Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Youngstown State University
Spanish Language Course Descriptions
Lower-Division Courses:
*1550. Elementary . Intensive training in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish. Geography and daily life, as well as appreciation of the cultures of Spanish speakers, are studied. Students should achieve Intermediate Low Level proficiency. Assignments in the LLRC. Grading is ABC/NC. [4 s.h.]
*2600. Intermediate . Intensive training in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish; knowledge of geography and daily life, as well as appreciation of the cultures of Spanish speakers. Students should achieve Intermediate Mid Level proficiency. Assignments in the LLRC. Grading is ABCD. Prereq.: Placement test or SPAN 1550. [4 s.h.]
2605. Advanced Intermediate . Intensive training in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish; knowledge of geography and daily life as well as appreciation of the cultures of Spanish speakers. By the end of the course students should achieve Intermediate High Level proficiency. Assignments in the LLRC. Prereq.: Placement test or SPAN 2600. [3 s.h.]
2655. Conversation for Proficiency 1 . Techniques of oral expression to develop fluency and accuracy. Practical strategies to help students communicate effectively in a variety of social contexts. Listening comprehension, pronunciation drills, functional vocabulary. Laboratory practice. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
Upper-Division Courses:
*3724. Spanish Pronunciation. Theory and practice of Spanish pronunciation. Description of production of Spanish speech sounds and general characteristics of Spanish pronunciation. Topics on intonation. Audio-lingual practice in class and in language laboratory. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3735. Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition. A systematic study of Spanish morphology, sentence structure, and usage applied to a variety of written discourse styles such as description, narration, and exposition. Discussion of contrasts with English discourse styles, and effective grammatical use. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3736. Introduction to Spanish Linguistics . Examines some of the basic concepts and issues of modern Spanish linguistic theory in the areas of phonology, morphology, syntax and pragmatics, including readings and discussion on these topics. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3737. Translation and Composition. Study of translation techniques, and practice in translating from Spanish into English and from English into Spanish, working with a variety of texts from the social sciences, natural sciences, and technology. Emphasis on interpretation of vocabulary and idioms. Prereq.: SPAN 3735 on 3736. [3 s.h.]
3740. Business Spanish. Principles of effective commercial letter and report writing and oral communication in business in the Spanish-speaking world. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3752. Spanish Culture and Literature 1 . Introduction to Peninsular culture and literatures from the Middle Ages to the Romantic period in the 19th century through representative selections of key historic and literary figures. Theoretical and critical approaches to help the student interpret key texts. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3753. Spanish Culture and Literature 2. Introduction to Peninsular culture and literatures from the Romantic period to the present through representative selections of key historic and literary figures. Theoretical and critical approaches to help the student interpret key texts. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3755. Conversation for Proficiency 2. Development of oral expression through discussion of current topics in the context of worldwide Hispanic culture, politics, and economics. Expansion of vocabulary. Laboratory work according to individual needs. Prereq.: SPAN 2655 and one 3700-level SPAN course. [3 s.h.]
3756. Spanish-American Culture and Literature 1 . This course traces the history and cultures of Spanish America from pre-Columbian and colonial times through independence (1820). Describes important literary currents and provides a historical context for the period. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3757. Spanish-American Culture and Literature 2 . This course traces the history and cultures of Spanish America from independence (1820) through the 20th century. Describes important literary currents and provides a historical context for the period. Prereq.: SPAN 2605. [3 s.h.]
3758. Culture and Literature of Spanish-Speaking Groups in the U.S. Provides an overview of the significant culture and literature of the diverse Hispanic groups in the U.S. The relationship between literature and society broached through an in-depth discussion of several representative texts and their historical and political background. Prereq.: One 3700-level SPAN course. [3 s.h.]
5855. Topics in Spanish Language and Linguistics . An introduction to the terminology, concepts, bibliography and current issues in Spanish language and linguistics. Major topics include phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, applied linguistics, transformational grammar, and other topics related to language variation and society. May be repeated once when topic varies. Prereq.: Any 3700-level SPAN course. [3 s.h.]
5870. Topics in Spanish Literature: Spain. Study of an author, a genre, or a movement in Spanish literature from 1492 to the present. The topic will be announced each time the course is offered. May be taken three times if content is not repeated. Prereq.: SPAN 3752 or 3753. [3 s.h.]
5885. Topics in Hispanic Literature and Film. Examines the relationship between the Hispanic narrative discourse and cinema, including film adaptations of literary works. Modern social and cultural issues, as well as Hispanic self-images. May be taken three times if content is not repeated. Prereq.: one of SPAN 3752, 3753, 3756, 3757. [3 s.h.]
5890. Topics in Spanish Literature: Spanish-America . Study of an author, a genre, or a movement in Latin America from 1492 to the present. The topic will be announced each time the course is offered. May be taken three times if content is not repeated. Prereq.: SPAN 3756 or 3757. [3 s.h.]
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Updated 1/25/08 by Cherryl S. Ellis, Youngstown State University