Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Hispanic Studies
Spanish, the world’s third largest language and second in terms of native speakers, is spoken by nearly 500 million people across the globe. The over 50 million Hispanics in the United States have become the fastest-growing social and political segment in North America. Because of its prominence, learning to communicate in Spanish can be essential for those entering the global economic market and numerous professions.
Spanish studies at UNC–Chapel Hill thrives on innovative literary, linguistic, and theoretical approaches to the Spanish-speaking world, and includes the study of indigenous, Afro-descendant, Asian, and other cultures. The Hispanic studies curriculum is designed to allow students to concentrate in one field of study (Hispanic literatures and cultures, Spanish for the professions, Hispanic linguistics, and translation and interpreting) while also exploring other areas of interest. As a result, students obtain well-grounded and comprehensive critical knowledge of the literatures, languages, and cultures of Spain and the Americas, as well as an appreciation of the language applied to a professional field. In addition to their course work, students in the major may choose to work on collaborative research, enter an Honors contract, and/or pursue an Honors thesis with one of our faculty members.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will acquire competence in the practice and analysis of Romance languages together with a critical knowledge of the written, oral, and visual traditions of their origin and diaspora. Our faculty promotes interdisciplinary connections and incorporates the study of literature, culture, theory, and history across the curriculum. Through coursework that emphasizes language acquisition, rhetoric, composition, and written and oral expression, our majors receive sustained personalized training in critical thinking and close reading. Upon completion of the program in Romance languages, students should be able to:
- Participate in conversations on concrete, social, academic, and professional topics
- Speak in detail about experiences and events in a variety of time frames and moods
- Represent points of view in discussions, both oral and written
- Deliver well-organized presentations on concrete, academic and professional topics
- Write on a wide variety of general interest, professional, and academic topics
- Follow narrative, informational, and descriptive speech on concrete, academic and professional topics
- Understand and discuss texts representing a variety of topics and genres
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| SPAN 300 | Grammar and Structure of Spanish 1, H | 3 |
| or SPAN 301 |  Introduction to Literary and Cultural Analysis | |
| or SPAN 302 | Literary and Cultural Analysis for Heritage Learners | |
| Three courses from one of the following concentrations (see course lists below): | 9 | |
Hispanic Literatures and Cultures | ||
Spanish for the Professions | ||
Translation and Interpreting | ||
Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Four elective courses numbered SPAN 330 or higher (except SPAN 401-SPAN 402, SPAN 404-405, SPAN 414-SPAN 417, SPAN 601, and SPAN 691H-692H) | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
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SPAN 300 is the recommended core course for the Hispanic Linguistics concentration since it is a prerequisite for many Hispanic Linguistics courses. SPAN 301 or SPAN 302 is the recommended core course for the Hispanic Literatures and Cultures concentration since it is a prerequisite for upper-level literature courses.
Completion of SPAN 261 or SPAN 267 is considered a prerequisite for the Hispanic Studies major.
Students majoring in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in an area OTHER than Translation and Interpreting may wish to complement their major with the Spanish Minor in Translation and Interpreting by completing at least three of SPAN 351, 352, 369, and 370 in addition to the major requirements. Students majoring in Hispanic Studies with a concentration in an area OTHER than Spanish for the Professions may wish to complement their major with the Spanish Minor for the Professions by completing SPAN 320 and 325 or SPAN 323 and 324 or SPAN 321 and 328, and SPAN 329 in addition to the major requirements.
Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One course from the following list: | 3 | |
| Trans-Atlantic Cultural Topics | ||
| Iberian Cultural Topics | ||
| Latin@ American Cultural Topics | ||
| SPAN 371 | Studies in Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 373 | Studies in Latin American Literature | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Spanish for the Professions
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two courses from one of the following pairs: | 6 | |
| Spanish for Business (First Semester) and Spanish for Business (Second Semester) | ||
| Spanish for the Medical Professions (First Semester) and Spanish for the Medical Professions (Second Semester) | ||
| Spanish for the Legal Professions (First Semester) and Spanish for the Legal Professions (Second Semester) | ||
| SPAN 329 | Spanish for Professional and Community Engagement | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Translation and Interpreting
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three courses from the following list: | 9 | |
| Spanish Interpretation I | ||
| Spanish Interpretation II | ||
| Introduction to Translation | ||
| Spanish Translation II | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Hispanic Linguistics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN 360 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| SPAN 376 | Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | 3 |
| One course from the following list: | 3 | |
| Spanish of the United States | ||
| Afro-Hispanic Language Contacts | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar in Language and Linguistics | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.
Sample Plan One
This plan assumes a placement of SPAN 105 on the Foreign Language placement test. Student placement (and plans) may vary. Although it is possible to complete the Hispanic Studies major if a student begins with SPAN 101 , summer school, study abroad, or doubling up on courses in the final year may be necessary in order to complete it in a timely manner.
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Foundation Courses | ||
| IDST 101 | College Thriving | 1 |
| ENGL 105 or ENGL 105I | English Composition and Rhetoric or English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch | 3 | |
| Triple-I and Data Literacy | 4 | |
| Major Courses | ||
| SPAN 105 | Spanish for High Beginners | 4 |
| SPAN 203 | Intermediate Spanish I H | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| SPAN 204 | Intermediate Spanish II H | 3 |
| SPAN 261 or SPAN 267 | Advanced Spanish in Context H or Advanced Spanish in Context for Heritage Learners | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| SPAN 300 | Grammar and Structure of Spanish H or Introduction to Literary and Cultural Analysisor Literary and Cultural Analysis for Heritage Learners | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #1 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #2 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #1 | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #3 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #2 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #3 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #4 | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Sample Plan Two
This plan assumes a placement of SPAN 203 on the Foreign Language placement test. Student placement (and plans) may vary.
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Foundation Courses | ||
| IDST 101 | College Thriving | 1 |
| ENGL 105 or ENGL 105I | English Composition and Rhetoric or English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch | 3 | |
| Triple-I and Data Literacy | 4 | |
| Major Courses | ||
| SPAN 203 | Intermediate Spanish I H | 3 |
| SPAN 204 | Intermediate Spanish II H | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| SPAN 261 or SPAN 267 | Advanced Spanish in Context H or Advanced Spanish in Context for Heritage Learners | 3 |
| SPAN 300 | Grammar and Structure of Spanish H or Introduction to Literary and Cultural Analysisor Literary and Cultural Analysis for Heritage Learners | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #1 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #2 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #1 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #2 | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| SPAN --- | Concentration course #3 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #3 | 3 |
| SPAN --- | Elective course #4 | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Special Opportunities in Romance Studies
Undergraduate Research
The Department of Romance Studies offers a gateway for research in the humanities, including the various fields that make up Romance studies. Research activities include the honors thesis, summer research fellowships, or engaging in mentoring projects with professors which lead to opportunities to present papers at conferences or for publication in the University's undergraduate research journal.
Annual Research Opportunities:
- Office for Undergraduate Research
- Celebration of Undergraduate Research
- UNC JOURney
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Burch Fellowship
Honors
The departmental honors program is open to any qualified major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher and 3.5 or higher in their major courses. Eligible honors candidates will formulate a topic and select an appropriate faculty member to supervise the writing of an honors thesis. Specific coursework for the major with honors consists of enrollment in the honors thesis courses in the language of the major emphasis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FREN 691H & FREN 692H | Honors Thesis in French and Honors Thesis in French | 6 |
| ITAL 691H & ITAL 692H | Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Italian | 6 |
| PORT 691H & PORT 692H | Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Portuguese | 6 |
| SPAN 691H & SPAN 692H | Honors Thesis and Honors Thesis in Spanish | 6 |
691H is taken in the fall semester of the senior year and 692H is taken in the spring semester. FREN 390, ITAL 398, PORT 398, SPAN 397 and SPAN 398 may be substituted for the 691H research course if the subject of the seminar is central to the research project chosen. In the 692H course, the thesis will be completed and the student will participate in an oral defense with the thesis director and two additional readers, to be agreed upon by the student and director. The thesis director, in consultation with the readers, will recommend that the student who has defended the thesis graduate with honors, highest honors, or with course credit. FREN 390, FREN 691H, ITAL 398, ITAL 691H, PORT 398, SPAN 397 and SPAN 398 may count toward the eight courses for the major, but FREN 692H, ITAL 692H, PORT 692H, and SPAN 692H may not. Students who intend to graduate in December should adjust the scheduling of these courses in order to allow for completion of the honors project in December. Students meeting the required grade point averages should contact the undergraduate advisor for their language. For detailed information on the B.A. with honors, visit the department's website.
Collaborative Online International Learning
The department works in partnership with the COIL program and offers select courses that involve shared learning between students in a course at UNC–Chapel Hill and peer students at a global partner university. Faculty members at both institutions design collaborative activities for their students, such as completing small group projects, engaging in dialogue drawing on their different societal or disciplinary perspectives, or exchanging scholarly or creative work.
Out-of-Class Language Experience
The department offers credit-bearing internship opportunities through ROML 293 and service-learning opportunities through ROML 194. Both courses satisfy the High-Impact General Education requirement (in the IDEAs in Action curriculum) and the experiential education (EE) General Education requirement (in the Making Connections curriculum). While ROML 293 is a standalone course, ROML 194 is always connected to a specific course.
Each semester the department offers a film series where all students are invited to attend screenings of films in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. All films have subtitles. It is a great opportunity to meet people in different courses and language sections that share an interest in film.
Students also find opportunities to speak Spanish and meet native Spanish speakers in an informal weekly tertulia (gathering). Additional activities involving Spanish include attending lectures, receptions, and films organized by the department and student organizations such as CHispA (Carolina Hispanic Association); and serving the community through a variety of volunteer opportunities.
Students studying French are encouraged to become members of the French club, les Francophiles, and participate in the weekly conversation hour and other French Club activities. Departmental lectures and film series are also offered.
Students interested in Italian language and culture may attend film series, guest lectures, and a series of other extracurricular events including games and conversation hours. They may also wish to join the undergraduate Italian Club.
Students who wish to practice Portuguese can meet weekly for the bate-papo (chat). Students of Portuguese also engage in editorial work and publish in the student journal Revistinha.
Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Office sponsors many year-long, semester-long, and summer programs appropriate for students of the Romance languages and has special arrangements with the Department of Romance Studies for the UNC in Montpellier, UNC in Seville, and Florence programs. Students from UNC–Chapel Hill and from other institutions may earn up to 30 semester hours of undergraduate credit in these programs, which are open to qualified undergraduates regardless of academic major. While, in general, students may satisfy up to 50 percent of major or minor coursework abroad, courses that are taught by Romance studies faculty may count differently. For example, students completing the Spanish minor for the professions in health and business may complete all or most of the minor in faculty-led programs abroad.
Students who participate in Study Abroad during the semester have the opportunity to work as course correspondents for a course in Romance studies. Course correspondents report back to the class they serve throughout the semester via online tools and may receive one hour of credit for their informative work.
General inquiries concerning any of these programs should be addressed to the Study Abroad Office, CB# 3130, FedEx Global Education Center, (919) 962-7002.
Undergraduate Awards
French
Students have the opportunity to be inducted into Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. Those with outstanding records in French are recommended as candidates for the Jacques Hardré Award, which is given to the best graduating senior in French; it includes a cash award.
Italian
Students are nominated for membership in Gamma Kappa Alpha, the Italian honor society, by undergraduate instructors. The society recognizes “outstanding scholastic performance in the fields of Italian language and literature” and encourages students “to acquire a greater interest in, and a deeper understanding of, Italian culture.” The Kimberly Kyser Award for Excellence in Italian is awarded to the most outstanding student in Italian and includes a cash prize.
Portuguese
Each year the department awards the Camões Prize to the outstanding student in Portuguese during that year. The prize carries a monetary award made possible by a donation from the Gulbenkian Foundation.
Spanish
Students have the opportunity to be inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society. Those with outstanding performance in the Hispanic literatures and cultures or the Hispanic linguistics majors are eligible for several prizes including the Chancellor’s Award, given to the top graduating senior, the Stoudemire Awards, and the Larry D. King Fellowship.
Department Programs
Majors
- Romance Languages Major, B.A.–French and Francophone Studies
- Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Italian
- Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Portuguese
- Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Hispanic Studies
- Romance Languages Major, B.A.–Hispanic Linguistics
Minors
- French Minor
- Italian Minor
- Portuguese Minor
- Hispanic Studies Minor
- Spanish Minor for the Professions
- Translation and Interpreting Minor
Graduate Programs
