Spanish

Chairman and Associate Professor: TODD K. MACK
Associate Professors: VICTOR CARRENO, KATIA SHERMAN
Assistant Professor: JARED WHITE
Instructor: AMANDA M. STECHSCHULTE

The study of Spanish contributes to the education of the student in the following ways: (1) it stimulates and directs the acquisition of a national and international understanding by developing knowledge of the civilization, literature, and language of one or more of the modern nations, which is part of a cultural and liberal education; (2) it develops accuracy and precision in the use of language as an instrument for the comprehension and communication of ideas; (3) it offers training in the reading knowledge of a foreign language essential to advanced study in most fields of learning; (4) it is of practical value in diplomatic service, business, and industry, or foreign trade; and (5) it prepares the student to qualify for secondary or elementary school instruction or, after graduate study, for instruction at the college level in Spanish.

For native speakers of English, a 12-semester-hour competency (through third-semester 201) level in French, German, Spanish, Latin, or Greek is required for the bachelor of arts degree and for certain preprofessional programs. This requirement may be satisfied only by successful completion of 201, or a higher-level course, on the Hillsdale campus.

Students who arrive with a 12-semester-hour competency in Spanish, as determined exclusively by the Hillsdale College placement test, must take at least one three-credit course at Hillsdale College at the 201 level or above in Spanish to satisfy the requirement.

No student may fulfill the B.A. degree language requirement by means of the placement exam alone. Optionally, a student may elect another of the languages offered at Hillsdale to satisfy the bachelor of arts requirement by successfully completing the (third-semester) 201 course in said language on campus.

Satisfactory completion of two semesters of Freshman Rhetoric and the Great Books fulfills the bachelor of arts requirement in foreign language for students from non-English-speaking cultures who demonstrate literary competence in their native tongue.

Students entering with any experience in Spanish must take an entrance language placement examination. Those demonstrating sufficient command of the language to begin study at the 102 or 201 level need complete only the remaining one or two courses (through 201). In such cases, credit is given for the completion of the first semester of the introductory Spanish course (101), regardless of whether the second semester is completed.

Notes

If the Spanish placement test allows for a student to begin study beyond SPN 102, as many as eight hours may be assumed completed for the purpose of the minor requirement. 

A 400-level literature course is not required for the minor, but it is strongly recommended.

Any student wishing to take any course beyond the SPN 201 level must have either a minimum grade of B- in SPN 201 or permission from the instructor.

Students choosing a Spanish major or minor are advised, but not required, to elect a second language of at least 18 semester hours, including 101 and 102.

HST 321 (History of Colonial Latin America), HST 322 (History of Modern Latin America) and/or HST 412 (History of Spain) are suggested as worthwhile electives. These cognates will not, however, count toward the Spanish major or minor.

Any student beginning the study of Spanish above the 202 level must replace those three credits for the Spanish major or minor with any 300- or 400-level course.

All Spanish majors and international studies majors in Spanish are required to complete satisfactorily a cultural assessment (completed as part of the final exam for SPN 302 or SPN 303), a written assessment (the final paper from their last 400-level literature course), and an oral proficiency exam (taken during their senior year—preferably during their last semester of a Spanish class).

Study abroad is highly recommended for students choosing a major or minor in Spanish and for prospective Spanish teachers (See “Spanish Study Abroad).

Students will not be allowed to advance through the 100 and 200 level courses if they do not pass the previous class.

All Spanish Department courses will be taught in Spanish.