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Undergraduate Programs

Spanish Major Overview

Major Requirements

Minor in Spanish

Honors in Spanish

Progression through Courses

Fall '04 Course Renumbering

FLIP Incentive Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish Writing Center

Undergraduate Admissions Info

A minor in Spanish requires 15 semester hours of course work in Spanish.  12 S.H. OF THESE MUST BE EARNED IN UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COURSES IN THE DEPT. OF SPANISH & PORTUGUESE, including courses in study abroad programs for which we offer resident credit (see list below).

The remaining 3 semester hours may also be from 100-level coursework in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Iowa OR they may be from coursework in Spanish at the University of Iowa below the 100-level (e.g. 3 of the 4 semester hours from 35:012) OR they may be transfer credit approved by the Department  (including transfer credit from study abroad programs sponsored by other universities) OR they may be 3 semester hours of incentive credit earned from FLIP.

In general, any course in Spanish (that is, courses with the ‘35’ prefix) numbered above 35:102 can count toward the requirement of 12 semester hours at the 100-level.  ALL COURSES FOR THE MINOR MUST BE TAUGHT IN SPANISH AND MUST BE TAKEN FOR A GRADE (not pass/fail).

The study abroad programs in which credit toward a minor may be earned are the following:

       Spain:

University Studies Abroad Consortium (Alicante, Bilbao, Madrid, San Sebastián)
CIEE programs in Alcalá de Henares, Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca & Sevilla
Hispanic Institute, Valladolid [summer]

       Latin America:

CIC Summer Program in Guanajuato, Mexico
CIC Health and Nutrition Program, Dominican Republic
CIEE programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago or Valparaiso, Chile; Guadalajara, Mexico and Lima, Peru
University Studies Abroad Consortium (Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico)

Courses in these programs which count for the minor are those courses which are approved for the Spanish major.   That is, not all courses in these programs count for the major; and therefore they do not all count for the minor.   Lists of approved courses in each program are available from the Office for Study Abroad (1111 University Capitol Centre).

You can declare a minor online via ISIS or by going to the Office of Academic Programs (120 SH).  If you have questions, you may consult the departmental Director of Undergraduate Studies.  Questions about study abroad programs should be directed to the departmental Study Abroad Adviser.

Students complete a minor in Spanish for many different reasons.  We advise all minors to try to have a diverse program in Spanish, rather than focusing solely on courses in one particular area.  Below are some suggestions for coursework (remember that any course numbered above 35:102 that is taught in Spanish will count for the minor).

       Language skills and linguistics courses:

35:103  Writing in Spanish
35:109  Study of Language: Myths and Concepts
35:116  Advanced Composition & Conversation
35:118  Business Spanish
35:121  Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
35:122  Spanish Sound Structure
35:123  Introduction to Bilingualism (sociolinguistic & psycholinguistic aspects)
35:124  Foundations in Sociolinguistics

       Literature and culture courses:

35:110  Readings in Spanish Literature & Culture (focus on Spain)
35:111  Readings in Spanish American Literature & Culture (focus on Latin America)
35:113  Screening Latin America (Intro to Latin American film)
35:130  Spanish American Civilization
35:135  Latinos in the U.S.
35:150  Spanish Civilization