Spanish

• Degree Requirements
• Minor in Spanish
• TExES/ExCET Requirements
• Course Listing

Dr. Rhina Toruño
Professor of Spanish and Area Coordinator of the Spanish
Dr. Toruno was inducted as the first female member (correspondent) of the Salvadoran Academy of Language, a branch of the Royal Academy of Spain. In addition to holding seats on several boards of directors for various journals, Dr. Toruño has a strong record of scholarship. She published two authoritative books on the work of Elana Garro, leading twentieth-century Mexican author, Dr. Toruño has also published 43 referenced articles in scholarly journals in Latin America literature and French contemporary philosophy, including internet articles and proceedings from scholarly conferences. She has made over 68 professional presentations, including four keynote/plenary conference speeches and has been invited to present lectures and seminars at both international and national conferences. Dr. Toruño has lectured in Europe, United States, and Latin America in French, English and Spanish. She teaches both undergraduate course in contemporary Spanish-American poetry and Latin American literature with an emphasis on Mexican and Central American Literature. Her biography is included in the Dictionary of American Scholars and Who’s Who in America, and she has voted "Woman of the Year 2000" by the American Biographical Institute Board of International Research.

Administered by the Department of Humanities and Fine Arts within the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Spanish major provides students with an opportunity to obtain the ability to communicate in Spanish and an understanding of the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Because it shares the Hispanic heritage of Texas and lies in close proximity to Latin American countries, U. T. Permian Basin offers the student of Spanish unique learning and cultural experiences as well as scores of career possibilities and opportunities. West Texas offers a living language and a cultural laboratory in which to study and work. The Spanish major can be elected by students wishing to pursue careers in business, education, science, social services, and translation.

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Degree Requirements

• Sample Degree Plan

The minimum total credits required for B.A. in Spanish is 120.

General Education    44 Credits

Complete the requirements shown in the General Education Requirements section on pages 51-52 of this catalog.

Computer Use

All majors must demonstrate a basic use of computing through completion of COSC 1335 or a similar computer science course which requires the actual use of computers.

Spanish Major Requirements 30 Credits

A major in Spanish consists of a minimum of 30 credits at the 2000 level and above as follows:

1. 6 credits of sophomore-level Spanish language (SPAN 2311 and 2312)
   
   
2. 12 credits of upper-level Spanish language and linguistics (SPAN 3301, 3302, 3331, and 4331)
   
   
3. 3 credits of Hispanic Civilization (SPAN 3321)
   
   
4. 3 credits of Peninsular Spanish Literature (SPAN 4301 or 4302)
   
   
5. 3 credits of Spanish-American Literature (SPAN 4311, 4312, or 4351)
   
   
6. 3 credits additionally at the upper level, to be identified by an advisor in the Spanish program, according to the specific concentration of the student. For example, elementary bilingual education, secondary education with Spanish as the major subject area, linguistics and translation, or literature (SPAN 3311, 4301, 4302, 4311, 4312, 4351, 4352, 4360, 4361, 4378, or 4389).

Notes: Students with native proficiency in Spanish or a background in high school Spanish language study may take the CLEP in Spanish and, if scores justify it, receive three or six hours of sophomore-level Spanish language credit.

SPAN 3301, Advanced Grammar and Syntax, is a gateway course to upper-level study in Spanish. SPAN 3301 is a required course for the Major and Minor in Spanish and a prerequisite for SPAN 3302, SPAN 3321, SPAN 4301, SPAN 4302, SPAN 4311, SPAN 4312, and SPAN 4331.

Degree plans vary depending upon a student’s goals and preparation prior to enrolling at UT Permian Basin. Students should consult with their faculty advisor for specific degree planning.

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Minor in Spanish  (18 credits)

The minor in Spanish consists of the following core courses: SPAN 2311, 2312, 3301, and 3331. In addition, students will elect to continue in either linguistics or literature. Students electing to continue in linguistics will take two (2) additional courses to be chosen from: SPAN 3311, 4331, 4364. Students electing to continue in literature will take two (2) additional courses to be chosen from: SPAN 4301, 4302, 4311, 4312, 4351, 4352, 4360, 4361, 4378.

TExES/ExCET Requirements

Candidates for the TExES/ExCET in Spanish must have completed the courses listed below (or equivalent courses). They must also pass the Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT).

Spanish: SPAN 3301, 3302, 3331, and 4331; SPAN 3321; either SPAN 4301 or 4302; either SPAN 4311 or 4312; plus any other 4000-level Spanish course.

To meet Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements, students seeking certification to teach grades EC-4 or 4-8 must take at least 9 hours of math (may include statistics) at or above college-level algebra and at least 12 hours of science. They should plan accordingly when meeting general education and elective course requirements. Students seeking certification as a 4-8 Generalist must take at least 12 hours of math and 14-16 hours of science. (Students certifying to teach 4-8 Math or Science will have additional hours in their respective disciplines.)

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Course Listing

SPAN 1300 Spanish Conversation I (3)
Basic practice in comprehension and production of the spoken language of Spanish.

SPAN 1411 A Beginning Course in Spanish I (4)
An introduction to the basic language skills-- listening, speaking, reading, and writing--with emphasis on listening and speaking. Students will meet in the classroom three days per week and will attend the language laboratory one day per week. F

SPAN 1412 A Beginning Course in Spanish II (4)
A continuation of SPAN 1411. Prerequisite: SPAN 1411 or one year of high school Spanish. S

SPAN 2311 A Second Year Course in Spanish I (3)
Grammar, readings, cultural background, conversation, and composition. Prerequisite: SPAN 1411 and 1412, two years of high school Spanish, or the required score from the CLEP in Spanish. F

SPAN 2312 A Second Year Course in Spanish II (3)
A continuation of SPAN 2311. Prerequisite: SPAN 2311, three years of high school Spanish, or the required score from the CLEP in Spanish. S

SPAN 3301 Advanced Grammar and Syntax (3)
Analysis of more technical and advanced points of Spanish grammar and syntax with comparisons made to English. Prerequisites: Students with native proficiency in Spanish or a background in high school Spanish language study may take the CLEP in Spanish and, if scores justify it, receive three or six hours of sophomore-level Spanish language credit (SPAN 2311, 2312). However, all students must pass a placement exam to be eligible to enroll in SPAN 3301. F

SPAN 3302 Advanced Composition and Conversation (3)
Designed to improve written and oral Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301. S, Summer '05

SPAN 3311 Practical Spanish and Translation (3)
Analysis and application of Spanish Grammar for Translation with Practical approach to improving Spanish Morpho-Syntax rules for writing into English. Some basic principles of Sociolinguistics will also be presented. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301. S

SPAN 3321 Hispanic Civilization (3)
Currents and characteristics of Spanish culture and history as expressed through the centuries in literature, art, philosophy, and history. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301 or instructor’s approval. F

SPAN 3331 Spanish Conversation (3)
Study and practice of oral Spanish, stressing idiomatic expressions and providing students with the opportunity to improve their fluency. Pronunciation, comprehension and building vocabulary are also emphasized. Prerequisite: SPAN 2312. S06, F06

SPAN 4301 Spanish Literature I (3)
Peninsular Spanish literature from the Medieval period to the 18th century. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301 or instructor’s approval. F

SPAN 4302 Spanish Literature II (3)
Peninsular Spanish literature from the 19th century to the present. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301 or instructor’s approval. S

SPAN 4311 Spanish-American Literature I (3)
Spanish-American literature from the Pre-Hispanic period through Romanticism. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301 or instructor’s approval. F

SPAN 4312 Spanish-American Literature II (3)
Spanish-American literature from Modernism to the present. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301 or instructor’s approval. S

SPAN 4331 Spanish Phonetics and Phonemics (3)
Spanish phonology with emphasis on oral drills; an introduction to elementary applied linguistics. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301.

SPAN 4351 Mexican Literature (3)
A study of selected works by Twentieth Century Mexican authors. Selections may include works by Elena Garro (winner of many national and international awards), Rosario Castellanos, Elena Poniatowska, Octavio Paz (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature), and other Mexican authors. Prerequisite: SPAN 3301, or instructor’s approval. F05, F06, F07.

SPAN 4352 Mexican-American Literature (3)
Mexican-American literature in Spanish and English focusing on native authors, to understand realities and experiences of Mexican-American community. Prerequisite: SPAN 4301, 4302, 4311, or 4312 or instructor's approval.

SPAN 4360 Spanish Golden Age Literature (3)
This course introduces the student to some of the major works of Spanish literature from the Renaissance through the Baroque. Readings will include lyric and epic poems, plays, a picaresque novel, and several additional prose selections. Prerequisite: SPAN 4301, or 4302, or instructor's approval.

SPAN 4361 Cervantes’ Don Quixote (3)
A close reading of Europe’s first modern novel, with additional reference to historical and literary background that helped shape the writer’s poetics. A masterpiece of world literature, a profound commentary on life, and a perennial source of inspiration for the understanding of the modern imagination. Prerequisite: SPAN 4301 or approval of instructor.

SPAN 4378 Hispanic Children’s Literature (3)
Study of Hispanic’s children’s literature. The course covers children’s stories and their origins in myths, fables, and folktales from the oral tradition of Spain and Latin America. Prerequisite: proficiency in Spanish or instructor’s approval.

SPAN 4389 Selected Topics (3)
Undergraduate courses which will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently, or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog.

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