Nov 23, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Spanish, B.A.


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University General Education Requirements 

Chairperson: Brenda Eatman Aghahowa

The Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Literatures offers a BA in Spanish. The program emphasizes quality preparation in the humanities, provides access to traditionally underrepresented populations, especially Latino students, and contributes to the economic and social welfare of the community. At the heart of the department’s philosophy is a belief that language and communication are paramount to the human experience.

Competence in more than one language is not only integral to a complete educational experience, but also enables individuals to participate more fully in the global society and marketplace. In addition, the study of other languages and cultures empowers people to behave with a greater sense of self and to be successful in their relationships with those of different backgrounds.

Students enrolled in the liberal arts option in Spanish may prepare for careers in government, public service, translation, interpreting, sales, etc. Completion of the teacher preparation option in Spanish qualifies students for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with an endorsement for teaching Spanish for grades K-12. Licensure requires the successful completion of the Illinois Licensure Spanish content area test and the edTPA. The program meets Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) standards for foreign language education in Spanish.

The department offers introductory and advanced courses in Spanish and French. It also offers introductory courses in African languages, Arabic, Chinese, and German. The first-year foreign language courses are intended to develop the ability to understand, speak, and read the target language. The department also offers minor sequences in French, Spanish, and Latin American/Latino Studies for students majoring in other degree programs.

The department will grant a maximum of nine hours of proficiency credit to both Spanish and bilingual education majors, six hours to elementary education majors and students undertaking a Spanish minor or Latin American/Latino Studies minor, and six hours to French minors.

Proficiency credit will be awarded during the last semester of the program.

Liberal Arts Option


General Requirements

Admission to the department is contingent upon good academic standing and acceptance by the department. The department will not accept D transfer credit in the major. All Liberal Arts in Spanish majors will be assessed periodically during their course of study. As students progress in the program, all majors will be evaluated by examinations in the areas of oral proficiency, reading, and writing. By graduation they will be expected to have met the Advanced + level in these skills and passed a culture/literature exam. During their senior year, students must successfully complete a Senior Capstone project and presentation on a Spanish literary classic assessed by a departmental faculty panel. In addition to vocabulary and fluency, students will be evaluated on their ability to identify themes and style of a particular author and interpret and analyze text and ideas in a given socio-historical context. Performance is evaluated on content, vocabulary, and fluency.

Transfer students should complete 30 hours in the major or have consent of the department and the appropriate departmental assessments for graduation. Courses older than seven years will not be accepted. Oral proficiency will be assessed.

Course requirements

Completion of 120 semester hours of work including the university General Education Requirements, the College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirements (3 hrs. foreign language requirement embedded in the major Spanish courses and 3 hours general education course carrying the diversity designation), 45 hours in Spanish, 9 hours in cognate electives, and 24 hours in general electives selected with the Spanish departmental advisor’s approva

General Education (36 credit hours)


Core requirements


  • English composition (6 hours)
  • Oral communication (3 hours)
  • Mathematics (3 hours)

General requirements


  • Humanities/Fine Arts (9 hours); at least 3 hours Humanities and 3 hours Fine Arts
  • Social Sciences (9 hours); in at least two different disciplines
  • Natural Sciences (6 hours); 3-hour Physical Science and 3-hour Life Sciences, one of which must be a lab course

College of Arts and Sciences Requirement (3 credit hours)


  • One course in a Foreign Language (3 hour) *embedded in the Spanish major courses
  • One general education or major course carrying the diversity designation (*embedded in electives)

Required Spanish Courses (29 credit hours)


Elective Spanish Courses (15 credit hours)


  • 15 credit hours in Spanish to be selected with the approval of the academic advisor.

Cognate Elective Courses (16 credit hours)


16 credit hours of cognate electives to be divided among courses that will either complement the Spanish degree or will create a more intensified area of expertise in a field related to the major. These electives may be taken from anthropology; political science; foreign languages; art; music; educational leadership, curriculum, and foundations; history; geography; or any other academic discipline approved by the department. Courses are to be selected with the approval of the academic advisor and must include a course designated “Diversity.”

Elective Courses (24 credit hours)


  • Courses are to be selected with the approval of the department academic advisor.

Secondary Teaching Option


General Requirements

Students must complete 120 credits hours of work including the university General Education requirement (36 credit hours), the College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirement for a Foreign Language (embedded in major requirements), 47 credits hours in area of specialization, 14 hours pre-professional education courses, and 23 credit hours in professional education. Licensure requires the successful completion of the Illinois Spanish Content Area Test, edTPA, and proficiency at the Advanced level in Spanish (ACTFL/OPI proficiency interview).

Specific Requirements


General Education (36 credit hours)


Core requirements

  • English composition (6 credit hours)
  • Oral communication (3 credit hours)
  • Mathematics (3 credit hours)
General requirements

  • Humanities/Fine Arts (9 credit hours): at least 3 credit hours in humanities and at least 3 credit hours in fine arts
  • Social Sciences (9 credit hours): in at least two different academic disciplines
  • Natural Sciences (6 credit hours): 3 credit hours in physical science and 3 credit hours in life sciences; one course must include a lab
College of Arts and Sciences Requirements (embedded in major)

  • One course in foreign language (3 credit hours)
  • One general education course or major course carrying the “Diversity” designation

Required Supportive Course


(to be taken before student teaching). SPAN 1092  or pass the state Content Area Certification Test in Spanish.

Required Pre-Professional Education (14 credit hours):


Professional Education (23 credit hours):


Course must be passed with at least a grade of C.

*Restricted to students admitted to the College of Education.

Spanish Honors Program


The Spanish Honors Program is designed for rising juniors (second semester sophomores) or juniors who wish to challenge themselves beyond the requirements of their major (Liberal Arts Spanish or K-12 Spanish Education). Students are provided with faculty mentorship and opportunities for independent research during their junior and senior years of undergraduate study. The Honors Committee of the department solicits candidates from faculty in the department. Candidates are then interviewed for final admission into the program. Students may also apply to the program by contacting the Honors advisor.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

  • be juniors or second semester sophomores;
  • have a minimum GPA of 3.25 in Spanish coursework (after a minimum of 12 credit hours taken) and a cumulative average GPA of 3.0.

General Requirements

Honors students must meet the following criteria:

  • successfully complete 15 honors credit hours in the major with a minimum grade of B;
  • complete 9 credit hours taken from honors designated courses or independent studies within the major at the 3000 and 4000 levels. These courses will require additional projects, research, and activities;
  • fulfill course requirements over three or four semesters (one honors course should be taken each semester);
  • enroll in and successfully complete the Spanish Honors Seminar (6 credit hours) and complete an honors thesis or special project under the supervision of a faculty member. A presentation will be required.

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