SPAN

students may place into 200) or SPAN 100A Intermediate Grammar and Composition for Spanish

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Students in Medical-Related Fields

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

3-4 Agricultural Sciences Students cannot use the same course more than once as an additional course 3 Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Option (56-63 credits) Code Title Credits

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

(4) The class will focus on further development of the elementary language skills, socio-cultural awareness and discourse introduced in

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Practice in oral expression in Spanish, with emphasis on aural comprehension, idiomatic usage, and fluency. Use of journalistic materials. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 003 or SPAN 020

Spanish 130 is a general education course on Iberian culture and civilization. The goal of this course is to provide the student with a broad, general introduction to the lands, peoples, history, and cultures of the area known as Spain and Portugal; to inform the student about the region¿s ethnic diversity, cultural heritages, and problems of development; to investigate vital symbols, myths, figures, icons, superstitions, and faiths; to foster critical thinking and associative skills; to suggest continuity and draw parallels between past and present; and to allow for a framework for undertaking further study. This course will survey the civilizations of these European lands and we will get an overview of the main historical events that make up this rich and complex history.The course is designed to expose students to the full range of Iberian history and diversity. Since we are covering centuries of history and several other variables (linguistic, artistic, ethnic, religious, politica economic, geographic, biologic, etc.), this tour will of necessity be pretty rudimentary. However, students will acquire an understanding of the diverse cultural currents and historical milestones that contributed to the creation of modern Spain and Portugal. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

u SPAN 200 Intensive Grammar and Composition 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Spanish American and Brazilian life from the Conquest to the present; including studies of literature, art, the indigenous heritage, and contemporary problems. The nations and peoples of Latin America have a unique, interesting history and cultural heritage that are rooted in the traditions, beliefs, experiences, values, and struggles of Native American, l, European, African and other populations. As close neighbors and major trading partners of the United States, Latin American republics have both benefited and suffered from the proximity and foreign policies of the northern capitalist democracy, and have contributed to its strength and growing ethno-racial diversity. This course aims to provide the student with a broad, general introduction to the lands, peoples, and history of Latin America; to inform the student about the region's ethnic diversity, cultural background, and problems of development; and to promote appreciation for the values and practices of other cultures, and a better understanding of relations between the nations of the region and the United States. Traditional resident classes will usually combine presentation of content and discussion of reading assignments, with an expectation of high student participation. Films, videos, and recordings

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

A general introduction to human and cultural elements of African origin in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America. SPAN 132 / AFR 132 / AFAM 132 Afro-Hispanic Civilization (3) (IL) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. The nations and peoples of Latin America have a unique, interesting history and cultural heritage that are rooted in the traditions, beliefs, experiences, values, and struggles of Native American, European, African and other populations. This course focuses on the presence and participation of African peoples and their descendants in the formation and development of societies and cultures in representative areas of the Caribbean, South America, and Central America and on the evolution, diversity, and richness of the African heritage therein. Course content includes the African background, the experience and impact of slavery, the social, cultural, and economic heritage of slavery, the role of race in Latin America, and Afro- Hispanic intellectual, literary, and artistic developments (e.g., aspects of folklore, music). The course aims to provide students with a general introduction to human and cultural elements of African origin within the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking nations of the Americas so that they may be more knowledgeable of the meaning, significance and widespread influence of the African diaspora. It proposes to provide the student with a better understanding of Africa's contribution to Latin American identity, diversity, culture, and development; to promote appreciation for the values and practices of other cultures, and greater awareness of the relations between the nations of the region and the United States. Cross-listed with: AFAM 132, AFR 132 Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Grammar review and practice in oral expression and aural comprehension.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

‡ (GWS) † † General Education Course 3 General Education Course 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course will enhance writing proficiency in Spanish of Spanish speaking students by targeting common problems characteristic of Spanish speakers. SPAN 200A can benefit not only heritage speakers, but also Spanish speakers who were educated in Spanish-speaking countries because this class emphasizes the development of writing skills and metalinguistic knowledge (e.g., identifying language structures). Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 100A

/Maximum of 6

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

3 Hispanic Linguistics 3 SPAN 253W Introduction to Literary & Cultural Studies en 3 3 Español 3 SPAN 314 Spanish Sounds 3 3 SPAN 410 Advanced Oral Expression and Communication 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

3 Hispanic Linguistics 3 SPAN 215Q The Science of Spanish: A Beginner's Guide to 3 3 Hispanic Linguistics 3 SPAN 253W Introduction to Literary & Cultural Studies en 3 3 Español 3 SPAN 269N Theater and Performance 3 3 SPAN 315N Spanish and Spanish-speakers in the U.S. 3 3 SPAN 326 Reading the BorderLands: Geography and Identity 3 Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Intermediate level Spanish readings dealing with Ibero-American life from the pre-conquest to the present. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 200

This course guides students toward the development of skills that will enable them to move toward a greater awareness of how literary and other cultural productions create effects and reactions in readers, viewers, and/or listeners. Moreover, it engages with these forms of

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2026: In Spanish Theatre and Performance, the students will read and analyze a variety of Spanish and Latin American plays from a literary perspective as well as from the perspective of a director, designer, and actor. We will use that analysis to create and perform monologues and scenes in Spanish. The students will learn acting, directing, and design skills and put those creative skills at service to further develop their ability to communicate effectively in the target language. This is a course for oral communication through the use of acting. In this course, we will use acting techniques in order to improve our fluency in oral expression. There will be some grammar instruction that will flow through the scripts we encounter. This course will facilitate your ability to express yourself both professionally and personally. The class is conducted in Spanish. The students will use Creative Thinking in order to support the Key Literacy of developing a world language, particularly Spanish. This course will examine plays from a variety of different countries. Play will be chosen from both Latin America and Spain, thereby introducing students to a variety of international cultures. We will be looking at these plays from a historical and social perspective, thereby examing the cultural values, traditions, beliefs, and customs of several countries and cultures. We will look at plays ranging from the turn of the twentieth century through today and see how they and their contexts change through time. We will see how, for example, the plays of Lorca (Spain) might influence playwrights from other Spanish-speaking countries. (The second performance of "Bodas de sangre" was in Buenos Aires Argentina.) Changes Effective Summer 2026: • Removed Prerequisites • Added Recommended Preparation

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 253W

/Maximum of 18 Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

18

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Grammar review and practice in oral expression and aural comprehension. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

[BA] Old Listing Effective Through Summer 2026: Development of advanced grammar and composition skills through reading texts by native speakers and adapting their techniques for original compositions. Changes Effective Fall 2026: • Changed Course Description

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 215 or SPAN 253W

in Medical-related Fields

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

SPAN 305 provides practical language applications for students going into social work, psychology, and the legal and medical professions. At the same time, there is an emphasis on the wide range of historic, linguistic and cultural influences that make up the Hispanic community in the US today. Students will read and discuss relevant resources to develop an understanding of the social and cultural nuance in the above professions with respect to Spanish and Spanish speakers. Prerequisite SPAN 215 or 253W United States Cultures (US)

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

No description.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course covers Spanish phonetics and phonology. In SPAN 314, we will discuss the inventory of consonants and vowels in Spanish, how they are articulated, and the phonological contexts in which they appear. Time will be spent on overcoming common pronunciation challenges faced by English-speaking learners of Spanish. We will also consider various dialects of Spanish with respect to how they differ in their pronunciation and the particular sounds that make them distinct. This course is taught in Spanish. Prerequisite SPAN 215 Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

In this course, we investigate various aspects of the language(s) and language behaviors of U.S. Latinos. The course is premised on the idea that language is a crucial component in the formation of identity. To understand Latina/o identity formation in the U.S., then, one must analyze what role languages--Spanish and English--have played in identity formation. The class commences with a brief historical assessment of the various U.S. Latino communities, including Mexican-American, Cuban- American, and Puerto Rican communities. Such a historical purview proves significant in the study of the cultural traditions that persist in these communities, chief among these, the Spanish language. In exploring the Spanish language in U.S. Latino communities, we consider several major sets of questions, among them the following: In what ways do the languages of U.S. Latino communities differ from those of monolingual Spanish- (and English-) speaking communities? What factors contribute to the maintenance and loss of Spanish in these communities? How does language contribute to the creation of individual and societal identity? How is language exploited in the representation of other U.S. Latino cultural traditions? We consider these questions across a variety of genres: poetry, prose (autobiography in particular), film, art, television, and music. These texts reveal how social environments determine language use as well as how artists have used language to reshape social environments, through, for example, the development of new language practices such as Spanish-English code switching. The course also connects these cultural practices to debates on Spanish Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4877 in public life and policy as well as framing the content as part of a discussion on global cultures and societies, given the role of immigration and cultural contact in shaping Spanish in the United States. Cross-listed with: LTNST 315N Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Select 3 credits of the following: 3 3 SPAN 305 Spanish for Social Services

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

the U.S.-Mexico Border (3 Credits) [US] [GH] Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2026: This course examines representations of the U.S.-Mexico border in relation to the actual geographic space. SPAN 326 Reading the Border/ Lands (3) (GH;US) This class will center on discussions of the U.S.- Mexico borderlands in cultural theory and practice. "Borderlands" is understood as a transcultural space filled with physical, cultural, economic, political, and mythical elements. The aim is to view how different artists from the Borderlands, both northern Mexican and Chicano, mediate their borderlands reality. That is to say, the goal of the class is to examine the different imaginative geographies in the borderlands. We examine a wide-ranging mix of cultural texts that includes prose, poetry, essays, and performance art, as well as film and video art. We explore how writers have historically rethought notions of citizenship, identity, and culture to create more fluid spaces of

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course offers a comparative study of the literature, artistic manifestations, intellectual traditions, and cultural productions of Spain. This course offers a comparative study of the literature, artistic manifestations, intellectual traditions, and cultural productions of Spain. Depending on the semester focus, topics related to literary movements, comparative approaches to genre, and/or connections between textual representation and politics, social movements, and/or Spain's long and complex history (both locally and globally) may be at the center of discussion. Additionally, varied issues of gender, race and ethnicity, rural and urban environments, religion, and evolving conceptions of nationhood may be included as overarching themes. Particular literary genres and representative works may be foregrounded in yet another iteration of the course, wherein students will study and discuss principal readings against cultural backdrops framed by exposure to art, film, music, and/or other historical, intellectual, sociopolitical, and/or media- based materials of relevance to the semester-specific context at hand. Prerequisite SPAN 253W Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

enroll SPAN 355 Topics in the Cultures of Latin America

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course explores key geopolitical, social, intellectual, literary, artisti and/or historical sites of contact, exchange, conflict, hybridity, and/ or identity production in and across varied contexts of Spanish, Latin American, and/or Latina/o culture(s). While diverse variables (including diaspora, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality, colonialism, nationhood, and transnationalism) will inform particular iterations of the course, approaches and text selection will be shaped by a central focus on conditions of cultural interaction and transformation in the Spanish- speaking world. Materials to be considered, which will vary according to the focus, may include literary, artistic, and intellectual works, film, media- based texts, music, and/or historical documents. Course objectives will also emphasize strengthening the range and precision of students' linguistic skills, especially writing. The writing component of the course will include frequent and varied assignments: short reaction papers, reflective journals, and more formal analytical essays to be completed across a structured draft and revision process. Prerequisite SPAN 253W Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course offers a comparative study of the literatures, artistic manifestations, intellectual traditions, and cultural productions of the Latin American region. Throughout the course, we will reflect on the (im)possibility of characterizing a vast region by taking into account ongoing factors its broader history and culture, as well as national and local particularities. Topics will vary by semester and may include: literary and artistic periods and movements, (post)coloniality and decoloniality, the politics of race, gender, and sexuality, urban and rural sociopolitical movements, (self-)representations in old and new media, discourses of the political (populisms, revolutions, dictatorships, and neoliberalism), and migration studies. Students will engage with literary texts, historic documents, art, music, and other materials in order to understand different kinds of writing and forms of representation. While most materials will be in Spanish, the course may also include works in translation from Brazil, as well as the English- and/or French-speaking Caribbean. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 200 and SPAN 253W

This course offers a comparative study of the literatures and cultures of the Americas, bringing Latin America into dialogue with the United States (and, in some instances, Canada). Throughout the course, we will explore the (dis) continuities that both connect and divide the hemisphere, and we will trace the movement of people, artistic practices, and ideas across c, borders while paying attention to the distinctive aspects of national and local cultures. Topics will vary by semester and may include: empire and colonialism, the literary and cultural legacies of slavery, the figure of the "native," crime literature or science fiction in the Americas, theater of the Americas, literatures and cultures of the Spanish-American War, media and the U.S./Mexico border, and cultures of the Caribbean diaspora. Although the course may cover English-language materials, or works in translation from Brazil and/or the French-speaking Caribbean, most of the texts/recordings/films will be in Spanish, as will all assignments written by students. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 200 and SPAN 253W

/Maximum of 18 Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

18

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

prior approval of proposed assignment by instructor

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Select 9 additional credits from the following 400-level course list: 9

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Emphasis on achieving practical command of spoken Spanish and the comprehension of native speech. Use of journalistic materials. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and ( SPAN 215 or SPAN 253W )

In SPAN 411, students will learn to understand the bilingual landscape of the Spanish-speaking world and its consequences for communities and individuals. SPAN 411 the ABCs of Bilingualism: Acquisition, Brain, and Community will showcase the fundamental components of bilingualism (first language acquisition, language mixing, language and society, language contact, and cognitive consequences of bilingualism) situating them in the Spanish speaking world. The course requires an introductory level understanding of linguistics and presupposes familiarity with Spanish at the 15-credit level or higher. The purpose of this course is to adopt an understanding of the underlying mechanisms of bilingualism and what it means to be a bilingual speaker, as well as understand the community-level impact of speaking multiple languages. Students will learn theories surrounding the study of bilingualism and apply linguistic knowledge to better understand bilingual communities that are new to them. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4879

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 215

3 SPAN 440 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Introduction to the art of interpretation, with particular attention to the professions for which it is most commonly required. SPAN 413 Interpretation (3) Spanish 413 will provide students with demonstrations and exercises designed to develop the skills required in sight translation and in consecutive, simultaneous and summary interpretation. The course does not presume to provide the training needed for entrance into the profession; it is intended to give students sufficient understanding of the rigors and demands of the profession and to help them determine whether they have the interest and skills to pursue further training in this area. At the same time, it will provide students with a unique opportunity to improve their listening comprehension and fluency in the target language, whether English or Spanish.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 412

This class is a linguistics course that focuses on language acquisition in children and adults. Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, and linguistic inquiry focuses on various levels of language: phonology examines the sounds of language, morphology examines the structure of words (e.g., root words and their inflections), and syntax focuses on the structure of phrases and sentences. Using the tools of phonology, morphology, and syntax, this course will address the following questions. What is unique about human language? How is language learned in infancy? How do humans learn additional languages after they have learned their first language? How does bilingual language development compare to monolingual language development? Can knowing more than one language actually be detrimental? What are the different languages spoken by bilinguals in the Spanish-speaking world? What sorts of bilingual education programs are there in the Spanish- speaking world, including in the U.S.? By answering these questions, this course introduces students to bilingualism and bilingual language acquisition. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All)

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 215

Select 6 additional credits in Linguistics at the 400 level (list kept in department) Select 6 additional credits from Linguistics courses and/or approved related fields A grade of C or better per course is required for teacher certification

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Select 3 credits from the following Culture Course Lists: 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Multilingualism in the Spanish Speaking World explores the multitude of languages spoken in Spanish-speaking countries, including the languages and dialects of Spain, indigenous languages of Mexico, Central, and South America, the Spanish spoken in Equatorial Guinea and the United States, as well as Spanish-based Creole languages. Through linguistic comparative analyses (e.g. phonological, morphosyntactic) of these various languages and dialects, informed by readings on the history and socio-political status of bilingualism in Spanish-speaking countries, students will refine their critical reading and writing skills in Spanish, while gaining a more informed appreciation of the linguistic diversity found within Spanish-speaking world. This course fulfills requirements for the major and minor in Spanish, and allows students interested in Spanish culture and language to undertake more in-depth and specialized study in linguistics. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 215

This course focuses on key aspects of the acquisition of Spanish as a second language. The course will address questions such as: Can watching Netflix help me learn Spanish? What type of practice, and how much, can help me learn a language? Does the native language change when we learn a second language? Does speaking a second language influence thought and perception? Is it worthwhile to invest in studying a language abroad, and why? Is computer-based learning as effective as face-to-face learning? Is it enough to learn 'standard' Spanish? Throughout the course, students are presented with these and similar questions which they will have consider and evaluate as "facts" or "myths". The course goes from theory to practice, and emphasizes hands- on experience based on examining data and experiments. During the semester, you will regularly work by examining data from real speakers (native and non-native) to help you answer the questions explored in the course and to develop your own hypotheses. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

SPAN 215

3 SPAN 470 Youth Cultures in Latin(a/o) America 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2026: Thorough study of the masterpiece, including its sources, genesis, language, style, success, and influence. Changes Effective Summer 2026: • Changed Course Description • Added International Cultures (IL) Attribute

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

Young people have been at the center of political and cultural revolutions around the world and throughout history. For example, revolutions, urban movements, ethnic/racial pride, LGBTQ+, feminist movements, music bazaars, DJs and rave parties, and "barras de fútbol" are only some of the manifestations associated with young people in Latin(a/ o) American literature, film, music, and journalism. Nevertheless, the concept of "youth" as an academic category only appeared in the 1960's. In this course, we will study different manifestations of youth cultures in the Hemispheric Americas, paying special attention to the Latinx communities in the U.S. and Latin America, since the 1960's and until the contemporary moment. The key question that will guide us is: How does each of these literary, artistic, and media representations of youth enter into dialogue with political events in which young people have been at the center of efforts to bring about political changes in the U.S. Latinx communities and Latin America? Using short fiction, film and documentaries, songs, blogs, and other cultural materials (YouTube clips, images, graffiti, etc.), we will identify and compare different youth cultures in Latinx communities in the U.S. and Latin America in terms of their productions, representations, and effects in the public sphere. We will enrich our analysis of primary materials with theoretical and critical readings that will help us to contextualize the different manifestations in our study. Cross-listed with: LTNST 470 Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities United States Cultures (US) Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

SPAN 472 is dedicated to examining the genre of the Latin American novel and the social context in which such works have been produced in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will practice close, critical reading of the assigned texts, analyze and discuss them in class, and complete written reflections based on what they have read and learned throughout the course. Particular attention will be paid to the history and cultural background that informs Latin American authors' perspectives, including issues such as race, colonialism, war, and politics. The course will contrast novels with shorter novellas and whenever relevant, other forms of media such as graphic novels will be examined. Students will hone their skills of identifying theses, interpreting historical and social Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 4881 themes, synthesizing arguments, and comparing the assigned readings to their own cultural experiences in class discussions and written essays; in the process they will refine their written and spoken proficiency in Spanish. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

This course will enable students to develop a multifaceted understanding of the history, society, and political contexts in which the people of Mexico have experienced life from pre-Columbian times until today, both in Mexico and in the territory that now comprises the United States. It will also address multiple ways in which Mexicans have been characterized throughout history in both aforementioned countries, with an emphasis on who is doing the interpretation of the Mexican character. Scholarly articles, book chapters, narrative fiction, poetry, and film, among other materials, will be used to acquire a broad, panoramic perspective on this topic. Concepts such as discourse, identity, and representation will be addressed via class discussion, written response papers, and original research projects. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities Bachelor of Arts: World Cultures

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

Choose only one course from ECON 102, ECON 104, or ECON 14.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course is conducted in Spanish and will analyze some of the central themes that shape the diverse Latina/o experiences in the United States. Some of the main topics that the course will address include: the politics of labeling; definitions of displacements; the politics of language; imaginary homelands and geographic spaces; and conceptualizations of race, gender, and sexuality. These themes will be seen through the lens of Latina/o literature and film. The main objective of this course is to help students think critically about the conceptual, theoretical, historical, an social issues that inform the Latina/o experience in the United States. Cross-listed with: LTNST 479 Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities United States Cultures (US) General Education: Humanities (GH) GenEd Learning Objective: Crit and Analytical Think GenEd Learning Objective: Integrative Thinking GenEd Learning Objective: Key Literacies Exceeds 12th Unit of World Language

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

1898-1939 This course, conducted in Spanish, examines Spanish literature from 1898 to 1939.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

With the goal of developing students' understanding of literature's fundamental role in constructing our conception of culture, society and history, this course will examine masterpieces in the genre of Spanish prose (e.g. novels and short stories). In a given semester, particular literary themes, genres and representative works may be emphasized, encouraging students to investigate and discuss principal readings against cultural and historical contexts. Readings will include novels, essays, and short stories but may also be informed by visual media such as films and art. Class sessions will emphasize close, sustained reading and directed conversation in Spanish, while written assignments will offer students an opportunity to explore critical and theoretical texts of relevance to the topics being discussed. Students will write essays and analytical papers, as well as additional assignments such as presentations and original creative writing. Bachelor of Arts: World Language (All) Bachelor of Arts: World Lang (12th Unit) Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

( SPAN 100A or SPAN 200 ) and SPAN 253W

Requirements for the Option Requirements for the Option: Require a grade of C or better Select an option 39-50 te, Heritage speakers (students with Spanish language in family background) and native speakers of Spanish must take SPAN 100A and SPAN 200A instead of SPAN 100 and SPAN 200. May not take SPAN 100, SPAN 200,or SPAN 410. ts Requirements for the Option Applied Spanish Option (39 credits) Code Title Credits 3 Additional Courses Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better 3 Select 3 credits of 400-level Hispanic Linguistics: 3

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 12 Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

12

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 18 Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

18

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. Bachelor of Arts: Humanities

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Proficiency in the language of choice must be demonstrated by either examination or coursework equivalent to the completion of 12 credits in order to enroll in SPAN 110. English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching Option (45-49 credits) Select 33-37 credits: This option must be taken in conjunction with one o the other World Languages Education Teaching Options. Code Title Credits

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Heritage speakers (students with Spanish language in family background) and native speakers of Spanish must take SPAN 100A and SPAN 200A instead of SPAN 100 and SPAN 200. May not take SPAN 100, SPAN 200, SPAN 300, or SPAN 410. Courses satisfying this requirement are in addition to the 400-level Hispanic Literature and Hispanic Linguistics requirements. Courses may not count in multiple areas.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

undergraduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Audio-lingual orientation.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 History, development, and linguistic description of Old Spanish and related Romance languages of the Iberian Peninsula.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course offers foundations of generative syntax. It addresses the advantage of a scientific model to explain human knowledge of language that also makes predictions about its representation in the mind.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course covers foundations of functional syntax. It addresses the advantages of a scientific approach to explain human knowledge of language that makes predictions about its representation in the mind.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

No description.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Analysis of research on the acquisition of syntax, phonology, lexicon, discourse. SPAN 513 Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language (3) An in-depth analysis of current research carried out on the acquisition of Spanish as a second language. Focus will be on syntax, phonology, lexicon, discourse, and pragmatics. Specific topics covered include Graduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 1411 the following: null-subjects, clicits; movement and word order, tense and aspect, mood, agreement features, grammaticalization, modality, negation, functional categories, tutored vs. untutored learners, UG vs. non-UG effects, the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy, markedness, cohesive devices, speech acts, metaphors, idioms, the lexicon and culture, the phonological systems, including suprasegmentals.In addition to developing an understanding of the current research on the acquisition of Spanish as a second language, students will learn how to read the research literature from a critical perspective and how to read empirical data presented in published research that might result in alternative e interpretations from those espoused by authors of published work. This goal will be achieved in two ways: requiring students to submit via e- mail to the professor and other students in the seminar two- to three- page critiques of assigned readings; and oral presentations in class of readings selected by the student(s). Some of the critical reports and presentations will be carried out jointly, and others will be done individually.Students will also learn how to design and implement empirical research on the acquisition of Spanish as well as how to write nt up the results of this research in a potentially publishable research report.Finally, they will have the opportunity to present their research findings to the Penn State applied linguistics community, in a mini in- house workshop at the end of the course. In preparation for this, time will be set aside near the end of the seminar for students to present and discuss their research with their colleagues in the course.Most of the readings for the course will be preselected by the professor; however, students will also be expected to carry out independent reading of publications not included in the course syllabus and present and critique what they read in the seminar.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Prerequisite

introduction to Hispanic linguistics

/Maximum of 6 Early fragmentation among the peninsular dialects; their status today, Judeo- Spanish; descriptive analysis of modern Spanish American dialects.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Our primary goal in this course is to explore how to analyze and interpret quantitative data in language science. Part of this goal will be to gain familiarity and proficiency with a range of quantitative techniques common in language science. Reflecting trends in the field, linear and logistic mixed effects regression will be a major focus in addition to more well-known (e.g. ANOVA, multiple regression, chi-square) techniques. We will also spend some time exploring other methods such as multidimensional scaling, generalized additive modeling, and conditional inference trees, as well as more specialized techniques (e.g. drift-diffusion modeling). A more important goal is to learn to think critically about quantitative data and how we can learn from it. This includes a critical view of quantitative research in general, questions of measurement, the many decisions involved in analytic strategy, model structure and interpretation, and the ability to extend students' knowledge to new techniques independently. RECOMMENDED PREPARATION: Completion of an introductory graduate level course in statistics, or advanced undergraduate courses. Experience with regression and familiarity with common software for statistical analysis in language science.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

and Behavior 3 Credits/Maximum of 9 While most humans can be considered speakers of two or more languages, linguistic theory has for most of its history attempted to explain multilingualism as a special case, implicitly viewing monolingualism as more fundamental. In this course we explore a different perspective, namely that human language is fundamentally variable and multivalent, or in other words, multilingual. This orientation applies equally well to understanding how multiple languages are organized in the mind as to how multilinguals (understood here as users of more than one language) deploy their language knowledge, including language mixing phenomena. The focus of the course will vary (e.g., focusing on the mental representation of multiple languages in the mind, or on aspects of language behavior such as code switching), and students may repeat the course, provided the focus is different. Through readings of theoretical proposals and critiques of published work we will explore the implications of multilingualism for our understanding of the nature of human language at the most basic level. Students will develop their thinking through short essays, responses to published work, and in course projects designed to advance our theoretical understanding of language through both exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing, probing the cutting edge of this topic and developing their abilities to ground their empirical work in well-developed theoretical reasoning.

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Prose and poetry of major authors: works and trends of the late Golden Age and Baroque period.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 6 Major works of Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Calderon, and others.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This seminar will examine the cinematic imagination of Spain's most internationally celebrated filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar. Topics to be considered will include Almodóvar's lensing of gender politics, sexuality, multiculturalism, and national identity in post-dictatorial Spain; his nimble negotiation of the local and the global; his taste for cinephilic self-referentiality and hybridity of genre; and a distinctive tendency toward thematic idiosyncrasy all of which are signature features of his postmodern 'brand.' Significant attention will be devoted to approaches and trends within the vast corpus of scholarly criticism dealing with the filmmaker's oeuvre, and our engagement with film theory will arise organically out of the references from these texts. Some basic tools, techniques, and language of film analysis will be considered, as will a general understanding of field-specific norms of film studies as practiced in North American and U.K. Hispanism.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Various currents in Spanish poetry from the generation of 1927: Lorca, Aleixandre, Salinas, Guillen, Alonso, Alberti, Hernandez, Otero, and others.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Content varies; selected topics from colonial period, romanticism, and the nineteenth century before modernism.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

A foundation in the field and strategies for teaching Latina/o Studies to undergraduates. This course provides a foundation in U.S. Latina/ o Studies Literature and its contexts, with two separate but related goals. The first is to get a grasp on the U.S. Latina/o Studies canon that integrates humanities and social science approaches in order to analyze critical historical contexts that have shaped the emergence and evolution of the field of Latina/o Studies in U.S. higher education and academia, such as early colonial enterprises in the South and the Southwest, Spanish and U.S. imperialism, the Chicano and Young Lords movements during the 1960s, immigration patterns from the Caribbean and Latin America, government policies towards Latinos, contemporary rural and urban movements, etc. The second goal is to explore systematically pedagogical theories and practices in Latina/o Studies and critical race scholarship more broadly, in order for students to become conversant in the theoretical debates that underlie the design of curriculum and classroom practice in Latina/o Studies at the undergraduate level. The course will incorporate some of the major lines of research in Latina/ o Studies from different disciplines (such as History, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Linguistics) in order to address some of their most relevant discussions, internal critical debates, and major schools of thought. Students will also engage with other forms of cultural production, including visual culture, theater and performance, and music, among others. The seminar will provide graduate students a solid foundation in the development of a very timely and marketable research and teaching minor. Cross-listed with: LTNST 571

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

This course provides a broad exploration of translation in the Americas. In particular, it investigates the politics, practices, and theories of translation in Latin America and the United States from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century, which allows for a comparative mode of reading across and between borders of language, nation, and region. The following questions will guide our readings and discussions over the course of the semester: How does translation unfold as a metaphor, a linguistic act, and a cultural experience in the Americas? To what extent do processes of translation inform the exchanges of languages, peoples, and cultures within and between nations in this region? The class examines the role of canonical Latin American writers as translators and scholars in order to underscore the centrality of translation to the production, circulation, and reception of Latin American literature. The course analyzes the contributions of Latin American writers, including José Martí, Brazilian modernists, Jorge

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

3 credits of SUBJ 596 in one of the nine subject areas indicated may be substituted for one of the non-asterisked 3-credit courses. A student majoring in one of the nine subject areas may not include any courses in that field as part of the minor. Appropriate courses may be substituted.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Approaches to the uses and research applications of multimedia and other educational technologies applied to the teaching of foreign languages. (also crosslisted with SPAN 589) Cross-listed with: APLNG 589, CMLIT 589, FR 589, GER 589

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

Alias

SPAN 589

/Maximum of 9 CREATIVE PROJECTS, INCLUDING NONTHESIS RESEARCH, WHICH ARE SUPERVISED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND WHICH FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF FORMAL COURSES.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 9 Formal courses given on a topical or special interest subject which may be offered infrequently.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 999 No description.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

15

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

0 Credits/Maximum of 999 No description.

Subject

SPAN

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 6 Supervised experience in teaching and orientation to other selected aspects of the profession at The Pennsylvania State University.

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu

/Maximum of 999 No description. Graduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 1413

Subject

SPAN

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

15

Credit unit

Credits

Type

course

Edition

graduate

Source

bulletins.psu.edu