Spring 2025: Spanish Major Course Descriptions
All courses are taught in Spanish.
Spanish 250: Family and Gender Roles in Spain: 1900 to Present
GE: FOL-S & WRI / OLE CORE: WLC & WAC
Prof. Kris Cropsey, T 9:35 – 11:00, Th 9:30 – 10:50
Prerequisite: Spanish 232 or placement in Spanish 250 or 251
In this course, you’ll explore Spain’s “revolución familiar” – dramatic changes in family structures and gender roles, the rights of women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and relationships between generations. While some of these changes may seem to parallel those that have occurred in other countries (including the U.S.), the way they came about in Spain is unique. Together we’ll examine the history of families and gender roles from the early 1900s to the present day through a variety of “cultural texts” – informational texts about trends in society at large (from videos to official documents) as well as narratives that capture the human experiences of individuals and families: both stories of the lives of real people and a historical novel that creatively portrays a society in transition. In the process, we will work on developing our academic language skills in Spanish, especially through writing with the use of textual evidence. The course includes participation in three out-of-class conversation groups. Offered Fall and Spring.
Key course materials: Novel, Historia de una maestra (Josefina R. Aldecoa); films and videos, packet of readings from a variety of sources.
Spanish 250 or 251 is required for the Spanish major (only one of the two courses can count for the major).
Note: Spanish 250 (equivalent to Spanish 251) is the first course in the Spanish major but is open to any student who has completed Spanish 232 or placed into the 250-level. 250-level courses cannot be repeated, and students cannot count both 250 and 251 for the Spanish major. Either Spanish 250 or 251 counts as the prerequisite for 270-level courses and above.
Spanish 250 or 251 is required for the Latin American Studies major.
Counts Toward Majors: Gender & Sexuality Studies, Latin American Studies, Performance, Political Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies
Counts Toward Concentrations: Family Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, International Relations, Management Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies
Spanish 251:Gender and Race in Latin America
GE: FOL-S & WRI / OLE CORE: WLC &WAC
Prof. Mariana Reyes-Payán, MWF 12:55 – 1:50
Prerequisite: Spanish 232 or placement in Spanish 250 or 251
This course focuses on gender and race in Latin America and explores gender roles, femicide, intersectionality, activism, and Latin America’s deep-rooted history of activism and resistance to oppression. To capture a wide range of experiences and voices, we work with short stories, articles, podcasts, films, songs, and poems from across Latin America. We include objective sources that focus on providing information, as well as subjective sources that narrate human experiences—people’s stories. In the process, we also work on developing our academic language skills in Spanish, especially through writing with the use of textual evidence. Includes participation in 3 out-of-class conversation groups.
Spanish 250 or 251 is required for the Spanish major (only one of the two courses can count for the major).
Note: Spanish 250 (equivalent to Spanish 251) is the first course in the Spanish major but is open to any student who has completed Spanish 232 or placed into the 250-level. 250-level courses cannot be repeated, and students cannot count both 250 and 251 for the Spanish major. Either Spanish 250 or 251 counts as the prerequisite for 270-level courses and above.
Spanish 250 or 251 is required for the Latin American Studies major.
Counts Toward Majors: Gender & Sexuality Studies, Latin American Studies, Performance, Political Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies
Counts Toward Concentrations: Gender and Sexuality Studies, International Relations
Spanish 272: Cultural Heritage of Latin America
Topic: History and Identity in Mexico, Cuba, and Argentina
Prof. Ariel Strichartz, T 11:45 – 1:10, Th 12:45 – 02:05
Prerequisite: SPAN 250 or SPAN 251
This course will explore the interrogation—through texts—of three fundamental moments in contemporary Latin American history: the Mexican Revolution (1910), the Cuban Revolution (1959), and Argentina’s most recent military dictatorship (1976-1983). By analyzing a wide variety of cultural texts– essays, political speeches, manifestos, stories, plays, films, and a novel–, we will examine the impact of these events on Latin American society and identity (including gender), as well as the enduring responses to these events and the narratives that upheld them. Our interpretation of primary texts will be informed by a careful study of the historical contexts in question. Classes will be predominantly discussion-based.
Tentative readings include but are not limited to the following:
Mal de amores (Mexico, 1996; novel)
Entre Pancho Villa y una mujer desnuda (Mexico; 1994; play)
Selected plays from Teatro Abierto (Argentina, 1981-1985)
Selected plays from Teatro x la Identidad (Argentina, 2000-Present)
Guantanamera (Cuba, 1995; film)
Counts as a 270-level elective for the Spanish major
Spanish 275: Exploring Hispanic Literature
Topic: Women, Power and Nation: Rewriting Mexico Through Revolutionary Acts
GE: ALS-L / OLE CORE: CRE
Prof. Mariana Reyes Payán, T 9:35 – 11:00, Th 9:30 – 10:50
Prerequisite: Spanish 250 or Spanish 251
This introductory literature course invites students to explore key themes in Mexican literature through the lens of women’s experiences. By engaging in literary analysis of diverse genres—poetry, short stories, essays, theater, memoirs, and novels—we will address three core questions: How have women’s bodies and voices been represented or overlooked as symbols of the nation in contemporary literature? What does it mean to be a woman in the process of Mexican nation-building? How have women resisted, transformed, or redefined national and social narratives?
Students will examine the Latin American contemporary literary landscape, with a particular emphasis in Mexican literature how its representation of women, as well as the increasing presence of women authors have challenged traditional power structures, reshaped political landscapes, and ignited cultural revolutions by defying systemic violence, gender stereotypes, and societal expectations. The course will focus on contemporary Mexican writers such as poet Sara Uribe, Pulitzer Prize-winner Cristina Rivera Garza, Fernanda Melchor, and Brenda Navarro. Through close readings and discussions, we will uncover how women have pushed boundaries and continue to transform Mexico’s national narrative.
This course is required for the Spanish major. Spanish 275 cannot be repeated.
Counts Toward Majors: Latin American Studies, Performance, and Political Science
Counts Toward Concentrations: International Relations and Latin American Studies
Spanish 276: Spanish as a First and Second Language
Prof. Maggie Broner, MWF 2:00 – 2:55
Prerequisite: Spanish 250 or 251
¿De qué se trata Español 276? ¡Bienvenides, Bienvenidxs, Bienvenidos, Bienvenidas! al español como primera y segunda lengua. En este curso estudiaremos diferentes aspectos relacionados al uso y adquisición de la lengua española en contextos transnacionales y transculturales. En particular, usaremos una aproximación crítica (Critical Language Awareness–Clark) para estudiar el español de los Estados Unidos, en Hispanoamérica y en España. Durante el curso haremos particular hincapié en los procesos de adquisición del español como primera y segunda lengua en cuanto atañe a los hablantes del inglés como primera lengua y a los hablantes de herencia del español en los Estados Unidos.
Tentative reading list:
• Packet of journal articles and book chapters (available through the Bookstore)
• Mi mundo adorado by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (available through the Bookstore)
• Materiales para SPAN 276 (course handouts available through the Bookstore)
This course is required for the Spanish major. Spanish 276 cannot be repeated.
Counts Toward Majors: Latin American Studies, Performance, Political Science, and Race and Ethnic Studies
Counts Toward Concentrations: Applied Linguistic Studies, Latin American Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies, and International Relations
Span 311: Language and Society: Language, Power, and Ideology
Prof. Maggie Broner MWF 12:55 – 1:50
Prerequisite: Span 276
This course introduces students to the study of language as it intersects with systems of power informed by different language ideologies. The course will include a critical view of language from the perspectives of “language regard” (Preston), “glotopolitics” (del Valle), and “restorative justice” (Glenn Martinez). These three theoretical lenses will be used to study several “language issues” such as: the standardization of Spanish, the use of inclusive language, indigenous language minority rights, language planning in the USA, Spain, and Latin America, to name a few. In addition, in this course we will analyze different multimodal discourses present in a number of “linguistic objects” such as the preamble to the first Spanish language grammar (Nebrija), official documents from the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, La Enciclopedia del Español en los Estados Unidos, textbooks, social media, oral discourses, etc.
May count for focus on Spain or Latin America (please consult with your instructor)
Counts for REGGS and Linguistic Studies
Spanish 313: Literature and Society in Spain, Topic – What Is a Meaningful Life?
GE: ALS-L, OLE CORE: Writing in the Major
Prof. León Narváez, T 11:45 – 1:10, 12:45 – 2:00
Prerequisite: SPAN 250 or SPAN 251 and SPAN 275
What is a meaningful life? How do human beings vary in their understanding of that life? What do they seem to communicate as to the nature of a meaningful life? What do Spanish writers of the past convey about the possibility of leading a life that has meaning? There is a general focus in our society on happiness and ‘the pursuit of happiness’. How does happiness relate to having a life of meaning?
As we consider these questions and others, we will read some of the works that mattered to me when I was a teenager and in my twenties. We will explore together how they had an impact on my life, how they influenced my view of the meaningful life, as well as your understanding of these works. I will have the opportunity to consider again the importance of literature in my life and for you to consider its importance, if any, in yours.
What we will read may include:
- Lazarillo de Tormes, a novel by an unknown author
- selections from El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha, a novel by Miguel de Cervantes
- Don Juan Tenorio, a play by José Zorrilla
- Pepita Jiménez, a novel by Juan Valera
- essays written by José Mariano de Larra and Azorín
- San Manuel Bueno, Mártir, a novel written by Miguel de Unamuno
- poetry written by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Federico García Lorca, and others
- Historia de una escalera, a play by Antonio Buero Vallejo
Can count as a 300-elective if you’ve already taken 313 or 314 with a different topic