Office:
University
Hall, Second Floor
Telephone:
(760)
750-4208
World Languages and Hispanic
Literatures Department Chair:
Silvia
Rolle, Ph.D.
Faculty:
Veronica Anover, Ph.D.
Stella T. Clark, Ph.D.
Francisco Martín,
Ph.D.
Jill L. Pellettieri,
Ph.D.
Silvia Rolle, Ph.D.
Darci L. Strother,
Ph.D.
Carlos von Son, Ph.D.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Assessor:
Kevin
Igasaki, M.A.
Programs Offered:
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
- Minor in Spanish
- Master of Arts in Spanish
As its primary objective, the Spanish Major promotes the study of the language and culture of Spanish-speaking people. It is designed to provide the background and appreciation of Hispanic literatures and cultures, and linguistic and analytic skills, so students can pursue careers in a variety of fields. The program seeks to contribute support to and articulate with other areas of study at the University. It aims to serve the immediate region and its needs, while providing students with insight and understanding of the Hispanic world at large.
The Spanish Major addresses cultural and linguistic connections between the United States and its Spanish-speaking neighbors. It promotes the concept that Spanish is not a foreign language, but rather one to be cultivated and appreciated alongside English in Southern California.
The multi-track characteristic of the Cal State San Marcos Spanish Major gives students flexibility and diversity while providing a strong core in all basic linguistic, analytic, and cultural skills. The program takes into account the unique nature of the Cal State San Marcos student body and the University’s Mission Statement.
The program addresses the need for trained language specialists in a variety of fields. At the same time, it considers the location of Cal State San Marcos, in North San Diego County, an area characterized by a strong Spanish-speaking population. The bi-national interaction that stems from our proximity to the Mexican border establishes the need for a multidimensional major which incorporates practical and academic components. The University’s commitment to interdisciplinary and multicultural issues guides the cultural and literary elements of the major. All of these principles are prevalent in the curriculum and the faculty, both of which are complemented by those of other programs.
Requirements for the Spanish Major
- The major consists of 48 semester units, with 36 units of upper-division coursework.
- The 12 units of lower-division, or any portion thereof, may be met by demonstrating equivalent proficiency. In such a case, the units in lower-division would be reduced proportionately.
- Upper-division requirements are divided between a core and a track. The core requires 21 units and each of the four tracks is 15 units, for a total of 36 units.
Special Conditions for the Spanish Major
- Appropriate courses taken for lower-division General Education credit may be counted toward the preparation of the major.
- Credit/No Credit grading is not allowed in the upper-division courses required for the major, except in the case of students who pass course-specific challenge exams administered by the Program.
- A grade of C- or better must be earned in all upper-division courses applied to the major.
- In no case may more than two courses conducted in English be applied to the Spanish major.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SPANISH
Units
General Education
51
Preparation for the
Major0-12
Core
Requirements21
Track
Requirements15
Students must
take a sufficient
number of
elective units
to bring the
total number of
units to a
minimum of124
The following four tracks respond to our area’s demands for different types of opportunities:
Track One: General Major in Spanish
This represents a comprehensive language, literature, and culture track to provide the background for entrance into graduate programs in Spanish and for a single-subject teaching credential.*
*Students planning to pursue a single - subject teaching
credential in Spanish should contact the Spanish advisor for single subject
program for information on additional courses or assessments which may be
required for admission to the credential program. See more information at
www.csusm.edu/spanish/spanwaiver.htm
Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (12 units)
Units
Students must take
twelve
(12) units of
lower
-division
Spanish courses. A
portion
or all of
these units
may be
met by demonstrating
language proficiency;
in
such a case, the units
required
in lower-division
would be
proportionately
reduced.0-12
Core Requirements
CORE (21 units)
Units
SPAN 311A or
311B3
SPAN
312 3
SPAN
315 3
Three (3) units
selected from
the following
courses3
SPAN
350ASPAN 350B
Six (6) units selected
from
the following
courses6
SPAN 314 (A-F) or 316*
SPAN 317
SPAN 330
SPAN 331
SPAN 3993
Track Requirements
TRACK (15
units)
Units
SPAN 350 [Three (3)
units
in the topic not taken
for
the
core]3
Nine (9) units from the
following
courses9
SPAN
380SPAN 410
SPAN
400ASPAN 415
SPAN
400BSPAN 421
SPAN 400CSPAN 422S
SPAN 400D
Three (3) units from
the
following
courses3
SPAN
450ASPAN 450B
SPAN 450C
Track Two: Literature
This track places a strong emphasis on the history and analysis of the literatures of Spain, Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking United States, as well as on literary genre and theory. Designed for further study of literature in Spanish at the graduate level, or of literary theory or comparative literature.
Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (12 units)
Units
Students must take
twelve
(12) units of
lower
-division
Spanish courses. A
portion
or all
of these units
may be
met by demonstrating
language proficiency;
in
such case, the units
required
in lower-division
would be
proportionately
reduced.0-12
Core Requirements
CORE (21
units)
Units
SPAN 311A or
311B3
SPAN
312 3
SPAN
315 3
Three (3) units
chosen from
the following
courses3
SPAN
350ASPAN 350B
Six (6) units chosen
from
the following
courses6
SPAN 314 (A-F) or 316*
SPAN 317
SPAN 330
SPAN 331
SPAN
399 3
* No more than one of these courses (SPAN 316 or 314 A-F) may be counted for this category of the core requirements.
Track Requirements
TRACK (15 units)
Units
Nine (9) units chosen
from
the following
courses9
SPAN
370SPAN 410
SPAN
380SPAN 415
SPAN
400ASPAN 421
SPAN
400BSPAN 422S
SPAN 400C
SPAN 400D
Three (3) units chosen
from
the following
courses3
SPAN 450A
SPAN 450B
SPAN 450C
LTWR
300A3
Track Three: Language and Culture
This track’s interdisciplinary emphasis is on cultural, political, and social elements of Spanish and Spanish-American, and U.S. Latino life.
Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (12 units)
Units
Students must take
twelve
(12) units of
lower-division
Spanish courses. A
portion
or all of these units
may be
met by demonstrating
language proficiency;
in
such case, the units
required
in lower-division
would be
proportionately
reduced.0-12
Core Requirements
CORE (21
units)
Units
SPAN 311A or
311B3
SPAN 3123
SPAN 3153
Three (3) units chosen
from
the following
courses3
SPAN 350A
SPAN 350B
Six (6) units chosen
from
the following
courses6
SPAN 314 (A-F) or 316*
SPAN 330
SPAN
317
SPAN 331
SPAN 3993
Track Requirements
TRACK (15 units)
Units
Six (6) units chosen
from
the following
courses6
SPAN
370SPAN 400D
SPAN
380SPAN 410
SPAN
400ASPAN 415
SPAN
400BSPAN 421
SPAN 400CSPAN 422S
Three (3) units chosen
from the
following
courses:3
SPAN 450A
SPAN 450B
SPAN 450C
Three (3) units chosen
from any
upper-division course that deals
significantly with
Spain, Latin
America or Latinos in the
United States3
SPAN 399
[three (3) units in
addition to
units attained in the
core]3
Track Four: Spanish for the Professions
This track stresses practical applications of the language based on fieldwork experience and apprenticeship. It is designed to integrate with professional majors.
Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (12
units)
Units
Students must take
twelve
(12) units of
lower-division
Spanish courses. A
portion
or all of these units
may be
met by demonstrating
language proficiency;
in
such case, the units
required
in lower-division
would be
proportionately
reduced.0-12
Core Requirements
CORE (21
units)
Units
SPAN 311A or
311B3
SPAN
312 3
SPAN
315 3
Three (3) units chosen
from
the following
courses:3
SPAN 350A
SPAN 350B
Six (6) units chosen
from
the following
courses:6
SPAN 314 (A-F) or 316*
SPAN 317
SPAN 330
SPAN 331
SPAN
399 3
* No more than one of these courses (SPAN 316 or 314 A-F) may be counted for this category of the core requirements.
Track Requirements
TRACK (15
units)
Units
SPAN
316*3
SPAN
330**3
* No more than one of these courses (SPAN 316 or 314 A-F) may be counted for this category of the core requirements.
**Cannot be taken as a core requirement.
SPAN 399 [six (6)
units in
addition to
those
attained in
the core]6
Three (3) units chosen
from
the following
courses3
SPAN
370SPAN 410
SPAN
380SPAN 421
SPAN 400ASPAN 422S
SPAN
400BSPAN 450A
SPAN 400CSPAN 450B
SPAN 400DSPAN 450C
MINOR IN SPANISH
Lower-division (6-12 units)
Units
Proficiency through
SPAN
102***0-8
SPAN
201***3
SPAN
202***3
Upper-division (12
units)
Units
SPAN 311A or
311B3
SPAN 3123
Three (3) units chosen
from
the following two
courses:3
SPAN
350A
SPAN 350B
Three (3) units of
upper-
division
Spanish3
Total18-24
***To determine equivalent, please consult with Foreign Language Proficiency Assessor.
MASTER OF ARTS IN SPANISH
The mission of the Master of Arts in Spanish is to provide qualified students with a structured yet flexible program of study in the literature, linguistics, culture, and civilization of the Spanish-speaking world, and in the art of foreign language teaching. This program is designed to prepare students for further study at the doctoral level; for careers in teaching at the elementary, secondary, or community college level; or for positions in business, social services, international relations, government agencies, and other organizations in need of trained language specialists. The Master of Arts in Spanish degree program allows students the choice of three areas of emphasis: Option A – Hispanic Literature and Linguistics, Option B – Hispanic Civilization and Language, and Option C – Foreign Language Teaching. Regardless of the option selected, the student's academic experience will be characterized by classes of the highest quality, which encourage the development of critical thinking, an appreciation of multicultural perspectives, and articulate use of the Spanish language. All students will receive ongoing faculty mentoring. Opportunities for guided and independent research, community involvement, and study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country are central to the graduate student experience in this program.
Our campus’ close proximity to the Mexican border, together with the large Spanish-speaking population in North San Diego County, makes our area a “living language laboratory” in which students can engage in first-hand study of the many linguistic and cultural aspects of native Spanish speakers. Students who wish to pursue teaching careers will benefit from the Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents, a special collection in the Cal State San Marcos library which houses over 40,000 books, periodicals, and other materials pertinent to teaching Spanish and Hispanic culture to young people. The University's commitment to multicultural and global awareness, together with the presence of an international group of faculty in the Foreign Languages Program, will contribute to the student's process of learning, in this unique academic setting.
Admission and Application Requirements
Admission to the program requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. It is expected that students will have received a major in Spanish, or a degree in a closely-related field plus at least four (4) upper-division courses in Spanish.
A grade-point average of not less than 2.5, plus an average of not less than 3.0 in upper-division Spanish courses, is required for admission.
All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (the general test only). While the test scores will be viewed in combination with other factors pertinent to the applicant's ability to succeed in a graduate program, it is unlikely that students will be admitted with combined verbal and quantitative scores of less than 1000. However, no specific cutoff will be used.
Graduates of universities where English is not the principal language must take the combined Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and receive a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL and a minimum of 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) portion of the paper-based TOEFL or on the writing portion of the computer-based TOEFL.
A complete application consists of:
Application Materials sent directly to the Admission Office of Cal State San Marcos
- Application fee
- One set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, with indication of graduation
Application Materials sent directly to the World Languages and Hispanic Literatures Department (see address below)
- ‑One sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, with indication of graduation
- ‑Two letters of recommendation
- ‑A one to two (1-2) page statement of purpose, describing educational experience and career goals
- ‑A writing sample of at least seven (7) pages. The writing must be in Spanish, and should deal with some aspect of Hispanic literature, culture, or linguistics.
- ‑A video- or audio-taped speech sample, in which the applicant speaks in Spanish for at least five (5) minutes, on the topic of his/her choice; and
- ‑GRE (and TOEFL/TWE, if applicable) score reports
Application materials sent directly to the World Languages and Hispanic Literatures Department Administrative Coordinator at: California State University, San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001.
Application Deadlines:
- March 15th for Fall Semester admission
- November 15th for Spring Semester admission
Note: Only Fall applicants are considered for Teaching Assistantships.
Degree Requirements
The program requires thirty (30) semester units of study, at least twenty-four (24) of which must be at the graduate level (500 and 600 series). None of the thirty (30) units of coursework applied to the Master of Art's degree in Spanish may have been applied toward a previous academic degree. A grade-point average of not less than 3.0 must be maintained in all classes taken. Students must demonstrate intermediate-level knowledge of a language other than Spanish and English (by completing a 202-level language course with a final grade of C or better at Cal State San Marcos or an equivalent institution, or by passing a Proficiency Examination given by the Cal State San Marcos World Languages and Hispanic Literature Program), prior to graduation. Students must successfully pass the Comprehensive Master's Examinations in Spanish in order to graduate.
Students enrolled full-time will typically complete the program in four semesters and must take the Comprehensive Master's Examinations no later than the sixth semester following enrollment. Students enrolled on a part-time basis must take the Comprehensive Master's Examinations no later than the tenth semester following enrollment. Students who do not pass the Comprehensive Master's Examinations the first time may retake them a maximum of two additional times, no later than two years after the first attempt.
Students must complete the required 30 semester units in accordance with the specific requirements for the chosen Option.
Option A: Hispanic Literature and Linguistics
(30
Units)
This option is designed for students who wish to pursue in-depth study of Spanish, Latin American, and U.S. Latino literatures and Spanish linguistics, and will prepare students for further study at the Ph.D. level.
Requirements
Units
SPAN 5103
SPAN 5203
Elective
graduate-level
courses in literature
12
(SPAN 521-536, 603,
604, 606)
Elective
graduate-level
courses in
linguistics3
(SPAN 511-515, 602,
610)
Elective
graduate-level
courses (SPAN) in
literature culture/
civilization, and/or linguistics9
Option B: Hispanic Civilization and Language
This option is designed for students wishing to pursue careers in business, social services, international relations, etc. This option exposes students to the most salient factors of the language and cultures of the people who make up the Spanish-speaking world.
Requirements for Option B
SPAN 5103
SPAN 6013
Elective
graduate-level
courses in linguistics
6
(SPAN 511-515, 602,
610)
Elective
graduate-level
courses in
culture/civilization
6
(SPAN 540-552, 605)
Additional graduate course-work, to be selected
based on student's specific areas
of interest
and
academic plan,
in consultation with
faculty
advisor. Courses may
come from graduate
offerings
in Spanish, or from
other
disciplines12
Option C: Foreign Language Teaching
This option is designed for students who plan to teach Spanish at the elementary, secondary, or community college level. It provides students with a strong background in applied linguistics and pedagogical theory, as well as advanced-level exposure to the literatures, cultures, and language of the Spanish-speaking world.
Requirements
Units
SPAN 5103
SPAN 6023
SPAN 6103
Elective courses taken
in Education at the
500 or 600 level (to be selected in
consultation with student's faculty
advisor)9
Elective
graduate-level
courses (SPAN) in
literature, culture/civilization, and/or
linguistics*12
*In order to become well prepared teachers, students are strongly advised to select courses representing all areas of the Spanish speaking world (including the Spanish speaking U.S., Latin America, and Spain).
Students will be expected to choose the Option which most clearly meets their career goals, and will receive faculty mentoring prior to their first semester of enrollment, to assist them in choosing the appropriate Option and in designing their individual course of study.
Study Abroad
In order to fully understand and appreciate the nuances of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture, all students are strongly encouraged to spend at least one summer or semester abroad, in a Spanish-speaking country. Students will be permitted to transfer up to nine (9) units of credit toward the Master of Arts in Spanish from approved study-abroad courses. Spanish faculty will work closely with each student to assist him/her in identifying an appropriate study-abroad program, and in structuring his/her course of study to accommodate this important experience.
Financial Aid
Teaching Assistantships may be available to qualified students who wish to teach introductory- and intermediate-level Spanish language courses at Cal State San Marcos. Other forms of financial support may also be available, and interested students should contact the University's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship for further information.
Comprehensive Master's Exams
One semester before students propose to take their Comprehensive Master's Examinations, they must present to the graduate committee (made up of three faculty members) a reading list that must adequately represent both their readings for individual courses and readings undertaken independently to complement coursework. The reading list must be approved by the graduate committee, which has the right to prescribe authors and works not included in the list. The approved list then becomes the basis for the Master's Examinations, which consists of two three-hour examinations, and a follow-up oral defense. These examinations will be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members, and will be graded on a pass/no pass basis.