B.A. in Spanish

Curriculum

Curriculum Sheets
Course Descriptions
Learning Outcomes

In our courses students develop the ability to communicate confidently with real people in a variety of everyday and professional settings, while also acquiring knowledge and skills in cultural literacy, intercultural competence, and critical thinking. Our courses are relevant to your current interests and will set you up to achieve your future goals.

B.A. requirements: For the Spanish major, students will complete a minimum of 30-45 credits, including at least one 300-level course in language and linguistics (SPA 312, 313, or 321), at least one 300-level course in literature (SPA 305, 306, 307, 308, or 325), and at least three courses at the 400-level or higher. Note: SPA 101 and 102 cannot be counted toward the Spanish major. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in Spanish major coursework. These requirements are the same for the secondary education major.

In addition to fulfilling the aforementioned requirements for the Spanish major, students in the International Engineering Program (IEP) or the International Business Program (IBP) must also take SPA 316 and 317.

In order to transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences from University College for Academic Success, students must complete 24 credits with a minimum of a 2.00 GPA.

A total of 120 credits is required for graduation. At least 42 of these must be in courses numbered 300 or above.

Placement Assistance

Students begin their studies at the level that best corresponds to their specific backgrounds and skill levels. Those with no previous experience studying or speaking Spanish begin with Spanish 101 and gradually work their way up to the 400-level.

Most recent high school Spanish course Low language learning aptitude Average language learning aptitude High language learning aptitude
Spanish 1 SPA 101 SPA 102 SPA 102
Spanish 2 SPA 102 SPA 102 SPA 103
Spanish 3 SPA 103 SPA 103 SPA 104
Spanish 4 SPA 103 SPA 104 SPA 205
Spanish 5 SPA 104 SPA 205 SPA 206
Heritage* speakers SPA 206 SPA 210 SPA 210
Native** speakers Any 300-level Spanish course Any 300-level Spanish course Any 300-level Spanish course
*Heritage speakers are people who grew up speaking Spanish, feel quite comfortable conversing in Spanish, and completed most or all formal schooling in English (or in a language other than Spanish).  While most Heritage speakers begin at URI with SPA 210, some choose to take SPA 206 (and, in some rare cases, SPA 205) as their first course because they seek to devote more time to developing and gaining more confidence with their communication skills prior to moving to higher levels of our curriculum.  SPA 101, 102, 103 and 104 focus on developing basic conversational skills and, thus, are not open to Heritage speakers of Spanish.
**Native speakers are people who grew up speaking Spanish and completed most or all formal elementary and secondary schooling in Spanish. SPA 101, 102, 103 and 104 focus on developing basic conversational skills and, thus, are not open to native speakers of Spanish.

 

Incentive credit

  1. Students who studied up to Spanish 3 in High School (and who did not take any courses above that level in High School) may receive incentive credit for SPA 103 if they take SPA 104 as their first course at URI and earn a final grade of C or higher in it.
  2. Students may receive incentive credit for SPA 104 if they take any class at the 200-level as their first course at URI and earn a final grade of C or higher in it.

Questions

Students in need of more personalized assistance in finding the right level at which they should begin, given their unique profile, may contact the Beginning and Intermediate Spanish Language Program Coordinator, Dr. Judy de Oliveira, judyd@uri.edu for help.

Common Curricular Paths

       

Intermediate Skills (Option A)

Students who took three years of high school Spanish and excelled in those courses typically take:

  • SPA 104: Intermediate Spanish II
  • SPA 205: Language and Style I
  • SPA 206: Language and Style II
  • SPA 325: Introduction to Literary Genres (required)
  • Three electives at the 200-level or higher
  • Three 400-level electives (required)

Intermediate Skills (Option B)

Students with four years of excellent high school work in Spanish:

  • SPA 205: Language and Style I
  • SPA 206: Language and Style II
  • SPA 325: Introduction to Literary Genres (required)
  • Four electives at the 200-level or higher
  • Three 400-level electives (required)

Heritage Language Speakers

Hispanic students who grew up speaking Spanish, feel comfortable conversing in Spanish, and did most or all formal schooling in English:

  • SPA 210: Spanish for Heritage Speakers
  • SPA 325: Introduction to Literary Genres (required)
  • Five electives at the 200-level or higher
  • Three 400-level electives (required)

Minor in Spanish

The requirement for a minor is 18 credits, 12 of which must be at the 200-level or above. Students who minor in Spanish typically take 103, 104, 205, 206 and two 300-level electives. Because the Spanish major is only four additional courses, most students who come to URI with the intent to minor in Spanish usually end up choosing to complete the full major.