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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. In short, participation in the Spanish program at Oberlin gives students 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 has been proven by our alumni, it will open 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 and culture 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 and culture. 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 309, 310, 317, 318) of the curriculum. Any two 300 level courses taught in Spanish normally serve as a prerequisite for admission to those at the 400 evel. 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 with an expectation of a balance of Peninsular and Latin American Literature and Culture. 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 Spanish 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 Spanish 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 309, 310, 317, or 318. 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: 800-675 SPAN 300 level 675-625 SPAN 304 520-625 SPAN 202 The placement exam will be available online 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 La Casa 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."
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: 20. Ms. Faber, Staff 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: 20. Ms. Martínez-Tapia 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 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 102 or consent of instructor. Enrollment Limit: 20. Mr. O'Connor, Mr. Faber, Staff 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. Prerequisites: SPAN 202 or consent of instructor. Enrollment Limit: 20. Ms. Martínez-Marco, Staff 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. Students will develop and improve their writing skills by practicing descriptive, narrative, argumentative and expository writing in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 18. Ms. Martínez-Marco, Staff 311. Linguistics for Language Students 3 hours 3HU, CD Second 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. Ms. Faber 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
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 its Islamic influences, Native Americans' view of the destruction of their civilization or the different 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 treated. Offered every year. Enrollment Limit: 20. Mr. Pérez de León 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. Mr. Faber 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 19th 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. Ms. Cara 318. Survey of Latin American Literature Through Short Fictions 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 20th and 21st 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
306. Colloquium: Literary Commentary of Hispanic Texts 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. Offered exclusively to freshmen and sophomores. For full course description see section entitled "Colloquia and Other Small Classes for First- and Second-Year Students." Offered every year. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Pérez de León 315. "The Other" in Modern Peruvian Fiction 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. This course examines the principal discourses of Peruvian short fiction since Independence. Emphasis is laid on analyzing the literary representation of many social and cultural phenomena labeled as "the other." Texts include narrative sketches, short stories and short novels by authors like R. Palma, C. Alegría, E. López Albújar, J. Díez Canseco, S. Salazar Bondy, J.M. Arguedas, M. Vargas Llosa, A. Bryce Echenique. All reading and writing in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 20. Mr. Scholz 320. Reading Borges 3 hours 3HU, CD Second Semester. Borges wrote "Let others boast of pages they have written, I take pride in those I've read." Using Borges' notion that reading is one more form of writing or re-writing, this course embarks on an in-depth reading of this literary master's work in the context of his precursors and followers. Selections include poetry, short stories, essays, and critical studies. Taught in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 20. Ms. Cara 326. The Cuban Cinema and "Noticiero ICAIC" 3 hours 3HU, CD Second Semester. From Memories of Underdevelopment to Strawberry and Chocolate, this course offers a critical approach to Cuban cinematography produced since the 1950s to this day. Social and political events are connected in order to better understand the policies that lead and control Cuban culture after 1961. The course will emphasize the importance of "Noticiero ICAIC" and its "grammatical language." In addition several films and documentaries will be presented throughout the semester. Conducted in English. Enrollment Limit: 20. Mr. Hidalgo
419. Translating Latin American Literature 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. This course deals with the theory and practice of literary translation in the context of Latin America. We read fundamental texts on translation by authors like A. Reyes, O. Paz, J.L. Borges, critics like I. Stavans, G. Perez Firmat and by translators like S.J. Levine, J. Felstiner. The workshop component of the course focuses on analyzing published translations and working on individual projects. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Scholz 426. Latin American Literature and the Narratives of the Perverse 3 hours 3HU, CD Second Semester. This course offers a critical look at the narratives that helped to define normal and abnormal sexuality in Latin American fiction. We will set up the issue with Freud, Foucault, and Kiss of the Spider Woman; move on to crime and sex in Mexican fiction and autobiography; and return to Freud on fetishism and female homosexuality in Argentine and Uruguayan authors. The second half of the course will focus on the figure of the Latin transvestite, in fiction, non-fiction, and film. Conducted in English, with optional Spanish-language sessions. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. O'Connor 445. The Spanish Novel Since 1975 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. Overview of the major trends in the post-1975 Spanish novel in the context of the end of the Franco dictatorship, the transition to democracy, the return of civil liberties, and the revival of regionalism. Trends studied will include the detective novel, the autobiographical novel, the fantastic novel, and the historical novel, as well as other "postmodern" genres. Reading list, among others: Atxaga, Llamazares, Marías, Martín Gaite, Montero, and Vázquez Montalbán. Conducted in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Faber 446. Literature and Exile in Spain and Latin America 3 hours 3HU, CD Second Semester. Since the history of 20th-century Spain and Latin America is studded with dictatorships, for many writers leaving their country was the only way to regain their intellectual freedom. This course will analyze the effects of political exile on narrative, poetry, plays, and essays written in Spanish on both sides of the Atlantic, with a particular focus on issues of national identity, loyalty, and representation. Reading list includes "Aub," "Cernuda," "Chacel," "Cortázar," "Dorfman," "Goytisolo," "Molloy," "Neruda," "Peri Rossi," "Piglia," "Reyes," "Semprún," "Sender," and "Valenzuela." Conducted in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Faber 451. Life is a Dream and/or a Drama Play 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. This course is conceived as a search for the philosophical basis of early modern Hispanic spectacles. Students' exploration of the different forms of entertainments will include, not only short and long drama plays, but also celebrations in the court that include visits to towns, weddings or bullfighting. There will be class discussions about the promotion of topics like "life is a dream" or "life is a drama" in the Baroque, and what purpose they had in one of the first modern societies completely oriented to spectacle. Primary sources will include works by Lope de Rueda, María de Zayas, Quiñones de Benavente, Tirso de Molina, Ana Caro, Lope de Vega, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Calderón de la Barca and Miguel de Cervantes, among others. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Pérez de León 457. Caribbean Cultures and Literatures 3 hours 3HU, CD Second Semester. This course examines the relationship between literature and folklore in the Caribbean. Of special interest is the creolization of cultures in this region and the production of a "Creole aesthetic" in literature and the traditional arts (music, painting, dance, theater, etc). Readings include works by Carpentier, Ferré, Schwarz-Bart, Cesaire, Walcott, Naipaul, Chamoiseau, Guillén, etc. as well as critical essays. Taught in English. Identical to CMPL 457. Enrollment Limit: 20. Ms. Cara 458. Fantasy and Violence in Argentine Literature, 1930-1955 3 hours 3HU, CD First Semester. The literature of Argentina's mid-century dictatorships, from the 1930 coup until the fall of Perón in 1955, dwells on extreme configurations of fantasy and violence. The course will examine writers associated with the new metropolis of Buenos Aires (Girondo, Arlt, Onetti, Bombal and the tango lyricists); continue through the early writings of Borges and the Sur group; and proceed to the early neo-fantastic fictions of Julio Cortázar. We end by examining the writings about that Argentine magnet of fantasy and violence, Eva Perón. Conducted in Spanish. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. O'Connor 466. Disillusionment and Bewilderment in the Contemporary 3 hours Latin American Theater 3HU, CD Second Semester. Based on the relevant plays written in recent decades in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru, this course offers a new approach to contemporary Latin American theater. Economic hardship, unemployment, disillusionment and social crisis are some of the topics treated by playwrights who are living the challenge of globalization in the Third World. Enrollment Limit: 15. Mr. Hidalgo 505. Honors 2-6 hours 2-6HU Consent of instructor required. Projects sponsored by Ms. Cara, Mr. Faber, Mr. Pérez de León, Mr. O'Connor 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, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Scholz.
The following courses are cross-referenced and may be taken for Hispanic Studies major credit. Please see the full course descriptions under the department in which the course is listed. History
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