Graduate Course Catalog
View our courses for: Fall 13, Spring 14
Courses described as repetitive are topic courses that may be taken an indefinite number of times as long as the topic varies.
SPN 500 Reading Spanish
Through an intensive study of language structures and idiomatic usage, with extensive
practice in written translation of literary and scholarly texts, candidates for advanced
degrees are able to obtain the proficiency level of the graduate Spanish reading requirement.
Several programs grant exemption from further examination for successful completion
of this course (not for M.A. or Ph.D. candidates in Spanish).
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
SPN 501 Historical Linguistics
General processes of language change, as exemplified by the development of the Romance
languages, with particular reference to Spanish.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 502 Methods in Linguistics Research
Methods for elicitation and collection of linguistic data and their analysis. Relation
between theory and research design, and between qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Introduction to commonly used tests of statistical significance, and to reasoning
and argumentation from limited data. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 503 Spanish Linguistics
Major issues related to the general structure of the Spanish language (phonetics,
phonology, morphosyntax, semantics, etc.).
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 504 Contrastive Analysis: Spanish and English
Topics vary, and may include linguistic interference and its basis and manifestations,
in-depth discussion of specific syntactic/semantic areas with reference to possible
Spanish/English interference, major phonological differences between Spanish and English
and consequent learning difficulties, and nonlinguistic factors that may affect learning
in different groups in different situations.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 505 Hispanic Dialectology and Sociolinguistics
Major theoretical issues involved in analysis of geographical and social variation
and with the principal methods used in its investigation, as applied to varieties
of Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Galician.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 510 Hispanic Culture
An introduction to the essential aspects of Peninsular and/or Latin American cultures
and civilizations, designed to provide incoming graduate students with sufficient
background to undertake the advanced study of Hispanic languages and literature.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 515 Spanish Composition and Stylistics
Theory and practice of problems in composition and translation with revision of difficult
points in advanced Spanish grammar. Classroom analysis and discussion. Required for
Doctor of Arts (DLS) students; also useful for M.A. and Ph.D. students.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
SPN 523 Golden Age Literature
Major literary works within the Renaissance and/or Baroque periods are read and analyzed
in depth, and their interrelation with the cultural context is discussed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 582 The Hispanic Tradition in the United States
A general historical analysis of the influence of Hispanic culture in the United States
as a consequence of the continuous interaction between Spanish- and English-speaking
people. Special attention is given to cultural manifestation in a bicultural setting.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 585 Caribbean Literature
A course devoted to major writers and works of the Caribbean area. Readings will be
analyzed in relation to cultural contexts.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 588 Directed Master’s Research
For work toward the M.A. thesis or preparation for the M.A. comprehensive examination
only. This course is mainly intended for students who are not continuing toward the
Ph.D. Prerequisite: Permission of graduate program director, M.A. thesis director,
and/or director of the M.A. comprehensive examination committee.
Fall and spring, 1-6 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 595 Directed Independent Individual Studies
For M.A. and Ph.D. candidates only. Requires a written proposal signed by the faculty
member involved and the approval of the graduate program director and the Departmental
chair. No more than a total of nine credits may be applied toward a Spanish graduate
degree or combination of degrees. Prerequisite: Permissions mentioned above.
Fall and spring, 1-6 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 609 Literary Theory
A study of the most outstanding methods of analysis and literary research, and a survey
of major works pertaining to the study of literature. A required course for students
in the Spanish Ph.D. program.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 612 Topics Seminar
A seminar course designed primarily for doctoral students. The topic will be chosen
by the professor from any of the major areas of Hispanic literature and linguistics
required of all Ph.D. students. Ph.D. students must take from two to four of these
seminars depending on their previous preparation. Prerequisite: Admission to the Spanish
Ph.D. program or permission of instructor.
Fall and spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 613 Medieval Literature
Major literary works of the medieval period will be read and discussed in depth, and
their interrelation with the cultural context analyzed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated up to nine times for credit
SPN 628 Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes’ works are read, analyzed, and discussed in depth. A required
course for Ph.D. students. Advanced D.A. and M.A. students are accepted. A bilingual
course: readings and discussions in both Spanish and English. Prerequisite: M.A. degree
or permission of instructor.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 641 19th-Century Spanish Literature until the Generation of 1898
Major literary works of the period are read and analyzed in depth, and their interrelation
with the cultural context is discussed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 643 20th-Century Spanish Literature
Major literary works of the period will be read, analyzed, and discussed in depth,
and their interrelation with the cultural context will be discussed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 652 Colonial Spanish American Literature
Major authors and literary works of the period. Readings will be analyzed and discussed
in depth, and their interrelation with the cultural context explored.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 662 19th-Century Spanish American Literature
Major authors and literary works of the period. Readings will be analyzed and discussed
in depth, and their interrelation with the cultural context will be discussed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 669 Spanish American Modernism
A course devoted to major authors and literary works of the modernistic period (1880
to 1916) in Spanish America. Readings are analyzed and discussed. A required course
for Ph.D. students. Advanced D.A. and M.A. students are accepted.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 671 20th-Century Spanish American Literature
A course devoted to major authors and literary works of the period. Readings will
be analyzed and discussed in depth, and their interrelation with the cultural context
discussed.
Fall or spring, 3 credits, ABCF grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 681 Directed Readings
For students who have completed all doctoral requirements and wish to dedicate themselves
to full-or part-time preparation for the comprehensive examination. Prerequisite:
Coursework toward the Ph.D. must be completed; permission of the dissertation director,
graduate studies director, or Department chair.
Fall and spring, 1-9 credits, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 691 Practicum in the Teaching of Spanish Language
Theory and practice of language teaching. Applied methodology and linguistics in classroom
situations. A required course for teaching assistants. Prerequisite: Permission of
instructor, Department chair, or graduate program director.
Fall, 3 credits, ABCF grading
SPN 693 Practicum in the Teaching of Spanish Language
This course is to be taken in conjunction with the student’s teaching assignment.
Each week’s discussion centers on problems of applied linguistics or grammar. Discussion
will also be focused on methodology (audiolingual method, pattern drills, language
laboratory, and preparation of examinations).
Fall and spring, 3 credits, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 699 Dissertation Research On Campus
For students who have already passed the Ph.D. comprehensive examination and need
to devote their time to preparation of their dissertation. Prerequisites: Ph.D. comprehensive
examination completed and advanced to candidacy (G5); permission of the dissertation
director, graduate program director, or Department chair; major portion of research
must take place on SB campus, at Cold Spring Harbor, or at Brookhaven National Lab.
Fall, spring, and summer, 1-9 credits, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 700 Dissertation Research Off Campus–Domestic
Prerequisite: Must be advanced to candidacy (G5); major portion of research will take
place off campus, but in the U.S. and/or U.S. provinces (Brookhaven National Lab and
Cold Spring Harbor Lab are considered on campus); all international students must
enroll in one of the graduate student insurance plans and should be advised by an
International Advisor.
Fall, spring, and summer, 1-9 credits, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 701 Dissertation Research Off Campus–International
Prerequisite: Must be advanced to candidacy (G5); major portion of research will take
place outside the U.S. and/or U.S. provinces; domestic students have the option of
the health plan and may also enroll in MEDEX; international students who are in their
home country are not covered by mandatory health plan and must contact the Insurance
Office for the insurance charge to be removed; international students who are not
in their home country are charged for the mandatory health insurance (if they are
to be covered by another insurance plan, they must file a waiver by the second week
of classes; the charge will only be removed if the other plan is deemed comparable);
all international students must receive clearance from an International Advisor.
Fall, spring, and summer, 1-9 credits, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
SPN 800 Summer Research
0 credit, S/U grading
May be repeated for credit
