BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SPANISH
The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish program allows the University to form cross-cultural Christian leaders who will be able to function effectively in situations where command of the Spanish language is required, and where the individual needs to have a good understanding of the history and culture of the different Hispanic people groups and cultures. The study of the Spanish language, literature and culture gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with people groups from different parts of the world. This in turn, gives them a new way of viewing their cultural experience.
In the Spanish major, emphasis will be given to the formation of character, the development of a Christian world-view, and the acquisition of critical thinking and self-directed learning skills essential for effective service in any area of human activity. Students will be challenged to appreciate the diversity of cultures and to bring a biblical perspective to their understanding of their own culture and the cultures of others. To this end, students will interact with the biblical text and theology through the curricular offerings that are required for this major and through the availability of electives in Bible beyond the required minimum.
The Department of Modern Languages offers a full range of undergraduate courses designed to help students develop communication skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing. In the Spanish major, students will be familiar with Hispanic culture; they will be conversant with the major authors and movements of Hispanic and Mexican-American literature, and they will be trained to become teachers of the language at the secondary level. The major will also prepare students for graduate school and careers in government service.
Students who enter the Spanish program with high school work in Spanish must take an appropriate placement test, such as the CLEP, to determine their level of proficiency. Students are required to complete, by course work or placement test, all 1000- and 2000-level courses before taking any upper-division (3000- or 4000- level) course. Students with previous language experience may not enroll in any 1000 courses without department permission. Students may not receive credit through examination for a class in which they are simultaneously enrolled. The CLEP test is administered by Palo Alto Community College and other institutions of higher education in San Antonio several times a year. Through CLEP, students may receive up to eleven semester hours of credit, but credit received in this manner will not be counted in the total number of language hours required for the Spanish major.
The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. The entry point to the program is SPAN 3301.
Study Abroad
The Department of Modern Languages strongly recommends that students seeking a major in Spanish or having a desire to teach Spanish at the secondary level take a minimum of 6 semester hours in a recognized university program in a Spanish-speaking country.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the Spanish language;
2. Exhibit communication skills in the Spanish language;
3. Evidence biblical ethical values for practice in the profession; and
4. Exhibit servant leadership skills in life and profession.
Core Curriculum Requements
Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish must fulfill the University Core Curriculum requirements listed previously in this catalog.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Core Curriculum Requirements (47 semester credit hours), the major in Spanish requires the following courses:
A. 39 semester credit hours in the major:
SPAN 2302 Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 3301 Advanced Grammar and Composition for Heritage Speakers
SPAN 3302 Spanish Phonology and Morphology
SPAN 3303 Spanish Syntax and Semantics
SPAN 3310 Hispanic-American Culture and Civilization
SPAN 3311 Spanish Culture and Civilization
SPAN 3320 Introduction to the Hispanic Literature
SPAN 3321 Survey of Mexican-American Culture and Literature
SPAN 4301 Survey of Hispanic-American Literature I
SPAN 4302 Survey of Hispanic-American Literature II
SPAN 4311 Survey of Spanish Literature I
SPAN 4312 Survey of Spanish Literature II
SPAN 4330 Spanish for Teachers
(Student may take courses below as electives)
SPAN 4340 Special Topic: Hispanic-American Culture through Film
SPAN 4350 Special Topic: Spanish Language Theater
SPAN 4360 Special Topic: The Chicano Novel
B. 21 semester credit hours in Bible and Theology:
BIBL 1301 Spiritual Formation
BIBL 3302 Biblical Interpretation
THEO 1300 Biblical Ethics
THEO 3301 Introduction to Theology
THEO 3302 Systematic Theology
Two advanced Bible or Theology courses
C. 6 semester credit hours in leadership studies:
LEAD 1300 Personal Dimensions of Leadership
LEAD 3300 Cross-Cultural Leadership Development
D. 3 semester credit hours in English:
ENGL 2306 World Literature or
ENGL 2326 American Literature
E. 4 semester credit hours in Foundation Studies:
FOUN 1101 Foundation Class
FOUN 1102 Fundamentals of Academic Research
FOUN 4201 Capstone
English