Undergrad Course Catalogue
View our courses on the
Undergraduate Bulletin
View our course on Hispanic culture offered in English (HUS)
SPN 111 Elementary Spanish I
An introduction to spoken and written Spanish, stressing pronunciation, speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Language laboratory supplements class work. Designed for students who have no prior knowledge of the language. No student who has had two or more years of Spanish in high school (or who has other wise acquired an equivalent proficiency) is permitted to register for SPN 111 without written permission from the super visor of the course.
4 credits; Partially fulfills: LANG
SPN 112 Elementary Spanish II
An introduction to spoken and written Spanish, stressing pronunciation, speaking,
comprehension, reading, and writing. Language laborator y supplements class work.
Prerequisite: SPN 111
4 credits;
LANG
SPN 211 Intermediate Spanish I
A comprehensive review of the Spanish language as it is spoken in Latin America. The
course is intended to develop competence in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish
through the study of grammar and interpretation of selected literar y texts. May not
be taken for credit in addition to SPN 210 or 213. Not intended for students of Spanish-speaking
background.
Prerequisite: SPN 112
3 credits;
GLO
,
LANG
SPN 212 Intermediate Spanish II
A comprehensive study of the Spanish language, taking into account its regional variations.
The course is intended to develop greater competence in reading, writing, and speaking
Spanish through continued study of grammar and interpretation of more advanced literary
texts. Not intended for students of Spanish-speaking background. May not be taken
for credit in addition to SPN 213.
Prerequisite: SPN 210 or 211
3 credits;
GLO
,
HUM
,
LANG
SPN 213 Intermediate Spanish for Speakers of Spanish
A course intended for students of Spanish-speaking background whose formal training
in the language has been limited to a year or less. It is designed to improve competence
in Spanish as it is spoken and written in the Americas. May not be taken for credit
in addition to SPN 210, 211, or 212.
Prerequisite: Native speaking proficiency in Spanish
3 credits;
GLO
,
HUM
,
LANG
SPN 310 Spanish Grammar and Composition for Students of Hispanic-American Background
A course designed to improve writing through the study of Hispanic-American literature
and culture. May not be taken for credit in addition to SPN 311.
Prerequisite: SPN 213 or equivalent fluency in Spanish
3 credits;
HFA+
SPN 311 Spanish Conversation and Composition
A thorough review of Spanish grammar and of the active use of spoken and written forms.
Not intended for students of Spanish-speaking background. May not be taken for credit
in addition to SPN 310.
Prerequisite: SPN 212
3 credits;
HFA+
,
LANG
SPN 312 Introduction to Literary Studies
Reading of selected passages of prose and poetry in class, with special concentration
on improving students’ written and oral skills, and introducing them to the basic
elements of literary analysis of Spanish and Latin American works.
Prerequisite: SPN 310 or 311
3 credits;
HFA+
,
SPK
SPN 321 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition
A review of advanced Spanish grammar with emphasis on improving writing skills and
increasing master y of Spanish syntax. Extensive practice in composition and in translation.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
CER
,
HFA+
,
WRTD
SPN 322 Practical Spanish
A course for students who wish to become more proficient in reading, writing, and
translating Spanish, to be used in business, administration, and in other fields of
everyday professional life. Emphasis is placed on the idiomatic peculiarities of the
Spanish language and the relation of Spanish to the structure of English.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
HFA+
SPN 323 Advanced Spanish Conversation
A course designed to develop and maintain complete fluency in the language. Not open
to native-background speakers or students who have been in a Spanish-speaking country
for a considerable length of time.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
HFA+
,
LANG
SPN 391 The Culture and Civilization of Spain
The evolution of the culture and civilization of Spain as seen through its history,
art, and literature.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
GLO
,
HFA+
SPN 392 The Culture and Civilization of Spanish America
The evolution of the culture and civilization of Spanish America as seen through its
history, art, and literature.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits
SPN 393 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
The study of Spanish linguistics, including an analysis of the Spanish sound system
and the structure of words and sentences. Topics include the origin and evolution
of the Spanish language and the dialects of Latin American and Peninsular Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 321
3 credits;
SBS
SPN 395 Introduction to Spanish-American Literature I
Readings in Spanish-American literature from its native origins through colonial rule.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
GLO
,
HFA+
SPN 396 Introduction to Spanish-American Literature II
Readings in Spanish-American literature from the late colonial period to the present.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
GLO
,
HFA+
SPN 397 Introduction to Spanish Literature I
Readings in Peninsular literature from its origins through the 17th century.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
GLO
,
HFA+
SPN 398 Introduction to Spanish Literature II
Readings in Peninsular literature from the 18th century to the present.
Prerequisites: SPN 312
3 credits;
GLO
,
HFA+
Reading, analyzing, writing, producing and publishing news and media material in Spanish. Emphasis will be on the new digital media culture of globalized Latin America, Latino USA and Spain in relation to specific historical and social contexts, power relations, gender and ethnic politics and ethical issues. The intersection of Latin American journalism and literature (the crónica), the new testimonial documentaries and the tensions between storytelling and information will be central in our multimedia work. The final group project will involve a multimedia digital publication in Spanish related to current events in Spanish speaking communities. Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: SPN 312 or permission of the instructor
3 credits; GLO , HFA+
SPN 405 Issues in Hispanic Cultural Studies
Readings, viewings, and theoretical discussion of Spanish or Latin American culture
with special focus on one or more issues (colonialism, imperialism, national identity,
indigenism, subjectivity) as manifested in a specific cultural form or forms (testimonial
literature, popular culture, cinema, novel, short story, poetry, television). Semester
supplements contain specific description when course is offered. May be repeated for
credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 391 or 397 or 398 (for a Spanish topic), or SPN 392 or 395 or
396 (for a Latin American topic), or one course from each group (for a cross- cultural
topic)
3 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
SPN 410 Theory in Contexts
The critical analysis of texts as they relate to Spanish or Latin American political,
social, and gender relations and institutions. Sample topics include gender and representation,
Marxism and Freudianism, the body, carnival, orality, the picaresque. Semester supplements
contain specific description when course is of fered. May be repeated for credit as
the topic changes.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 391 or 397 or 398 (for a Spanish topic), or SPN 392 or 395 or
396 (for a Latin American topic), or one course from each group (for a cross- cultural
topic)
3 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
SPN 415 Hispanic Cultures in Contact
Contemporary perspectives on Hispanic cultures in contact with each other and with
non-Hispanic cultures. Sample topics include the literature of exile, border literature,
ethnicity and culture, Amerindian literatures, Latino/Latina literature, Spanish and
Latin American cultural contacts. Semester supplements contain specific description
when course is offered. May be repeated for credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 391 or 397 or 398 (for a Spanish topic), or SPN 392 or 395 or
396 (for a Latin American topic), or one course from each group (for a cross- cultural
topic)
3 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
SPN 420 Topics in Spanish and Latin American Cinema
Semester supplements contain specific description when course is offered. May be repeated
for credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite(s): SPN 391 or 397 or 398 (for a Spanish topic), or SPN 392 or 395 or
396 (for a Latin American topic), or one course from each group (for a cross- cultural
topic)
3 credits;
ARTS
,
HFA+
SPN 435 Topics in Latin American Literature from the Colonial Period to the Present
Semester supplements contain specific description when course is offered. May be repeated
for credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite: SPN 392 or 396
3 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
This course is designed for students who engage in a substantial, structured experiential learning activity in conjunction with another class. Experiential learning occurs when knowledge acquired through formal learning and past experience are applied to a "real-world" setting or problem to create new knowledge through a process of reflection, critical analysis, feedback and synthesis. Beyond-the-classroom experiences that support experiential learning may include: service learning, mentored research, field work, or an internship.
Prerequisite: WRT 102 or equivalent; permission of the instructor and approval of the EXP+ contract. See.
0 credit, S/U grading; EXP+
SPN 445 Topics in Spanish Literature from the Middle Ages to the Present
Semester supplements contain specific description when course is offered. May be repeated
for credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite: SPN 391 or 397 or 398
3 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
SPN 447 Directed Readings
Individually supervised studies in selected topics of Hispanic language, literature,
and culture. May be repeated. Normally no more than three credits are allowed toward
the major requirements; other credits are considered as electives.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and department
1-6 credits;
ESI
,
HFA+
A zero credit course that may be taken in conjunction with any 300- or 400-level SPN course, with permission of the instructor. The course provides opportunity to practice the skills and techniques of effective academic writing and satisfies the learning outcomes of the Stony Brook Curriculum's WRTD learning objective.
Prerequisite: WRT 102; permission of the instructor
0 credit, S/U grading; WRTD
SPN 462 Contrastive Spanish-English Phonology
A study of Spanish and English phonology and phonetics from a contrastive linguistics
perspective; its relation to the analysis of bilingualism.
Prerequisite: SPN 393 or LIN 101 or HUL 324
3 credits;
HFA+
SPN 463 Contrastive Spanish-English Grammar
In-depth investigation of particular areas of Spanish and English grammar for the
purposes of language teaching.
Prerequisite: SPN 393 or LIN 101 or HUL 324
3 credits
SPN 465 Topics in Hispanic Linguistics
Semester supplements contain specific description when course is offered. May be repeated
for credit as the topic changes.
Prerequisite: SPN 393 or LIN 101 or HUL 324
3 credits;
HFA+
SPN 475 Undergraduate Teaching Practicum in Spanish
An opportunity for selected upper-division students to collaborate with the faculty
in teaching a language class. Responsibilities may include preparing material for
practice sessions and helping students with problems. Application for approval must
be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies the previous semester.
Prerequisites: U3 or U4 Spanish major; preferably U4 standing; permission of director
of undergraduate studies
3 credits, S/U grading;
EXP+
SPN 495 Spanish Senior Honors
Prerequisites: 3.50 GPA in major; Spanish courses in major; 3.00 overall GPA; U4 standing;
permission of department
3 credits;
EXP+