BEGINNING SPANISH LANGUAGE COURSES

The beginning and intermediate Spanish language curriculum consists of six courses: Spanish 1A-B-C and 2A-B-C. This series is designed to teach students the four fundamental linguistic skills: speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish. Using the Communicative Approach, these foundation courses have the objective to provide foreign language skills that facilitate successful transitioning into advanced Spanish. At the same time, these beginning Spanish classes are an excellent portal for study abroad, be that in Spain or in Latin America. For an overview of relevant Education Abroad study sites, visit http://www.cie.uci.edu/academics/spanish.html.

All students must adhere to the placement policies listed hereafter. Students with prior knowledge of Spanish may need to take the Spanish placement test.

Spanish Placement

To enroll in Spanish 1A or any Spanish course through the 2C (or 2NS) level:

Heritage speakers: Native or near-native speakers who place into Spanish 2C and whose home language is Spanish are encouraged to enroll in Spanish 2NS, Spanish for Native Speakers.

Students without previous background in Spanish must take a copy of their high school transcript to the Humanities Undergraduate Counseling Office in 143 Humanities Instructional Building (HIB) to activate their eligibility to enroll in Spanish 1A. The Counseling Office is open daily from 9 a.m.-noon, and 1-4 p.m.

Students with previous high school background in Spanish wanting to enroll in any Spanish 1A through Spanish 2C (or 2NS) course at UCI for the first time must take the placement test. Eligibility to enroll in any Spanish 1A through Spanish 2NS course at UCI will be based on the result of that placement test.

Students with a previous course (or courses) in Spanish from another college or university who want to enroll in any Spanish 1A through Spanish 2NS course at UCI must take a copy of their college transcripts to the Humanities Undergraduate Counseling Office in order to receive authorization to enroll in the next course.

Students who graduated from a high school in a Spanish-speaking country, or who graduated from a Spanish Academy, must take a copy of their transcripts to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese in 322 Humanities Hall to determine where they should be placed.

Students who have already met the UCI language other than English general education or breadth requirement with SAT Subject Test scores, International Baccalaureate (IB) scores, or Advanced Placement (AP) examination and plan to enroll in a Spanish course at UCI are still required to take the Spanish placement test. Students cannot earn units or grade points at UCI in courses from which they have been exempted on the basis of IB or AP credit, even if the placement test result recommends enrollment in such a level.

Students currently enrolled in any Spanish 1A through Spanish 2B course at UCI will be eligible to enroll for the next course within the series without having to take the placement test, provided they receive a C or better.

To enroll in Spanish 3A, 3B, or beyond: An active prerequisite check system is in place for Spanish 3A and 3B. In order to enroll in Spanish 3A or 3B a student must have passed Spanish 2C or 2NS or received a score of 110 or above on the Spanish placement test.

Placement testing is offered throughout the academic year (summer included). For details about registering for a placement test, contact the Academic Testing Center, 3040 Anteater Instruction and Research Building; (949) 824-6207; e-mail: testoff@uci.edu; http://www.testingoffice.uci.edu/.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SPANISH

The B.A. program in Spanish is devoted to the study of the languages and cultures of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Students select one of three emphases: Cinema: Spain, Latin America, and U.S. Latino; Literature and Culture; or Spanish for Future Teachers. Each of these emphases strives to teach students to speak Spanish with fluency, and to carry out academic work in this language. The major does, however, also go far beyond language learning, as it is designed to offer a broad humanistic education. The courses explore the literatures and cultures of Spain and Latin America from their first manifestations to the present. The faculty approach this rich cultural legacy from an interdisciplinary perspective that puts Latin American and Spanish texts in dialogue with other fields of knowledge such as anthropology, linguistics, history, women's studies, and studies on globalization, among others. The program also offers courses in Spanish and Latin American film, as well as in visual culture.

All courses in Spanish and Portuguese, unless specifically stated, are taught in the foreign language. By the end of the first year, students attain mastery of the basic structure of the language and ability to converse on everyday topics, as well as to read and write at an elementary level.

In the second year, emphasis is put on gradually raising the level of the student's ability to read and write. Two third-year courses (Spanish 3A and 3B) stress composition and grammar. Further, a course in phonetics aims to perfect pronunciation and presents historical and dialect variants of Spanish. In addition to giving students a sense of literary history, the introductory courses in literature (Spanish 101A, 101B), also to be taken in the third year, introduce students to elements of literary research and writing. The courses in Hispanic culture (Spanish 110A, 110B, 110C) combine a panoramic overview with a close look at a specific country or topic, and require a final research project. Upper-division literature and film courses offer a more detailed analysis of specific texts and require a final research paper.

Although a major in Portuguese is not offered, advanced literature courses are available. In addition, an undergraduate minor is offered.

The faculty encourages Spanish majors or minors who are serious about improving their Spanish language ability in reading, writing, and speaking to take advantage of opportunities to immerse themselves in the Spanish language by studying in Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, or other Spanish-speaking countries through the Education Abroad Program (EAP) or through the International Opportunities Program (IOP). Programs are available for the summer, one quarter, one semester, or one year. This allows students to complete a significant portion of their bachelor's degree requirements in Spain or Latin America (for details, see Residency Requirements below). While abroad, students are given the opportunity to improve their Spanish (or Portuguese) in a natural context, and to enjoy exposure to other cultures. Once back at UCI, students who have studied abroad typically use this newly gained knowledge to excel in advanced upper-division courses, and to successfully enter graduate school programs or the career path of their choice, See the Center for International Education section of the Catalogue or an academic counselor for additional information.

Double Major: Students in the B.A. program often double major. Double majoring in Spanish and a second department provides the best of both worlds: the requirements for the Spanish major give students the linguistic and humanistic skills that will qualify them for diverse career paths, while the second degree provides students with the additional practical expertise they are seeking. Together, these bachelor's degrees will reward students with a distinctively competitive edge. A double major is especially useful for pre-med, pre-law, and other students (future teachers included) who want an extensive education in the natural or social sciences and a strong liberal arts program as well.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE