BA in Spanish | BA in Spanish with Teaching Certification | Minor in French or Spanish or German or Middle Eastern Studies (Arabic) | Course Descriptions
Chair: Debra D. Andrist (936) 294-1414
Faculty: Debra D. Andrist, Shirin Edwin, James Frankki, David Ross Gerling, Frieda Koeninger, Alejandro Latínez, Enrique Mallén, Alcibiades Policarpo, Kay Raymond, Joaquin Rodríguez-Barberá, Murad Salem, Rafael Saumell-Muñoz, Manuel Triano-López
Information: (936) 294-1441; ABIV 315; foreignlanguages@shsu.edu
Website: www.shsu.edu/~fol_www
Foreign language study not only enables communication across languages and cultures but opens doors to insights about different cultures and their diverse perspectives of life. Knowledge of languages and cultures provides exciting opportunities for travel and careers.
Academic Programs
- BA in Spanish
- Minors in French, German, Middle Eastern Studies and Spanish
- Courses in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese
Highlights
All languages:
Cultural celebrations
Foreign film festivals
Study Abroad
French
National French Week: November
German
Oktoberfest: October
Spanish
Grito de Dolores: September
Día de la Raza: October
Día de los Muertos: November
Navidad: December
Semana Santa: spring
Suggested Minors
SHSU offers a wide range of courses and area studies particularly applicable to language study minors for individual interests and career goals, especially in Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Professions, History, International Business, Journalism, Mass Media, Music, and Political Science.
Career Opportunities
Professionals with competence in one or more foreign languages are needed in almost all professions: agriculture, business, computer science, criminology, education, the fine arts, government service, industry, international business, medicine, mass media, science, and related areas. The Department of Foreign Languages prepares students for professions requiring a foreign language as a major skill, for graduate school and functions as a service area in career preparation.
Student Organizations and Activities
The Foreign Languages Program sponsors many activities designed to enhance the language student’s linguistic and cultural experiences at Sam Houston State University.
The Foreign Languages Program sponsors Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society and Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society. Students also may participate in the Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish Clubs.
Internships and Study Abroad
Students have the opportunity to study abroad. Students and faculty come together as a community of scholars to study language and different aspects of culture and interact with the community during the summer. SHSU offers courses in countries like Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Qatar, Spain, and Switzerland. Students may take intermediate and advanced courses and courses at all levels in not only language but in such disciplines as Art, Business, Family & Consumer Sciences and Agriculture.
Full semester study abroad experiences in many target-language areas are available through SHSU agreements with universities throughout the world; for more information visit International Programs.
Various credit-bearing internships are also available; for more information visit the Department of Foreign Languages office or the FOL website https://www.shsu.edu/~fol_www/
Scholarships
Scholarships: Students in languages may apply for the Foreign Languages Scholarship, for the Mozelle Powell Spanish Scholarship, and/or for the Seola Arnaud & R.V. Edwards, Jr. Endowed French Scholarship. For more information, apply on line at Scholar X and contact the Department of Foreign Languages office or visit Foreign Languages.
Information on University scholarships may be obtained at the Office of Academic Scholarships or by telephone (936) 294-1672.
Department Specific Requirements
A major in Spanish requires a total of 36 hours of coursework. These include 141 <1411>, 142 <1412>, 263 <2311>, 264 <2312>, plus 22 hours of advanced courses (12 hours of which must be taken in residence.)
Foreign language majors and language students in the teacher certification program must take at least one history or geography course dealing with the country or countries whose language they are studying in order to promote interdisciplinary and international education. Students are required to have a 3.0 or the equivalent in their advanced major/minor teaching areas prior to being permitted to take the certification examinations.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Spanish
3 Digit to 4 Digit Crosswalk
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 |
|
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 |
|
| Component Area III (Natural Sciences) | 8 |
See core |
| Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts) | 3 |
|
| Component Area IV (Literature) | 3 |
|
| Component Area IV (Cultural Studies) | 3 |
SPN 263* <(SPAM 2311*>* or 264 <2312> |
| Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences) | 15 |
|
| Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option) | 1 |
|
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHL <PHIL> | 3 |
|
| Fine Arts course | 3 |
|
| HIS <HIST> or GEO <GEOG> (Related to major/with department approval) |
3 |
|
| Major Core | ||
| SPN 141 <SPAN 1411> | 4 |
|
| SPN 142 <SPAN 1412> | 4 |
|
| SPN 263* <SPAN 2311*> | 3 |
|
| SPN 264 <SPAN 2312> | 3 |
|
| Major | ||
SPN 361 <SPAN 3361> and (300 <3000> - 400 <4000> level courses) |
22 |
|
| Minor (required) | ||
| SPN 361 <SPAN 3361> Open but with approval of Department | 18-27 |
|
| Electives (with department approval)> | 9-18 |
|
| Total Hours: 120 | ||
| Notes: Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. *Course may satisfy both requirements. |
||
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Spanish with Teaching Certification
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence | Core Curriculum |
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 |
Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 |
| Component Area III (Natural Sciences) | 8 |
See core | Component Area IV (Humanities/Visual/Performing Arts) | 3 |
| Component Area IV (Literature) | 3 |
|
| Component Area IV (Cultural Studies) | 3 |
SPN 263* <SPAN 2311*> or 264 <2312> |
| Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences) | 15 |
Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option) | 1 |
| Degree Specific Requirements | PHL <PHIL> | 3 |
| Fine Arts course | 3 |
HIS <HIST> or GEO <GEOL> (Related to major/with department approval) |
3 |
| Major Core | SPN 141 <SPAN 1411> | 4 |
| SPN 142 <SPAN 1412> | 4 |
SPN 263* <SPAN 2311*> | 3 |
| SPN 264 <SPAN 2312> | 3 |
Major |
| SPN (300-400 level courses) | 22 |
Education Courses |
| SED 374 <CISE 3374> | 3 |
SED 383 <CISE 3383> | 3 |
| SED 464 <CISE 4364> | 3 |
SED 492 <CISE 4392> | 3 |
| SED 480 <CISE 4380 | 3 |
SED 496 <CISE 4396 | 3 |
| SED 497 <CISE 4397> | 3 |
Electives (with department approval) | 10 |
| Total Hours: 120 | ||
| Notes: All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. *Course may satisfy both requirements. |
||
Minor in (Arabic) Middle Eastern Studies, French or German or Spanish
A minor in French or Spanish requires a total of 23 hours of coursework. These include 141 <1411>, 142 <1412>, 263 <2311>, 264 <2312>, plus nine hours of advanced courses (six hours of which must be taken in residence.) The German minor requires GER 141 <GERM 1411>, 142 <1412>, 263 <2311>, 264 <2312>, 368 <3368>, 380 <3380>, and 460 <4360>. The Middle Eastern Studies minor includes a track A (Arabic language) and a track B (non-language).
Track A
- Three courses of Arabic: ARB 132 <ARAB 1412>, 263 <2311>, 264 <2312>: 9 credit hours
- Two of the following courses:
POL 375 <POLS 3375>: Politics of the Middle East
HIS 336 <HIST 3336>: The Middle East Since 1700
SOC 336 <SOCI 3336>: Social Change and Development: 6 credit hours - One of the following courses:
FCS 445 <FACS 4445>: Middle and Far Eastern Foods
SOC 468 <SOCI 3342>: Sociology of Religion
ARB 380W <ARAB 3380>: The Contemporary Arab World: 3 credit hours
TOTAL HOURS: 18-19 credit hours
Track B
- Three of the following courses:
HIS 335 <HIST 3335>: The Middle East from 500-1700
HIS 336 <HIST 3336>: The Middle East Since 1700
POL 375 <POLS 3375>: Politics of the Middle East
SOC 336 <SOCI 3336>: Social Change and Development: 9 credit hours - Three of the following courses:
FCS 445 <FACE 4445>: Middle and Far Eastern Foods (4 credit hours)
ARB 475 <ARAB 4375>: Special Topics in Arabic Studies
POL 481 <POLS 4381>: Problems in Political Science
HIS 475 <HIST 4375>: Readings in History
SOC 468 <SOCI 3342>: Sociology of Religion: 9-10 credit hours
TOTAL HOURS: 18-19 credit hours
Students may take POL 481 <POLS 4381> or HIS 475 <HIST 4375> or ARB 475 <ARAB 4375> more than once for credit toward the minor if the topics are different. Topics in these courses must be on the Middle East. Departments will offer the courses with a Middle East focus once a year. In addition, ARB 131 <ARAB 1311>, 132 <1312>, 263 <2311>, or 264 <2312> may be substituted for any six hours in block 2 classes of Track B.
Foreign Language Requirement: The 12-14 semester hour requirement consists of four courses in one language: 141 <1411>, 142 <1412>, 263 <2311>, and 264 <2312>. These courses must be taken in sequence. No two courses in the series may be taken concurrently without the written approval of the Department Chair. The requirement reads “12-14 hours” to accommodate transfer students from institutions that award only 3 hours credit for each semester of the first year.
Credit-by-Examination/Placement Examination: The University offers a CLEP subject exam in order to determine the amount of credit to be given for courses which need not be taken because of adequate performance on the examination. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Testing.