs every year; for more information, contact the Study Abroad Office (www.abroad.pitt.edu) via e-mail abroad@pitt.edu or by phone at 412-648-7419.