Graduation Requirements for Majors and Minors

Our goals: The Department of Hispanic Studies offers avenues to explore diverse Hispanic cultures through coursework in language, literature, linguistics and culture. Basic Spanish language courses also develop speaking, reading, listening and writing skills. Spanish literature courses focus on literary and cultural analysis, where students learn key literary terms, theories and an appreciation for literature as an art form. Linguistic courses center on the study of sound, sentence structure and language change. Courses in cultural history examine important cultural shifts in Hispanic society and enable students to make connections between artistic production and the sociopolitical context from which it emerges. In addition, all intermediate and advanced-level courses emphasize how to make an argument, appropriately use primary and secondary sources, and write in the conventions of the discipline. The department strives to provide an environment where broad knowledge can be acquired: it encourages students to bring into class their knowledge of other disciplines and distinctive viewpoints, and to carry their knowledge from the classroom into other classes and beyond IWU.

Spanish courses at the upper level are divided between studies of linguistics and the literature and cultures of Spain and those of Latin America. It is recommended that students seek a balance between these, striving for a broad knowledge of intellectual currents on both sides of the Atlantic. Students planning to proceed to graduate programs in Spanish should spend a year abroad if possible, take both culture sequences and as many literature courses as time allows, repeating courses where professor and subject matter change. 

Major Sequence in Hispanic Studies:

A minimum of 10 courses beyond the basic language sequence including:

1) Spanish 280
2) Spanish 303
3) Spanish 308
4) Spanish 314 and 316
5) Two courses at 400 level (one must be a literature course)
6) Senior Seminar
7) A minimum of one semester abroad in a program chosen in consultation with the director of International Office and approved by the student's advisor and the Chair of the Department of Hispanic Studies.
8) Two electives beyond the basic language sequence

203= Conversation and Composition, 230= Medical Spanish, 240= Spanish for Social Justice, 280= Reading and Writing Culture, 303= Advanced Grammar and Composition, 308= Intro. to Literature, 310*= Special Topics in Literature, 314= Spanish Culture and Civ. I, 316= Latin American Culture and Civ. I, 320= Studies in Cultural History

Minor Sequence in Hispanic Studies:

Six Hispanic Studies courses beyond the basic language sequence including: 

Traditional minor        1) Spanish 280 2) Spanish 303 3) Spanish 308 4) One cultural history course from:             314, 316 or 320 5) Two electives

minor for Nursing Majors                               1) Spanish 280 2) Spanish 303 3) Spanish 308 4) Spanish 230 5) Two electives

minor for Business Majors 1) Spanish 280 2) Spanish 303 3) Spanish 308 4) OCSP 250: Business Spanish 5) OCSP 322: Management and Ethics in a Cross-Cultural Environment 6) Spanish 397 or another elective

All Hispanic Studies minors are strongly encouraged to enroll in the IWU Spain Program in Spring of their Sophomore year.

Major Minor Checklist  (pdf)