Spanish, Bachelor of Arts
The Spanish Major is designed to be flexible, creative, and meet a host of different goals, allowing students to develop the advanced linguistic skills and forms of cultural competence so frequently sought in today’s globally competitive and interconnected world. Students will choose between two concentrations. Concentration A. Translation and Interpretation - equips students with the necessary knowledge, tools and abilities to become competent interpreters and translators. Concentration B. Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures - is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study of the varied cultural and literary histories of the Spanish speaking world. Graduates will be prepared for a number of jobs in government, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector, as well as entry into graduate and professional schools.
Learning Outcomes. Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced level competency in all language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in accordance with criteria developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) while developing skills in critical and analytical thinking as well as sharpening research skills through discussion and analysis of different kind of texts, films, documents, and linguistic data.
- Develop professional standards to give presentations in Spanish on a variety of cultural topics including literature, popular culture and films, or interpret speech and translate documents from one language to another, according to their interests.
- Demonstrate intercultural competency through their contact and engagement with the cultures, literatures, history and politics of the diverse places where Spanish is spoken: the Americas- North, Central, and South―the Caribbean, and Europe.
- Gain knowledge of the legal systems of the Spanish–speaking world.
- Graduate with extraordinary international opportunities, whether they elect to undertake further specialized study in Hispanic literatures and cultures, or decide instead to translate and interpret from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Their knowledge of Hispanic cultures will enhance their career opportunities in publishing and journalism, public service, international law and business, social services, diplomacy.
- Expand their career possibilities in many professional fields.
Coordinators and Advisors:
Concentration A. (Translation & Interpretation): Professor Aida Martinez-Gomez, Department of Modern Languages (212.621.3755, amartinez@jjay.cuny.edu);
Concentration B. (Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Culture): Professor Maria Julia Rossi, Department of Modern Languages (212.237.8716, mrossi@jjay.cuny.edu)
Credits required: 36 credits Four Year Academic Plan
Prerequisites:
The Spanish major requires successful completion of the beginning sequence (SPA 101-SPA 102 OR SPA 111-SPA 112); or placement test results indicating an equivalent level of Spanish language comprehension. The placement exam is available in the Foreign Language Lab in room 7.65.00NB.
These courses satisfy the requirements of the General Education program in the Flexible Core: World Cultures and Global Issues; and in the College Option: Communications areas.
Part One. Required Core Courses
Language Practice
Required
| SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 211 | Intermediate Spanish I for Heritage Students | 3 |
| | |
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 212 | Intermediate Spanish II for Heritage Students | 3 |
| | |
| SPA 215 | Spanish Conversation & Composition | 3 |
Career Emphasis
Select one
| SPA 255 | Spanish for the Professional | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 250 | Spanish for Criminal Investigation | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 12
Part Two. Concentrations
Concentration A-Translation and Interpretation
Concentration A prepares students for positions as translators and interpreters generally, and specifically for positions requiring a background in legal concepts and terminology.
Required
| SPA 230 | Theory and Practice of Written Translation: Spanish to English | 3 |
| SPA 231 | Interpreting I | 3 |
| SPA 330 | Translating II | 3 |
| SPA 333 | Interpreting II | 3 |
| SPA 340 | Legal Interpreting I | 3 |
| SPA 435 | Legal Translating | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Electives
Select two courses
| SPA 309 | The Theme of Justice in Spanish Literature (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| SPA 321 | Introduction to Spanish Literature I | 3 |
| SPA 322 | Introduction to Spanish Literature II | 3 |
| SPA 331 | Introduction to Latin-American Literature I | 3 |
| SPA 332 | Introduction to Latin-American Literature II | 3 |
| SPA 336 | The Theme of Justice in Latin American Literature and Film (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| SPA 337 | Text Analysis and Editing for Translators | 3 |
| SPA 339 | Translating III: Specialized Translation | 3 |
| SPA 357 | Violence Against Women in the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| SPA 380 | Advanced Selected Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| SPA 440 | Legal Interpreting II | 3 |
| SPA 478 | Internship in Spanish Interpretation and Translation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Concentration B-Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures
Concentration B is designed for students who wish to pursue a more general course of study in Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures. Students who elect Concentration B can achieve levels of cultural knowledge and sophistication that should make them particularly attractive to employers in such areas as government, international relations, business, marketing (both domestically and in Spain or Latin America), journalism, the foreign service, and certain NGOs in the non-profit sector.
Required
One 300-level Spanish Literature course:
| SPA 321 | Introduction to Spanish Literature I | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 322 | Introduction to Spanish Literature II | 3 |
One 300-level Latin American Literature course:
| SPA 331 | Introduction to Latin-American Literature I | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 332 | Introduction to Latin-American Literature II | 3 |
One 300-level Theme of Justice through Literature and/or Film course:
| SPA 309 | The Theme of Justice in Spanish Literature (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
| OR | |
| SPA 336 | The Theme of Justice in Latin American Literature and Film (Taught in Spanish) | 3 |
One 400-level course:
| SPA 401 | Contemporary Issues in Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Electives
Select four courses
| SPA 230 | Theory and Practice of Written Translation: Spanish to English | 3 |
| SPA 231 | Interpreting I | 3 |
| SPA 320 | Latin-American Theatre Taller de Teatro/Theatre Workshop | 3 |
| SPA 351 | Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Issues in Hispanic Film and Literature | 3 |
| SPA 354 | Hispanic Film | 3 |
| SPA 357 | Violence Against Women in the Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
SPA 359
| | |
| SPA 380 | Advanced Selected Topics in Spanish | 3 |
| FRE 201 | Intermediate French I | 3 |
| POR 201 | Intermediate Portuguese I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 24
Total Credit Hours: 36
***Notes:
- A semester of study abroad in a Spanish-speaking university, approved by the student's major advisor and department chair, may substitute for up to fifteen (15) credit hours toward the major.
- All courses used for the major must be taught primarily in the Spanish language except for the POR 201 and FRE 201 electives.