Last updated: February 26, 2020 @ 02:11PM

Hispanic and Latin American Studies

This program is offered through the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Chair
Jean B. Ntakirutimana (until June 30, 2019)
Carmela Colella (as of July 1, 2019)

Academic Adviser
Liz Hay

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Violetta Clitheroe

905-688-5550, extension 3312
Mackenzie Chown A240
brocku.ca/modernlanguages

The Hispanic and Latin American Studies program aims to provide students with a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese) and Latin American cultures. Students in the program acquire excellent linguistic competence and a thorough understanding of these literatures, languages and cultures within the dynamics of a trans-border and interdisciplinary approach. The program equips students with the analytical and experiential skills necessary to pursue graduate research as well as meet the demands of a professional career. Our courses integrate lectures with online modules, small group tutorials and opportunities to apply concepts to real-life situations via internships and community outreach. In addition to the courses taught in the target language, the Hispanic and Latin American Studies program offers courses in culture, film and literature taught in English that are acceptable for credit toward the Hispanic and Latin American Studies degree.

The Department also offers a series of courses taught in English (designated SCLC) that may be acceptable for credit toward a degree in Hispanic and Latin American Studies. Students are encouraged to participate in a study program in Latin America, Portugal and/or Spain.

Experiential Learning and Community Outreach Internship

Students have the possibility to engage in courses that promote community engagement and global citizenship. These courses also serve as a medium for linguistic fluency and cultural understanding with career-oriented internship experience. Students have the opportunity of enriching their academic studies and professionalization by being placed with community organizations and agencies. Students have also had the opportunity of participating in international placements.

Third-year Abroad

Students have the opportunity to study during their third year at a Spanish-speaking University. In addition to studying Spanish language, literature and culture, students may also take courses in Business, the Humanities, the Social Sciences and other areas. Students must apply in their second year and have credit in SPAN 1F90. In conjunction with programs offered by the International Services and Programs Abroad Office (brocku.ca/international-services).

Study in Latin America and Spain
Students should consult with the Department about other opportunities for intensive study abroad courses at different levels in Spain or Latin America.

One-Month Study Abroad
To enhance language skills and knowledge of culture, this program offers students an opportunity to study for a month in the summer in Latin America, Portugal or Spain. Students must consult the Department for information.

Participants may earn a credit in Portuguese or Spanish language from beginner to advanced as appropriate as well as one-half credit from SPAN 2V90-2V99.

Program Notes
  1. Students with two or more courses of high school Spanish or previous university Spanish credit take SPAN 1F90 and may not take SPAN 1F00 without permission of the Department. Permission is granted only in the most exceptional cases.
  2. Students without two or more courses of high school Spanish or equivalent in the language take SPAN 1F00.
  3. SPAN and PORT 1F00 are introductory language courses. Students who register in these courses must submit an official high school transcript to the instructor as proof of their level of competence in order to receive Departmental confirmation of registration before the end of the second week of classes (see Undergraduate Academic Calendar). Failure to do so will result in deregistration from the course.
  4. Unless otherwise noted in the course description, courses numbered 2(alpha)00 and above are taught in the language, while courses numbered 1F90 and below are taught in the language to the extent possible.
  5. SPAN 1F00 can be used to meet requirements for major programs in Hispanic and Latin American Studies. However, SPAN 1F00 may not be included in a minor program in Hispanic and Latin American Studies.
  6. SPAN 1F00, 1F90, 2P19 and 2P20 constitute a sequence. Once credit has been obtained in one of these courses, students are not allowed to take for credit a course in the language with a lower number in the sequence. Students may not take two courses at different levels in the sequence during the same term. This regulation also applies to courses taken at other institutions.
  7. Students who took SPAN 1F00 in Year 1 must take SPAN 1F90 in Year 2.
  8. PORT 1F00 or 1F90 recommended. Students with two or more years of high school Portuguese standing or previous university Portuguese credit take PORT 1F90 and may not take PORT 1F00 without permission of the Department. Permission is granted only in the most exceptional cases. Students without two or more years of high school Portuguese or equivalent in the language take PORT 1F00.
  9. Students should meet with the Humanities Academic Adviser to ensure their choice of courses meets the criteria for the combined major degree.
  10. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.

Combined Major Program

Students may take a combined major in Hispanic and Latin American Studies and a second discipline. For requirements in the other discipline, the student should consult the relevant department/centre. It should be noted that not all departments/centres provide a combined major option.

Honours

Year 1
·   SPAN 1F00 or 1F90 (see program note 1)
·   one credit from the co-major discipline
·   one Sciences context credit
·   one Social Sciences context credit
·   one elective credit (see program note 9)

Year 2
·   One of SPAN 1F90, one SPAN credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above, one SCLC credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above (see program note 7)
·   SPAN 2P19 and 2P20
·   two credits from the co-major discipline
·   one elective credit (see program note 9)

Year 3
·   Two SPAN or SCLC credits numbered 2(alpha)90 or above
·   two credits from the co-major discipline
·   one elective credit

Year 4
·   Two SPAN or SCLC credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above
·   two credits from the co-major discipline
·   one elective credit

Pass

Satisfactory completion of the first three years of the Honours program entitles a student to apply for a Pass degree.

Certificate Program

Certificate in Language and culture Proficiency

This certificate is designed for non-native Spanish students seeking Spanish language and culture proficiency in preparation for various professional endeavours. For all students this certificate represents a specialized language knowledge of Spanish. Not open to Spanish heritage or native speakers.

The Certificate in Language and Culture Proficiency is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 70 percent overall average:
·   SPAN 1F00, 1F90, 2P11, 2P19, 2P20 and 2P95 (see program notes 1 and 2)
·   one and one-half credits from SPAN 3F80, 3P93, 3P98, 3P99, 4F90, SPAN courses numbered 4(alpha)00 or above

Certificate in Language Proficiency for Native Speakers

This certificate is designed for native-speaking Spanish students seeking language proficiency in preparation for various professional endeavours. For all students this certificate represents a specialized language knowledge of Spanish. Not open to Spanish non-native speakers.

The Certificate in Language Proficiency for Native Speakers is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 70 percent overall average:
·   SPAN 1F90, 2P11, 2P19, 2P20, 2P95, 3P93 and 3P98 (see program notes 1 and 2)
·   one credit from SPAN 3F80, 3P84, 3P99, 4F80, SPAN courses numbered 4(alpha)00 or above, SCLC 3P80, 4P80

Minor in Hispanic and Latin American Studies

Students in other disciplines may obtain a Minor in Hispanic and Latin American Studies within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent average:
·   SPAN 1F90, 2P19 and 2P20
·   one SPAN credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above
·   one SPAN credit numbered 3(alpha)00 or above

Course Descriptions

Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.

# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

PORTUGUESE COURSES

PORT 1F00
Introductory Portuguese Language
Listening, reading, writing and speaking; emphasizing a communicative approach to learning Portuguese.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week; online component, 3 hours per week.
Note: for students with no background in Portuguese. Offered in one term.

PORT 1F90
Intermediate Portuguese Language
Review of Portuguese grammar emphasizing written and oral practice. Introduction to Portuguese and Brazilian literary and cultural readings, as well as topics of current interest.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week; online component, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): PORT 1F00.
Note: for students with some background in Portuguese. Offered in one term.

SPANISH COURSES

SPAN 1F00
Introductory Spanish Language
Intensive study of Spanish with oral, written and reading practice. Selected readings and multimedia materials for practical insights into the customs and cultural contexts of the contemporary Spanish-speaking world.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week; online component, 3 hours per week.
Note: for students with no background in the language. Closed to heritage and native speakers of Spanish. Offered in one term.

SPAN 1F90
Intermediate Spanish Language
Intensive Spanish grammar review. Strengthens oral and written skills and further explores literary and cultural modes of expression from the Spanish-speaking world.
Lectures/tutorial, 4 hours per week; online component, 2 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): one Spanish language credit, two or more courses of high school Spanish language or permission of the Department.
Note: students with prior knowledge of Spanish must contact the Department prior to registration. Offered in one term.

SPAN 1P95
Conquest and Colonization
Introduction to Ancient American and Iberian civilizations and early Latin America through critical study of European colonialism and contestatory colonial agencies of Africans, Creoles, Native Americans, Mestizos and Europeans.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 1P95.

SPAN 2P10
Latin American Cultures Since Independence
Social, political and cultural history of the Latin American nations through text and images. Topics include cultural hybridization and identity.
Lectures, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 2P10.

SPAN 2P11
Cultures of Spain and Portugal
Formation of Iberian cultures to modern times, in the contexts of social, political, religious, intellectual, literary, and artistic themes and developments. Topics may include multicultural and cross-cultural influences, diasporic identities, traditions, and innovations, as a reflection of Iberian society in different historical periods.
Note: given in English. Offered online.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 2P11.

SPAN 2P19
Applied Language: Review and Practice
Comprehensive grammar review emphasizing language structure, style and critical thinking through fiction and nonfiction texts. Expansion of grammatical knowledge, interpretation, speaking, and writing skills.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 2P20
Survey of Literary and Cultural Texts
Further study of the major Spanish authors and literary movements from their origins to contemporary times. Focus on research methods, interpretation, and critical writing skills.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 2P87
Blood, Genealogy and Identity in Medieval and Early Modern Spain
(also offered as MARS 2P87)
Significance of genealogy and blood (ie. limpieza de sangre or blood purity statues), in the shaping of categories and forms of identification pertaining to Jewish, Muslim and Christian populations, and emerging New Christian groups like Conversos and Moriscos.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

SPAN 2P90
Culture and Nationhood in the Hispanic World
Interrelation of culture(s) and conceptions of nationhood within the framework of Spain-Latin American dynamics. Topics include interactions of European, Creole, Indigenous and African peoples; official and unofficial management of multiethnic and multicultural societies.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 2P92
Afro-Latino Narratives
The historical and cultural contributions of Africans and Afro-descendants in Latin America, focusing on the multifaceted "narratives" of and about Afro-Latinos, from the colonial period to present-day.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.

SPAN 2P95
Latin American and Iberian Film
(also offered as FILM 2P95)
Iberian and Latin American film representations of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, exile/migration and politics. Emphasis on national and transnational cultural and socio-political contexts and on the study of national/regional cinema movements. Delivered online.
Note: Spanish and Portuguese language films with English subtitles. Given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in SPAN 2P82 and INTC 2P95.

SPAN 2P96
Indigenous Latin America
Interdisciplinary approach to the study of Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages and narrative traditions of Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Americas, focusing on the significance of storytelling, orality's role, and other narrative forms in the transmission of culture and language in the construction of collective memory. Effects of globalization, digital media, and technology on these cultures and languages.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours a week. Delivered online.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
Note: given in English.

SPAN 2V90-2V99
Culture in Spanish- and Portuguese-Speaking Regions
Culture of a country or region in its geographical context. Background preparation research preceding an intensive study period on location. Course content will vary, depending on research interest of instructor.
Restriction: permission of the Department.
Note: students are expected to pay their own expenses.

SPAN 3F80
Im/migrant and Community Outreach Internship
Examination of the im/migrant, refugee and newcomer experience in relation to socio-political, cultural and linguistic power dynamics. Promotes community engagement with career-oriented internship experience.
Lectures, 1 hour per week; 60 experience hours.
Note: offered in the Spring/Summer session. Students will be placed with community organizations and agencies. Placement abroad may be available. Students will be required to provide their own transportation and prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report and receive a successful work term performance evaluation in consultation with professor. Open to students interested in pursuing various internships in areas of intercultural relations and international professionalization in various fields depending on the student's linguistic background.

SPAN 3P84
Diaspora Communities
Interdisciplinary survey of Portuguese and Spanish communities in and outside US and Canada as expressed in written and/or oral literary texts; artistic representations. Topics may include legacy of the diasporas, role of the other, notion of foreignness, issues of language, identity, exile, assimilation and acculturation.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 3P84.

SPAN 3P85
Indigenous and Mestizo Narratives
Culture and knowledge contribution of indigenous and mestizo intellectuals in colonial Latin America, through the study of written records, non-alphabetic media, oral traditions, pictographic and other visual media.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 and 2P20 or permission of instructor.

SPAN 3P90
Early Modern Spanish Literature and Culture
Themes and trends in 16th- and 17th-century Spanish drama, prose and poetry, evolution of a national theatre, picaresque, and birth of the modern novel. Film adaptations of key texts to aid comprehension and to consider performative culture.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 and 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P93
Advanced Language and Discourse
Study of the Spanish language through the analysis of various genres of texts, stylistics and discursive features. Integration of literature, culture and film. Focus on critical thinking, interpretation and critical discourse analysis.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P94
Iberian Narrative
Themes and narrative techniques that characterize the works of major 20th-century authors as well as contemporary Spanish and Portuguese authors.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P95
Contemporary Latin American Narrative
Multidisciplinary approach (historical, sociological, psychological, mythical) to the study of texts from different cultures and genres.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P97
Modern Spanish Literature and Culture
Crises of national identity in poetry and narrative; literary theories dealing with genre, conventions of romanticism, naturalism, realism in context of Iberian culture.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 and 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P98
Chronicle and Testimonial Writing
Historiography, collective memory versus official history, relation of past to future, oral history and its transcription into testimonial literature.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3P99
Hispanic Linguistics
Overview of major trends and issues in Hispanic linguistics. Topics may include language variation and change, language contact, dialectology, sociolinguistics, text linguistics. Issues of research methodology for the various areas.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 3Q91
Renaissance Perceptions of Indigenous Cultures
(also offered as HIST 3Q91 and MARS 3Q91)
Perceptions and views of indigenous American peoples and civilizations in Renaissance Europe, drawing from written accounts, histories of the Indies, and visual representations of Incas, Aztecs and Mayans.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): one SPAN, HIST or MARS credit numbered 1(alpha)90 to 2(alpha)99 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English.

SPAN 3Q92
Moors, New Christians and Renegades
(also offered as HIST 3Q92 and MARS 3Q92)
Contesting identity categories resulting from exchanges and interactions of Christians and Muslims in the early modern Mediterranean world, through the study of historical and fictional primary sources.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): one SPAN, HIST or MARS credit numbered 1(alpha)90 to 2(alpha)99 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English.

SPAN 4F80
Im/migrant and Community Outreach Research and Internship
Advanced research in the im/migrant, refugee and newcomer experience by expanding on the theme of socio-political, cultural and linguistic power dynamics. Promotes community engagement with career-oriented internship experience.
Lectures, 1 hour per week; 60 volunteer/experience hours.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 3F80 or permission of instructor.
Note: offered in Spring/Summer session. Students will be placed with community organizations and agencies. Placement abroad may be available. Students will be required to provide their own transportation and prepare learning objectives, participate in a site visit, write a work term report, a major research paper and receive a successful work term performance evaluation in consultation with professor. Open to students interested in pursuing various internships in areas of intercultural relations and international professionalization in various fields depending on the student's linguistic background.

SPAN 4F99
Honours Thesis
Research project carried out under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
Restriction: open to SPAN majors with a minimum of 14.0 overall credits, a minimum 75 percent major average, a minimum 70 percent overall average, approval to year 4 (honours) and permission of instructor.
Note: students contemplating a thesis should consult the instructor at the end of year 3 and must submit a detailed proposal in writing before May 15 prior to entering year 4.

SPAN 4P01
Latin American Women's Perspectives
(also offered as WGST 4P01)
Cultural production of Latin American women and their impact on society through a wide selection of media.
Lectures, seminar 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): WGST 1F90 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 4P01.

SPAN 4P04
Translation: Applications
Translation theory and its applications in Spanish to English to Spanish. Lexical, morphological, syntactic and semantic interrelation between source text and target text; application of translation methodologies to a variety of texts in various fields.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor.

SPAN 4P10
Readings in Medieval Iberian Narrative
Development of narrative traditions through the early 15th century and their historical contexts.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 or 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 4P15
Imagining Identity in the Early Modern Hispanic World
Religious, political and cultural discourses employed in the construction of identities in the Hispanic world. May include gendered identities, definitions of Spanish Christian identity. Creole identities and counter identities, such as Converso, Morisco and Mestizo.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2P19 and 2P20 or permission of the instructor.

SPAN 4P60
Women in Hispanic Literature: Witches, Vampires and Virgins
(also offered as WGST 4P60)
Depiction of women as monstrous or deviant. Authors include Carmen Boullosa, Alejandra Pizarnik and Rosario Ferré. Feminist literary theory of alterity (otherness).
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): WGST 1F90 or permission of the instructor.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INTC 4P60.

SPAN 4P64
Island Narratives: Re-imagining Ibero-American Insular Worlds
Multidisciplinary approach to the study of the island imaginary. Concepts of insular narrative spaces and the Other, language, literature and cultural translatability, oral storytelling tradition, and emerging and emergent narrative identities.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite(s): one SPAN credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
Note: given in English.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in SPAN 4V64 and INTC 4P64.

SPAN 4P84
Diaspora/Diasporas: Cross-cultural Texts and Context
Critical approaches to 'diaspora-space' and 'diaspora-times' in the formation of narrative identity across travel writing (diaries, chronicles, letters) autobiographies, and oral narrative discourse. Diasporic parameters focus on Ibero-Afro/Latin America.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): one SPAN credit numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in SPAN 4V66.

SPAN 4V60-4V69
Special Research Topics
Course content may vary, depending on research interests of instructor.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): two SPAN credits numbered 3(alpha)00 or above.