Required Language Course
All students are required to enroll in one Spanish language course from the list below. Students who have already completed four terms of Spanish, or the equivalent, are permitted to enroll in electives taught in Spanish.*
CAS LS 111
First-Semester Spanish
For students who have never studied Spanish, or by placement test results. Introduction to grammatical structures. Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction to Hispanic culture.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
CAS LS 112
Second-Semester Spanish
Prerequisite: one term of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Completes study of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension with readings on contemporary Hispanic culture and writing assignments.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
CAS LS 211
Third-Semester Spanish
Prerequisite: two terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Completes study of grammatical structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Reading in Hispanic civilization and of contemporary short stories. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
CAS LS 212
Fourth-Semester Spanish
Prerequisite: three terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture with frequent compositions.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Individual in Community
CAS LS 306
Spanish Through Translation*
Prerequisite: four terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Advanced study of the Spanish language through the translation of written texts. Analysis of the theory and practice of translation as a catalyst of cultural transfer. Taught in Spanish.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
CAS LS 312
Spanish Through Cultural Destinations: Madrid en Vivo
Students will further develop their oral and written skills allowing them to flourish within the Spanish-speaking world. They will become familiar with the city of Madrid through immersion in its history, neighborhoods, art, literature, and its cultural and social peculiarities.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Teamwork/Collaboration
CAS LS 449
Contemporary Spanish Novel: From “La Movida” to 15-M
An overview of contemporary Spanish novels from the time of Franco’s death in 1975 to the present day. This class explores cultural issues within the literary, political, and social contexts of contemporary Spain.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- Aesthetic Exploration
CAS LS 450
Contemporary Spanish Literature
This course focuses on literary texts and contemporary Spanish and Latin American cultural phenomena through analysis and critical essays. Students will explore various literary genres in order to develop reading comprehension strategies and become familiar with basic critical reading concepts.
- Units: 4
*All students should confirm in advance with their academic advisors which courses may be taken for major, minor, and departmental requirements, and which courses may be taken for elective units.
Elective Courses
Students select three courses from the electives offered in English or in Spanish, depending on their interest and proficiency level. Each course carries four units. All students should confirm in advance with their academic advisors which courses may be taken for major, minor, and departmental requirements, and which courses may be taken for elective units.
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Elective course offerings vary and may not be offered every term. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Elective Courses Taught in English
CAS AH 364
Art and Architecture in Madrid: 1561-Today
Survey of architecture, sculpture, and painting in Madrid, and how these fit in the broader frame of European styles and historical context, 1561–present. Key theories in art history are introduced, giving students a broader perspective on critical approaches to art.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Aesthetic Exploration
CAS AH 368
Graffiti, Street Art, and Independent Interventions in Public Space in Madrid
Introduction to graffiti and street art through case studies in Madrid. Combines contextual and aesthetic analysis with hands-on activities. Focus on artistic interventions in public spaces through the lenses of activism, the right to the city, and public space management.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Aesthetic Exploration
CAS AR 200
Heritage Matters: Introduction to Heritage Management
Protection and management of archaeological heritage, including sites, artifacts, and monuments. Survey of heritage values and stakeholders. Issues covered include cultural policy and legislation, international efforts, indigenous perspectives, looting, repatriation, underwater heritage, and heritage at war.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Research and Information Literacy
- Social Inquiry I
CAS HI 256
History of Spain 711-1898
This course offers an overview of Spanish History from the year 711, with the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, through 1898, when the last territories of the Spanish Empire were finally lost. These two points mark the beginning of the era in which the Iberian Peninsula came to be known as al-Andalus, and the fall of the Spanish Empire with the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy
CAS LS 241
Cultures of Spain: Past and Present
An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. Instruction begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students’ fluency increases. Course content is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and others.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Historical Consciousness
CAS PO 245/HI 228
Nationalism in Spain within the European Context
This course examines the origins of Spanish national identity and the later emergence of alternative national identities within the Spanish state in the Basque Country, Catalonian and Galician autonomous communities. We compare the case of Spain with that of other nation-states in the European Union where the emergence of peripheral nationalisms continues to challenge national and European integration politics. Non-state nationalist movements are analyzed in both a historical and contemporary context.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
Elective Courses Taught in Spanish
Language and culture courses are offered at the 300-level. Literature and film courses are offered at the 400-level.
CAS AH 258
The Spaces of Art: from Velasquez to the Private Gallery in Spain
An overview of the use of space in Spanish art and architecture from the early 17th century Baroque style to contemporary art. A journey from the aerial perspective of Velazquez’s paintings to urban street art, installation art, and modern galleries.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
CAS CI/LS 477/COM CI 477
Contemporary Spanish Cinema
An overview of Spanish contemporary cinema and the variety of genres that have emerged in the last decades. Using different resources from films and literature, students will be able to better understand the diversity of Spanish society, which they will experience for themselves on the streets of Madrid. This course also explores how the technical elements of film (camera shots, angles, etc.) can express emotions as well as cultural and social values.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
CAS LS 449
Contemporary Spanish Novel: From “La Movida” to 15-M
An overview of contemporary Spanish novels from the time of Franco’s death in 1975 to the present day. This class explores cultural issues within the literary, political, and social contexts of contemporary Spain.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- Aesthetic Exploration
CAS LS 459
Crisis and Literature in Contemporary Spain
Prerequisite: 5 terms of Spanish or the equivalent.
Studies how key crises, that is, profound changes with significant consequences, are reflected through Spanish literature, press, cinema, music, and other artistic media of the 20th and 21st centuries. These encompass crises of identity, including gender identity, artistic crises emerging from the aftermath of Franco’s death in the 1970s, and more recent political, economic, and health crises including the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
Mujeres en España
Fall only
Aims to help students understand the role of women in Spanish society from the Middle Ages until the present. The course traces the historical, social, political, economic, religious, and psychological evolution of Spanish women, paying special attention to the conflicts they suffered and the accomplishments they achieved throughout the process.
- Units: 4
CAS IR 323
The Iberian Peninsula in a Global Context in the 20th Century
Spring only
This course offers a multidisciplinary study of contemporary international relations with a special focus on the Iberian Peninsula. It will examine significant events that took place during the better part of the twentieth century with an emphasis on the relations between Spain and Portugal and the United States.
- Units: 4
- BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Historical Consciousness