As the number of Spanish-speaking people in the United States increases each year, the decision to study Spanish is a strategic choice. The demand for Spanish speakers has also drastically increased in health services, social services, legal counseling, criminal justice, business, finance and marketing. Because of this population growth, the U.S. is the third largest Spanish speaking country in the world.
The opportunities for Spanish speaking teachers, interpreters, and translators has grown tremendously. So too has the demand for Spain. Spanish has become an important part of this hemisphere's skill set due in part to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) making it an essential tool in the business world. Central and South America, where Spanish is highly prevalent, represents one of the greatest opportunities for U.S business growth and expansion. These geographic areas, as well as Spain, are also becoming a favorite destination of many American travelers.
Qualifications for the Major
All language courses applied to a language major or minor must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA in their Major courses to be eligible to graduate with a degree in Spanish. Students in language-education and dual-major programs are governed by the same requirements.
Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Curriculum (Spanish):
1. Core Curriculum Requirements:
Go to /academics/core.aspfor the Core Curriculum requirements. All students complete these requirements as part of their overall Canisius education.
2. Major Requirements (10 courses)
| SPA 215 Advanced (I) | 3 credits | ||
| SPA 216 Advanced (II) | 3 credits | ||
| SPA 323 Conversation (I) with lab | 3 credits | ||
| SPA 324 Conversation (II) with lab | 3 credits | ||
| SPA 331 Substance and Style I | 3 credits | ||
| SPA 332 Substance and Style II | 3 credits | ||
| SPA Capstone or Major elective | 3 credits | ||
| Major Electives (3 Courses 300-400 level in the target language) | 9 credits | ||
3. Additional Requirements:
Study Abroad Requirement and Cultural Requirement (see descriptions below)
4. Free electives
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours.
Study Abroad Requirement
Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures majors are required to study abroad for a minimum of four consecutive weeks in a formal pre-approved program in the target language. Canisius College maintains its own unique programs at the University of Lille (France); the University of Dortmund (Germany); Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht (Berlin, Germany); Katholische Universität Eichsatt (Eichstatt, Germany); the University of Oviedo (Spain); the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Puerto Rico); and the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (Mexico). Education majors with a concentration in a Modern Language are highly encouraged to study abroad as well.
Other study abroad possibilities include, but are not limited to and are not necessarily pre-approved for study abroad credit for the Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures major, the Beijing Center (China), Lorenzode Medici (Florence, Italy); Mediterranean Center for the Arts and Sciences in Sicily and John Cabot University in Rome; Sophia University (Tokyo, Japan); the University of Uppsala (Uppsala, Sweden); and the Academy of Fine Arts (Warsaw, Poland).
Students who choose to spend a semester abroad at a foreign university may count up to three courses as a Modern Language Core or Elective as long as these courses have been pre-approved by the chair of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Students who spend more than one semester studying at a foreign university of universities may count an additional two courses as a Modern Language Core or Elective. Exceptions to these rules will require special permission from the chair of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Credits for short programs abroad are determined by the number of contact hours.
As a general rule, students must complete the 215-216 sequence or the equivalent and one 300-level course at Canisius College prior to studying at a foreign university. Consultation with a Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures academic major advisor is required prior to study abroad. It is expected that students will complete at least one course in the major upon return to Canisius College.
Eligible students, whether majors or not, are also encouraged to participate in one or more of the non-academic summer internships that are maintained by the college in France, Germany, Mexico and Spain.
Atlantis Program is a special opportunity for business majors to earn a Canisius degree and a European degree at IECS School of Management/Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg, France or at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. This is a thirteen-month program divided between Antwerp and Strasbourg and includes a monthly living allowance of $1,200.00 to qualified program participants.
Cultural Requirement
Over the course of the semester, each student in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures in courses 103 and above will participate in or attend two cultural events or activities outside of regular class time. One of them must be related to the culture of the language under study. The second should at least have a multicultural character.
A current list of events acceptable in fulfillment of the cultural requirement will be posted electronically and updated weekly by the Modem Languages Department. Suggestions by students are welcome.
Dual Major
Language study lends itself uniquely to the concept of the dual major. Students may combine language programs with virtually any major, but of particular interest and practicality are dual majors with international business, international relations, communication, economics, marketing-management, philosophy, history, English, political science, art history, biology and chemistry.
Dual majors in Spanish and another department must complete SPA 215-216, 323-324, 331-332 plus four Spanish electives. Dual majors in two languages must complete SPA 215-216, 323-324 and 331-332 in both languages plus four electives in their primary language and two electives in their secondary language.
Education Majors with Language Concentration
Education majors fall into three separate tracks: those with a concentration in a Modern Language at the K-6 levels (Early Childhood and Childhood) are required to take a total of ten language courses beginning at a minimum of the 215-216 level; those with a concentration in a Modern Language at the secondary levels (Adolescence Education) are required to take a total of twelve language courses beginning at a minimum of the 215-216 level; and, those with a dual major in any Education track and a Modern Language are required to take a total of twelve language courses beginning at a minimum of the 115-116 level.
Placement into Courses
Foreign language placement is determined by how many years of a language were studied between the ninth and twelfth grades. Initial language placements may be changed during the first week of classes.
- 0 years studied=103 (Novice-low level).
- 1 year studied=115 (Novice-mid and high level). However, if the last year you studied that language was during your junior year in high school and you received a C or lower, you will be placed into 103.
- 2-3 years studied=215 (Intermediate-low and mid level). However, if the last year you studied that language was during your junior year in high school and you received a C or lower, you will be placed into 115.
- 4-5 years studied = 215 (intermediate review level or higher). However, if the last year you studied that language was your junior year in high school and you received a C+ or lower, you will be placed into 115.
- AP scores of 3 = Fulfills a two-semester language sequence at the 115-116 level
- AP scores of 4 or 5 = Fulfills a two-semester language sequence at the 215-216 level.
- College Credit Programs refer to admission guidelines.
- CLEP credits = refer to admission guidelines.
- Transfer students = see appropriate associate dean.
Native Speaker
Native speakers of languages other than English receive a language requirement waiver if they are able to provide documentation of their native speaker status. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to, a school diploma received from a country where the language of instruction is not English or an internationally recognized examination certifying language abilities.
Native speakers of Spanish may be allowed to replace one or more of the required 300-level courses with a 300- or 400-level major elective, upon consultation with their departmental advisor. Second language proficiency is required ONLY for graduate-track majors, although it is strongly advised for language-education majors.
SPA 103-104 Introductory Spanish 6 credits
Reading, writing, listening and speaking. Introduction to Hispanic culture. Almost exclusive use of Spanish in class. Supplemented by required aural-oral practice in Language Laboratory (SPA 299). Prerequisite for SPA 104: C or better in SPA 103 or permission of chair. SPA 103 Fall; SPA 104 Spring
SPA 115-116 Advanced-Introductory Spanish 6 credits
Continued development in writing, listening, speaking and especially reading Hispanic literary and cultural material. Comprehensive grammar review. Almost exclusive use of Spanish in class. Lab required. Prerequisites for SPA 115: C or better in SPA 104 or two years of high school Spanish. Prerequisite for SPA 116: C or better in SPA 115 or permission of chair. SPA 115 Fall; SPA 116 Spring
SPA 215-216 Intermediate Spanish 6 credits
This course is designed as a thorough review of grammatical structures. Also emphasized is the building of vocabulary, increasing competence in the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and gaining an overview of Hispanic cultures. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite for SPA 215: C or better in SPA 116 or four years of high school Spanish. Prerequisite for SPA 216: C or better in SPA 215 or permission of chair. SPA 215 Fall; SPA 216 Spring
SPA 299 Spanish Language Lab 0 credits
Students enrolled in SPA 103-104, 115-116, 323-324 must register for one hour per week practice in Language Lab. Prerequisite: Registration for one or more of the courses listed above.
SPA 323 Topics in Conversation I 3 credits
Contemporary communication skills emphasized in general exploration of contemporary culture of the Hispanic world. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Phonetics may be included.Language lab required. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 216. Fall
SPA 324 Topics in Converstaion II 3 credits
A continuation of SPA 323. Exclusive use of Spanish in class.Language lab required. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 323 or permission of chair. Spring.
SPA 331 Substance and Style: Effective Writing in Spanish I 3 credits
Distinguishing and producing effective writing of different types: essay, correspondence, description, report. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 216. Fall
SPA 332 Substance and Style: Effective Writing in Spanish II 3 credits
A continuation of SPA 331. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 331 or permission of chair. Spring
SPA 333-334 Survey of Penisular and Latin American Literature I/II 6 credits
Selected readings of literary works from Spain and Latin American countries. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite for SPA 333: C or better in SPA 324 and 332 or permission of chair. Prerequisite for SPA 334: C or better in SPA 333 or permission of chair. SPA 333 Fall; SPA 334 Spring.
SPA 350 Hispanic Short Stories 3 credits
Critical survey of outstanding short stories ranging from Unamuno in Spain and Echeverría to Cortázar in Latin America. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 324 and 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 351 Junior Spanish Seminar & Special Topics 3 credits
Intensive analysis of selected literary works. Research paper required. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 324 and SPA 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 400 Spanish Internship 3 credits
Qualified students are placed in jobs or service programs where they will use and perfect language skills. Prerequisite: Permission of chair.
SPA 451 Senior Spanish Seminar 3 credits
Intensive analysis of culture and/or selected literary themes. Research paper required. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Discipline specific topics according to course instructor. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 324 and SPA 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 452 Senior Latin American Special Topics 3 credits
Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 324 and SPA 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 473 Mexican Crafts and Culture 3 credits
Meets once a week with MGT 473, in English, for discussion of crafts of Michoacan/importation and sale. Meets once a week independently, in Spanish, for study of general Mexican culture. Prerequisite: C or better in SPA 324 and SPA 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 474 Spanish for Business 3 credits
Advanced aural/oral and writing skills needed for working in a Spanish-speaking environment. Practical situations, technical vocabulary and correspondence highlighted. Exclusive use of Spanish in class. Prerequisite for SPA 474: C or better in SPA 324 and SPA 332 or permission of chair.
SPA 499 Independent Study 3 credits
Prerequisite: Permission of chair.