Hispanic Studies

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Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a Minor Plan in Hispanic Studies (formerly Spanish Language and Literature)

Depending on your Plan, you will expand your Spanish language skills and/or gain knowledge about critical literary and cultural concepts of the Spanish speaking world.

Taking a Minor will give you the opportunity to go abroad to a Spanish speaking country and immerse yourself in the language and culture. A few scholarships are available in the Department (one for Spain, and one for Latin America) to help you with the financial side of the exchange.

Knowledge of Spanish is increasingly important in today’s world. There are over 350 million Spanish native speakers and with your language skills you will: have greater opportunities in the job market, be able to communicate with co-workers and customers, understand signage and documents, and especially if traveling abroad - order food with confidence at Mexican or Latino restaurants and know exactly what it is!

Dr. Palomares-Salas gives you insight into the Hispanic Studies Plan:

Minor in Hispanic Studies (after May 2015)

Consists of 30.0 units as described below. The Plan, with sufficient electives to total 90.0 units, will lead to a Bachelor of Arts Degree. 

1. CORE COURSES (27.0 units): 

A. 6.0 units from (SPAN P10/3.0 and SPAN 112/3.0) or SPAN 101/6.0 
B. 9.0 units in [(SPAN 204/3.0 and SPAN 205/3.0) or SPAN 201/6.0] and SPAN 206/3.0 
C. 6.0 units from SPAN 351/3.0; SPAN 352/3.0; SPAN 380/3.0; SPAN 381/3.0; SPAN 251/6.0; SPAN 261/6.0 
D. 6.0 units from (SPAN 301/3.0 and SPAN 302/3.0) or (SPAN 303/3.0 and SPAN 304/3.0) 
 
2. OPTION COURSES (3.0 units):

A. 3.0 units from SPAN; HISP_Gen_Options

HISP_Gen_Options Options in the Hispanic Studies General Plan:
LLCU 110/3.0; LLCU 111/3.0; LLCU 200/3.0; LLCU 201/3.0; LLCU 206/3.0; LLCU 244/3.0; LLCU 247/3.0; LLCU 248/3.0; LLCU 249/3.0; LLCU 301/3.0; IDIS 200/6.0; IDIS 201/6.0

Minor in Hispanic Studies/ Spanish Language and Literature (before May 2015)

Consists of 30.0 units. The Plan in combination with a Major Plan in another subject and with sufficient electives to total of 114.0 units, will lead to a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree.

CORE COURSES (24.0 units):

A. 6.0 units in SPAN 111/3.0 and SPAN 112/3.0
B. 6.0 units in SPAN 204/3.0 and SPAN 205/3.0
C. 6.0 units from SPAN 351/3.0; SPAN 352/3.0; SPAN 380/3.0; SPAN 381/3.0
D. 6.0 units from SPAN 301/3.0 and SPAN 302/3.0 or SPAN 303/3.0 and SPAN 304/3.0

OPTION COURSES (6.0 units):

A. 6.0 units from SPAN; LLCU 200/3.0; LLCU 201/3.0; LLCU 247/3.0; LLCU 248/3.0; LLCU 301/3.0

Notes: The courses chosen must not duplicate work already completed either in university or pre-university study. If a student enters the program with advanced language/grammar knowledge or speaks Spanish at the near-native level, the student is exempted from taking the language and grammar courses (SPAN 111-SPAN 301). These would be replaced with SPAN options.

If you have no previous knowledge of Spanish, SPAN 111/3.0 is the right place to start. If you have an 4U or equivalent in Spanish, SPAN 204/3.0 is the right place. If you have some knowledge of Spanish thanks to travel or family connections, it may be appropriate for you to start with SPAN 112/3.0, i.e., half way through the first year course. If you are in this situation, you should speak to a Spanish faculty member in order to have your level evaluated.

Students completing Introductory Spanish and considering a Spanish Plan should take SPAN 204/3.0 and SPAN 205/3.0, Intermediate Spanish. These courses expand the grammatical knowledge, provide increased opportunities for vocabulary expansion and practical use of the language in lifelike situations. It is highly recommended that during your second year you also take one or two of the option courses. You can choose survey courses, taught in English, which cover the historical, social, political and cultural aspects of Spain (LLCU 247/3.0) and Latin America (LLCU 248/3.0); explore the Romance Philology (LLCU 201/3.0) or examine traditional and innovative forms of oral cultural transmission (LLCU 301/3.0).

The 300-level seminar courses are normally offered in Spanish to optimize language skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing) on topics such as The Spanish-American Narrative of the 20th Century (SPAN 306/3.0) and Artistic Representations of the Spanish Civil War (SPAN 310/3.0), as well as introduce students to the major authors and literary works of Spain (SPAN 380/3.0 and SPAN 381/3.0) and Latin America (SPAN 351/3.0 and SPAN 352).

SPAN courses at 400-level are usually offered in English concurrently with an LLCU course, e.g., Gender, Development and Film (SPAN 428/3.0) which provides students with reading and written skills in Spanish, while providing them with a variety of views and more in-depth discussions.