| SPN 111-112. | Beginning Spanish I-II (112 for AH-4) | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 credits each | ||
| SPN 111 or Permission for 112 | ||
| Intensive course for beginners in Spanish. Primary objective: to help students begin early and meaningful communication in Spanish by acquiring necessary basic skills. Emphasizes all four language skills: reading, writing, and especially listening and speaking. Secondary objective: to provide insight into Hispanic culture and society through readings, discussions and activities. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN 185/*385. | Service Learning in Spanish | |
| 1 credit | ||
| Placement | ||
| May be repeated for credit with a maximum of four credits applied toward the major or minor. | ||
| SPN 221-222. | Intermediate Spanish Language I-II (AH-4) | |
| 4 credits each | ||
| SPN 112 or Placement | ||
| Continuing study of the Spanish language with additional emphasis on reading and writing skills. Study of Hispanic culture and close reading of selected Hispanic texts from various genres. Extensive grammar review, composition, and oral-aural practice. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN 223-224. | Intermediate Spanish Language III-IV | |
| 4 credits each | ||
| Placement | ||
| Intermediate level study of Spanish. Designed for students who have completed second year college Spanish but whose language skills need strengthening before they enter upper level courses while studying at the Universidad Iberoamericana. (Mexico) | ||
| SPN *255. | Peninsular Literature in Translation (AH-2) | |
 |
4 credits | |
| Reading and discussion of selected representative works of Spanish Peninsular literature in English translation. Content may vary. Does not count toward the Spanish major or minor. (Alma) | ||
| SPN 261/*361. | Language and Culture in Spain (AH-4) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Spanish language instruction, investigation and comparative studies of social and ethnic issues. Students live with a host family. Destination may vary. (Spring Term course) | ||
| SPN 263/*363. | The Other America | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Permission | ||
| Travel and study in "The Other America." Spanish language instruction, investigation and comparative studies of social and ethnic issues. Students live with a host family. Destination may vary. | ||
| SPN *265. | Hispanic-American Literature in Translation (AH-2) | |
|
4 credits | |
| Reading and discussion of selected representative works of Hispanic-American literature in English translation. Content may vary. Does not count toward the Spanish major or minor. (Alma) | ||
| SPN 281. | Conversation | |
| 2 credits | ||
| SPN 221 or Permission | ||
| Fluency in oral expression developed through extensive class discussion. May include oral reports, summaries of reading and viewing materials, phonetics and pronunciation exercises, colloquial expressions and creative dramatic performance. May be repeated for a total of four credits. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *299. | Independent Reading | |
| 2 credits | ||
| Permission | ||
| Supervised study and research of an area not covered in available courses. | ||
| SPN *311-*312. | Spanish Grammar I-II | |
| 4 credits each | ||
| Placement | ||
| Intermediate level study of Spanish. Designed for students who have completed third year college Spanish but whose language skills need strengthening as they pursue upper level courses while studying abroad. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *313-*314. | Spanish Grammar III-IV | |
| 4 credits each | ||
| Placement | ||
| Advanced level study of Spanish. Designed for students who have completed third year college Spanish and who are pursuing upper level courses while studying abroad. (Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *315-*316. | Advanced Spanish Language | |
| 4 credits each | ||
| Placement | ||
| Advanced level study of Spanish. Designed for students who have completed third year college Spanish and who are pursuing upper level courses while studying abroad. (Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *321. | Advanced Composition and Conversation | |
 |
4 credits | |
| SPN 222 or Placement | ||
| Advanced composition and conversation with extensive writing and emphasis on speaking skills. Includes reading, discussions and debate on a wide variety of topics. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *325. | Investigation of Grammar | |
| 2 credits | ||
| Overseas study completed | ||
| Intensive review of Spanish grammatical theory and structures. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *331. | Introduction to Hispanic Literature (AH-2) | |
|
4 credits | |
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Combines practical and theoretical approaches to reading and understanding literature from Spain and the Americas. Study of the attributes of various genres as well as selected works representative of the same. Provides the basic analytical foundation necessary for advanced study and interpretation of Hispanic literature required for the major. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *334. | Mexican Culture and Civilization | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Introduction to the society and culture of Mexico from a historical perspective: political, religious and social institutions. (Mexico) | ||
| SPN *335. | Spanish for Business and Commerce | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Acquisition of specific commercial concepts and vocabulary in Spanish and the study of worldwide and local economic factors. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *340. | Survey of Hispanic-American Literature | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Reading and discussion of selections from major works of Hispanic-American Literature and their relationships to contemporary and subsequent society and culture. | ||
| SPN *343. | Survey of Spanish Literature | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Reading and discussions of selections from the major works of Spanish literature and their relationship to contemporary and subsequent society and culture. (Segovia) | ||
| SPN *344. | Survey of Regional Hispanic Literature | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Reading and discussion of regional literature, poetry, novels and epics. Themes and authors include pre-Columbian legend, Romanticism, Modernism. (Quito) | ||
| SPN *350. | History of Spanish Civilization (AH-4) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Introduction to the history of Spanish civilization and culture. Political, religious and social institutions; art, architecture, literature and music. Readings, lectures, compositions and discussions in Spanish. (Alma, Alma Programs in Spain) | ||
| SPN *352. | Hispanic-American Culture and Civilization (AH-4) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Introduction to society and culture of contemporary Hispanic-America through examination of political, social, religious and artistic forces. Emphasis on social-political problems and their affect on the United States. Readings, lectures, compositions and discussions in Spanish. (Alma, Alma Programs in Hispanic-America) | ||
| SPN *355. | History of Art and Architecture | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Period and manner studies of the great Spanish and Hispanic-American painters. Vision of aesthetic ideas through painting. Architectural concepts and styles. Site visits in Madrid and the surrounding area. (Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *360. | Spanish Literature to 1700 (AH-2) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Reading and discussion of the major works of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods in Spain: the Cantar del Mio Cid, La Celestina, Lazarillo de Tormes; poetry of Garcilaso, San Juan de la Cruz, Góngora and Quevedo; drama of Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina and Calderón. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *362. | Hispanic-American Literature to 1888 (AH-2) | |
|
4 credits | |
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Reading and discussion of principal works in Hispanic-American literature from pre-Columbian to Modern: chronicles of the Conquest, poetry of the Colonial period, poetry and prose of Romanticism, Realism and Naturalism. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *364. | Indigenous Cultures | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Placement | ||
| Period, cultural, economic, and ethnic studies of the people of a specific country in Hispanic America. (Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *370. | Spanish Literature Since 1700 (AH-2) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Reading and discussion of representative works from the Romantic period to the present in Spain: Bécquer, Galdós, Unamuno, Ortega y Gasset, García Lorca and others. (Alma, Alma Programs in Spain) | ||
| SPN *372. | Hispanic-American Literature Since 1888 (AH-2) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Reading and discussion of representative works in Hispanic-American literature from Modernism to the present: Darío, Martí, Borges, Neruda, Paz, Cortázar, Vargas Llosa, Fuentes, García Márquez and others. (Alma, Alma Programs in Hispanic America) | ||
| SPN *374. | Regional History of Hispanic America | |
| 4 credits | ||
| A comprehensive study of the history of specific regions of Hispanic America including pre-Columbian through contemporary issues. (Quito) | ||
| SPN *380. | Special Topics (AH-2) | |
| 2-4 credits | ||
| Permission | ||
| Offered periodically for the study of a particular issue, theme or topic in Hispanic literature or civilization; for example, Spanish cinema, revolution in Central America, literary theory and criticism. Courses may be given in English as interdepartmental or interdisciplinary courses. (Alma, Alma Programs Abroad) | ||
| SPN *460. | Seminar in Spanish Literature (AH-2) | |
|
4 credits | |
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Advanced study of a specialized area, movement, writer or work in Peninsular literature; for example, Don Quijote, the picaresque, the post-Civil War novel. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *462. | Seminar in Hispanic-American Literature (AH-2) | |
| 4 credits | ||
| SPN 321 or Permission | ||
| Advanced study of a specialized area, movement, writer or work in Hispanic-American literature; for example, Literature of the Conquest, the gaucho in Argentine society and literature, and the literature of the "Boom." (Alma) | ||
| SPN *495. | Thesis Preparation | |
| 1 credit | ||
| Permission | ||
| SPN *499. | Independent Study | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Senior Standing and Permission | ||
| Supervised reading and research in an area not covered by available courses. (Alma) | ||
| SPN *500. | Senior Thesis | |
| 4 credits | ||
| Senior Standing and Permission | ||
| Definition of a question, thesis paper and oral defense in Spanish. (Alma) | ||
Courses
More than 100 Alma College students and staff traveled to destinations in New Mexico, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Louisiana and North Carolina for service projects during winter break in February 2007. “Alternative Break service experiences continue to gain popularity on Alma College’s campus,” says Sallie Scheide, assistant director in the Center for Responsible Leadership.
Student Profile
Kaitlin Carolan
Graduation: 2002
Major: Spanish
Minor: Anthropology
Kaitlin Carolan is hoping to use her Spanish major to work with the government.
“I know that having a language under my belt will help me,” the Harper Woods junior says. “I've been looking heavily into being a translator, especially if I had the opportunity to work with immigration at the same time.”