Spanish

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Professor H. Stewart Robertson; Associate Professors Gina Sherriff and Judith Stallings-Ward (Program Director); Lecturers Susan Nevins and Kaitlin Thomas

The Spanish student pursuing the major or the minor has access to a wide range of courses designed to build a solid foundation in the language, perfect speaking and compositional skills, teach literature in tandem with the culture of both Spain and Hispanoamerica, focus on special topics in Latino studies, cinema, women authors, or literary genres, and culminate in a senior capstone course, typically dealing with an eminent writer, such as Cervantes or García Márquez. The senior portfolio incorporates assessment of writing and speaking proficiency with samples of student work toward the major. All students are encouraged to participate in the program´s on-campus cultural activities and to study abroad for a summer or semester in an approved overseas program to experience language immersion and explore in situ a Hispanic culture. The foreign language placement test is required before any student registers for a first course in the program.

Goals:

Students achieve advanced language proficiency, expand their cultural understanding of the Hispanic world, develop critical expertise in works of literature written in Spanish, strengthen critical thinking skills, and experience personal transformation. This educational growth will empower students to connect with and impact a diverse world in a meaningful way.

Outcomes:

At graduation, Spanish majors will present test results and written work in a senior portfolio showing the abilities

  • To listen, speak, and write with advanced proficiency and produce different styles of writing;
  • To read literary and popular texts in Spanish and discern moral, cultural, aesthetic values,  literary movements, and historical periods informing the conditions in which those works are produced;                
  • To demonstrate a comprehension and appreciation of the differences and similarities among the three Hispanic cultures Spain, Latin America, and the U.S. Latino population as they compare to other cultures;
  • To conduct research on and think critically about works of literature, film, and art produced by Hispanic cultures and identify leadership qualities and discuss ethical questions in the works.
Graduate School Preparation:

The Spanish major strengthens verbal and critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, international experience, and foreign language competency necessary to excel in graduate study in all professional schools.

Careers for this Major:

The Spanish major provides a competitive edge in the national and international job markets where Spanish is the second widest spoken language in the world. When combined with a second major, it doubles the value of the college degree and strengthens the curriculum vitae. Among the many job opportunities awaiting the Spanish major are those found in

  • Law Enforcement
  • Military Service
  • Diplomacy
  • Education
  • Business
  • Social Services
  • Health Care 
  • Politics
  • Environmental Science
  • Advertising and Mass Media