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Hispanic
Studies
Mission
Statement. The
Department of Hispanic Studies at Oberlin College is committed
to offering its students an outstanding liberal-arts education
in the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking
world, based on a solid and thorough knowledge of the Spanish
language.
The program
offers three levels of study, designed to meet the specific
needs of each student. The first of these (Spanish 101,
102, 202, 203, 304, and 334) focuses mainly on learning
Spanish and understanding Hispanic cultures. This stage
ranges from one to six semesters depending on the student's
entry level. Our language classes use the most sophisticated
technology to help develop communicative proficiency in
Spanish. Since this is not possible without cultural knowledge,
all language classes give ample attention to the diversity
of Spanish, Latin-American, and Latino cultures as well.
The second
level, consisting of the other classes in the 300 series,
include a wide range of courses such as Hispanic Folklore,
Film, History, and Translation, as well as introductory
literature classes.
The courses
at the final or 400-level -- all small-group classes taught
in Spanish -- are designed for Spanish majors and minors
who want to focus on specific works, topics or trends of
Hispanic literatures and cultures. Outstanding Spanish majors
are encouraged to write an honors thesis on a topic of their
interest, under the guidance of our faculty
The department's
educational goal, then, is not merely the acquisition of
knowledge. Rather, our students are offered the opportunity
to experience a cultural heritage which is more rich, diverse,
and alive than ever. In addition to the many courses on
the language, literature, film, culture, and history of
the Spanish-speaking world, we offer a wide spectrum of
complementary programs and activities through Oberlin's
own Casa Hispánica. Furthermore, we strongly encourage
our students to study abroad. Oberlin has its own, long-standing
program in Córdoba, Spain (PRESHCO), but we also
endorse a great variety of other programs in Spain and Latin
America.
Being part
of the Spanish program at Oberlin, in short, gives you all
the advantages of a liberal-arts education and more. It
will allow you to understand, appreciate and enjoy the great
diversity of human cultures. And, as is proven by our alumni,
it opens up a wide range of personal and professional opportunities.
Major.
A major in Spanish consists of at least 30 hours of courses
above the 200-level and may include advanced work in composition,
grammar and stylistics, and SPAN 304. It may include nine
hours of transfer credit per semester for study in literature,
culture, and civilization for a total of 18 hours counted
toward the major, including summer work. No credit for language
courses at the SPAN 202/203 level or below taken at Oberlin,
abroad or at other institutions will count toward the major.
Students majoring
in Spanish should take courses in both Peninsular and Latin
American literature. All Spanish majors are strongly encouraged
to spend at least one semester in a Spanish-speaking country
(see below). Those primarily interested in language and
literature should consider a minor in French or Latin. Students
may also pursue a double major with Latin American Studies
or other related fields such as Sociology, Anthropology,
Comparative Literature, Art, History, and Politics. Studies
in Hebrew present a Spanish major with a rare opportunity
for research in the Medieval area, while combining Italian
and Spanish is both useful and important for studies in
the Renaissance and Golden Age. Recommended fields of study
for majors considering graduate school are Latin and French.
While no specific
courses are required, the major should present a balanced
distribution of work taken in Peninsular and Latin American
areas; the major should also be based on the study of genres,
literary movements, and main historical periods covered
in various surveys (SPAN 305, 309, 310) of the curriculum.
Any two 300-level courses taught in Spanish normally serve
as a prerequisite for admission to those at the 400-level.
At least twelve hours must be taken in advanced work (400-level).
No more than two courses taught in English may count toward
the major.
Minor.
A minor in Spanish consists of 18 hours of courses above
the 200-level, including two advanced level courses. Six
hours of transfer credit are accepted toward the minor from
an outside institution. Students wishing to obtain a high
school or elementary teaching certificate should consult
the department chairperson for required or recommended courses
in other departments. No more than one course taught in
English may count toward the minor.
Advanced
Placement.
Students qualifying under this program will be assigned
advanced standing on the basis of results in the qualifying
examinations administered by the College Board and credit
will be awarded for SPAN 300. Scores of 4 and 5 on the
language exam automatically receive three hours of college
credit as Spanish 300, qualifying students to work at
the 300-level. Scores of 4 or 5 on the literature exam
automatically receive three hours of college credit as
SPAN 300, qualifying students for work at the 300-level.
Students having taken the AP exams are encouraged to take
SPAN 306 before taking SPAN 305, 309, or 310. Spanish
300 counts toward the total number of academic credits
required for the major.
Initial
Placement.
Students
who begin Spanish at Oberlin will take SPAN 101 (five
hours). Beyond SPAN 101 the particular entry point within
the sequence of language courses depends upon a student's
background in Spanish and upon the results of a placement
test, administered at the beginning of each semester for
those beginning SPAN 102, 202, 203, and 304. The placement
test is required of every student with a prior knowledge
of Spanish who wishes to enroll, except for students that
have taken the AP exam (see above) or the SAT II Exam
in Spanish. Students who have taken the SAT II Exam in
Spanish should enroll in courses according to their score:
The placement
exam will be available on line one week before registration.
Honors.
The honors program in Spanish is a two-semester sequence
of six hours of independent study, in consultation with
a faculty sponsor, culminating in either an honors thesis
or a special project, e.g., translation, creative writing.
Qualified students are invited to participate in the program
during their junior year. Admission is determined on the
basis of faculty recommendations and grade-point averages
(when available). Further information on the honors program,
such as a sheet of guidelines for the research and writing
of an honors thesis, may be obtained from the departmental
office. See also the general statement on Honors in the
General Information section of this catalog.
La Casa
Hispánica.
Since 1962, the department has sponsored La Casa Hispánica.
The purpose of the house is to provide an environment
where students speak Spanish and benefit from activities
related to the culture of the Hispanic world. The director
is a native speaker and is assisted by two graduate assistants,
who are also native speakers. There are rooming accommodations
for 28 men and women. Tables at which Spanish is spoken
are maintained in El Rincón Latino at Stevenson
Dining Hall.
Study
Abroad in Córdoba, Spain.
The Programa
de Estudios Hispánicos en Córdoba (PRESHCO)
is an
interdisciplinary course of study at the University of Córdoba
sponsored by a consortium made up of the following institutions:
Oberlin College, Smith College, Trinity College, Wellesley
College, Wheaton College, and the College of Wooster. Participants
from Oberlin College receive 15 hours per semester of academic
credit toward graduation. Nine hours each semester, for
a total of 18 hours, may be counted toward the Spanish major.
Before planning to participate in this program, students
on financial aid should consult the Director of Financial
Aid. Although the specific courses offered vary each semester,
they will normally cover topics in Spanish language, literature,
history, art history, and social sciences, as well as one
or two courses on the European Union. See the PRESHCO campus
coordinator for an updated list of courses and equivalent
Oberlin course numbers. Courses recently taught include
"The Colonization of America," "The Novel of the 19th Century,"
"Women's Voices in 20th Century Spain," "The Spanish Middle
Ages: Christians, Moslems, and Jews," "Methods and Techniques
in Andulusian Art Restoration," "The Semitic Legacy in Hispanic
Societies," "Political Structures and Institutions of the
European Union," and "Spanish Art: From Velázquez
to Picasso."
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Language
Courses (Offered Every Year)
101. Elementary
Spanish 5 hours
5HU,
CD
First and
Second Semester. Taught in Spanish. Strong emphasis on communicative
tasks to show students how Spanish is used across the Spanish-speaking
world in real-life situations. Culture is an important thread
that is tightly woven throughout the course. Basic grammar
and vocabulary will be introduced and practiced through
intensive oral and written practice. Weekly compositions
and meetings with language tutors. Enrollment Limit:
18.
102. Elementary
Spanish 5 hours
5HU,
CD
First and
Second Semester. Taught in Spanish, this course is a continuation
of SPAN 101, complemented by additional readings to enhance
written and oral skills. Grammar will continue to be introduced
through more intensive oral and written practice. Students
with any previous knowledge of Spanish other than from Oberlin
College must first take the placement exam before enrolling
in this course. Enrollment Limit:
18.
202. Intermediate
Spanish I 4 hours
4HU,
CD
First and
Second Semester. Taught in Spanish. This course is a continuation
of SPAN 102. It adopts a format integrating grammar, oral
and written practice in exercises, conversation and readings
which evolve within a cultural context. Students have to
attend two mandatory review and lab classes Tuesdays and
Thursdays which meet 9:00-9:50, 10:00-10:50 or 11:00-11:50.
Prerequisite: SPAN 102 or consent of instructor.
Enrollment Limit: 18.
203. Intermediate
Spanish II 4 hours
4HU,
CD
First and
Second Semester. Taught in Spanish. This course is a continuation
of SPAN 202. It adopts a format integrating grammar, oral
and written practice in exercises, conversation and readings
which evolve within a cultural context. Students have to
attend two mandatory conversation classes on Tuesdays and
Thursdays which meet 9:00-9:50 Semester 1 and 10:00-10:50
or 11:00-11:50 Semester 2. Prerequisite: SPAN 202
or consent of instructor. Enrollment Limit: 18.
Mr. Scholz,
Ms. Martínez-Marco
304. Advanced
Grammar and Composition 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First and
Second Semester. It is strongly recommended that students
complete SPAN 203 or equivalent before taking this course
which offers an in-depth review of Spanish grammar and the
opportunity to study closely the different steps involved
in the writing process. Student will develop and improve
their writing skills by practicing descriptive, narrative,
argumentative and expository writing in Spanish. Enrollment
Limit:
18.
311. Linguistics
for Language Students 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
This course addresses the questions of what human language
is and what it means to know a language. Of central concern
is how the scientific study of language helps to reveal
the unconscious knowledge that enables speakers to understand
their language and use it creatively. The class will touch
briefly on each of the primary linguistic fields while covering
in detail the theory and practice of Second Language Acquisition
(SLA). Taught in English. Enrollment Limit: 25.
334. Spanish
for Heritage Speakers 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second
Semester. This course is designed for the unique needs
of heritage speakers of Spanish. It includes grammatical
aspects of the Spanish language that tend to be problematic
for heritage speakers, vocabulary, formal versus informal
communication, reading, and especially writing. Conducted
in Spanish. Enrollment Limit:
12. Consent of instructor required.
Ms.
Cara
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Survey
Courses
309. Survey
of Spanish Literature I 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
This course is a survey of the most representative works that
have shaped the canon of Early Modern Literature in Spanish.
Special attention will be paid to the formation of the Spanish
nation from different perspectives, including her Islamic
Influences, Native Americans view of the destruction of their
civilization or the varied minority discourses. Literary genres
include drama, novel, poetry, essay and American and Peninsular
chronicles and relaciones. Full length texts by Don Juan Manuel,
Cervantes, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Lope de Vega
and María de Zayas, among others, will be read, studied
and commented. Offered every year. Enrollment Limit:
20.
310. Survey
of Spanish Literature II 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
A study of Spanish literature from the 18th through
the 20th century. Each year, the course will focus
on a specific topic, such as the problematics of national
identity, the representation of underprivileged groups, or
the political function of the writer and literature. Offered
every year. Enrollment Limit:
20.
317. Survey
of Latin American Literature I 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
Beginning with pre-Columbian indigenous texts, this course
proceeds to examine the most representative works from the
early centuries of colonial Latin America to the nineteenth
century and the emergence of independent nations. Literary
genres include poetry, chronicles, drama, essay and the novel,
selected from various regions. Offered every year. Enrollment
Limit: 20.
318. Survey
of Latin American Literature II 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
This course begins with the emergence of Modernismo, a key
literary and cultural movement rooted in Latin America, spearheaded
by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío. Major texts
from the twentieth and twenty first centuries follow (including
poetry, essay, narrative and drama) selected around a central
theme, which varies from year to year. Offered every year.
Enrollment Limit:
20.
Mr. O'Connor
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Freshman/Sophomore
Colloquia and 300-level
306. Colloquium:
Literary Commentary of Hispanic Texts 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
This Colloquium is offered exclusively to freshmen and sophomores.
In this course you will be able to familiarize yourself
with the ideas and literary currents that have contributed
to construct the concept of Hispanic Literature through
the reading and analysis of some of the most representative
Hispanic texts. The course serves as an introduction to
main literary genres -- drama, narrative, poetry and essay.
This Colloquium includes an introduction to Film Studies
in the Hispanic World. Special emphasis will be given to
the mechanisms of literary commentary, library research
skills, main ideological trends of Literary Theory and developing
strategies to create a literature research paper. Offered
every year. Enrollment Limit:
15.
312. Latino
and Latin American Folklore 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
A study of Latino and Latin American folklore, conducted
in English. Attention is given to methodological issues
and theoretical approaches to folklore through the study
of folk music, dance, drama, foodways, carnival, storytelling,
santeria, art and dress. Examples are drawn from a range
of countries, including the U.S. and the Caribbean, in an
effort to understand the indigenous, European and African
aspects of Latino and Latin American culture. Slides, videotapes,
and recordings support the readings. A knowledge of Spanish
is desirable but not required. Identical to ANTH 253. Enrollment
Limit: 25.
319. Constructs
of the True Self in 20th Century Latin-American
Nouvelle 3
hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
The course explores the different modes of the post-Nietzschean
quest for personal identity and authentic life as represented
in the genre of the nouvelle.
This narrative form, placed between the short story and
the novel, offers a rewarding vantage point to understand
a general human problem in the specific context of 20th
Century Latin America. Readings include works by M. L. Bombal,
L. Novás Calvo, J. Donoso, J.C. Onetti, S. Novo,
M. Benedetti, F. Hernández, C. Fuentes, A. Skármeta.
All readings and discussions in Spanish. Enrollment
Limit: 20.
321. Special
Topic in Transatlantic Literature and Culture 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
Description to be announced. See department web page.
Enrollment
Limit: 20.
322. Visions
of Mexican Women 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
Mexico's colorful twentieth century of Revolution, murals,
mass media, and magical realism is threaded through with
the works of great women writers and artists, dealing with
the reality of machismo and some of the ghosts of men's
images of them. After a backward glance to icons of Colonial
women, we jump to: stories by Mexican women of the Revolution;
the artwork of the women of Mexico's 1930s and '40s; the
film star in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema; indigenism,
feminism, and political activism in the '60s and '70s; and,
in contemporary fiction and film, realism both magical and
ironic. Enrollment Limit:
20.
Mr. O'Connor
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Advanced
Courses
405. Modern
Poetry in Latin America 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
An in-depth study of major poets of Latin America beginning
with the cultural renaissance of "modernismo." Selections
include works by Neruda, Vallejo, Paz, Darío, Mistral,
and others. Enrollment Limit:
15.
430. The
New Narrative in Latin America 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
This course studies the contemporary novel and short story
in Latin America through an analysis of the thematic and
formal innovations which have led critics to define this
literature as the New Narrative. Readings include Rulfo,
Fuentes, Carpentier, Cortázar, García Márquez,
Vargas Llosa and major works like Pedro Páramo, One
Hundred Years of Solitude, The Lost Steps. All readings
and discussions in Spanish. Enrollment Limit:
15.
434. The
Mad Man and the Others: The Other Cervantes 3 hours
3HU,
CD
Second Semester.
This course focuses on the less studied aspects of the works
of Cervantes. Cases of voyeurism, adultery, black and white
magic, utopic lands, witches and go-betweens, female werewolves
and bizarre cases of madness, will be studied in the context
of Cervantes' times -- and ours, as we explore the obsessions
that have shaped Western cultures and societies since 1600.
Special emphasis will be put on the author's depiction of
America, a land he was unable to visit, but which is present
in his works as an imagined territory of freedom. Critical
texts on madness and otherness and alternative biographies
of the author will complement Cervantes' texts. Primary
works include Don Quijote, The Works of Persiles y Segismunda,
Interludes, Comedias or Drama Plays, Poetry and Exemplary
Novels. Enrollment Limit:
15.
435. Islands
of History: Twentieth Century Cuban and Puerto Rican Literature
3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
Two of the last colonies of the Spanish Empire and (arguably)
two of the last hostages of the Cold War, Cuba and Puerto
Rico have contributed to most of the great movements of
twentieth century Latin American literature, while returning
time and again to the thematics around race and the formal
challenge of an exuberant, polyglot language. The course
will cover: the fin-de-siecle moment; the era of Negritude;
the beginnings of magical realism; Castro's Cuba; the Puerto
Rican iconoclasm and feminism of the 1970s; and the role
of nostalgia in repackaging Cuba today. Enrollment Limit:
15.
505. Honors 2-6
hours
2-6HU
Consent
of instructor required. Projects sponsored by Ms.
Cara, Mr. Faber, Mr. Pérez de León, and
Mr. Scholz.
995. Private
Reading 1-3 hours
1-3HU,
CD
Consent
of instructor required.
Projects sponsored by Ms. Cara, Mr. Faber, Ms. Martínez-Tapia,
Mr. Pérez de León, and Mr. Scholz.
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