Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation from Dickinson, Spanish and Portuguese Studies majors will be able to:
- Communicate proficiently in Spanish across spoken and written forms;
- Interpret and analyze a range of literary, filmic, and cultural texts from the Americas and Spain across a variety of historical periods;
- Develop intercultural awareness and appreciation of the diverse Hispanic world.
Major
11 credits
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 215: Spanish Composition and Conversation
SPAN 245: Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
Four 200-level courses*
Four 300-level courses
Notes:
- *No more than four 200-level electives can be counted toward the major. Students may opt to take less than four at the 200-level and complete additional 300-level courses in their place.
- *Either SPAN 206 (Spanish for Business Professions) OR SPAN 207 (Spanish for the Health Professions) can be taken as one of the 200-level electives and can count toward the major, but not both. Neither SPAN 206 nor 207 is required for the major.
- Twelve credits are required for honors; students cannot count SPAN 550 for honors as one of their 11 required credits.
- Language: Only one course in English or Portuguese offered by the department may count toward the major. No FLIC option is required. For example, students may count toward the major either SPAN 225 (Panoramas I, taught in English) or SPAN 325 (Panoramas II, taught in English), but not bo
- Study Abroad: Up to four study abroad credits relevant to the major may be applied in a 1-semester study abroad program. Should a student spend a full year abroad, an additional credit relevant to the major may be applied.
If a student couples Spanish 205 (Málaga Summer Immersion) with a semester abroad in either Spain or Argentina, Spanish 205 can count as a 5th credit toward the major. If Málaga Summer Immersion is coupled with a year-long study abroad program, it can count as a 6th credit. In all cases, Málaga Summer Immersion counts as one of the four permitted 200-level electives.
Minor
6 credits
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 215: Spanish Composition and Conversation
SPAN 245: Introduction to Hispanic Literature and Culture
Three 200- or 300-level courses
Notes:
- SPAN 202 (Intermediate Spanish) is the required entry-level course for all minors. Students who place out of SPAN 202 may begin at a higher level based on placement results.
- Core Introductory Courses: SPAN 215 (Spanish Composition and Conversation) and SPAN 245 (Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Cultures) are required and should be completed before taking higher-level Spanish courses. They cannot be taken concurrently.
- 200-Level Electives: Minors may take up to three 200 level Spanish courses, either on campus or abroad. Only one of the following may count toward the minor: either SPAN 206 (Spanish for Business Professions) or SPAN 207 (Spanish for the Health Professions), but not both.
- While not required, minors are encouraged to take at least one 300-level course. Students can replace 200-level electives with 300-level courses.
- To ensure the development of Spanish language proficiency, courses taught in English (for example, SPAN 225 or SPAN 325) or Portuguese do not count toward the minor. Additionally, the minor is designed to offer a focused yet broad foundation in the field, making independent study an unsuitable option.
- Study Abroad (Optional)
o Minors are encouraged, but not required, to spend a semester abroad for immersion in Spain or Argentina. Summer study abroad in Spain is also recommended.
o Up to three study-abroad credits relevant to the minor may be applied.
o Minors are encouraged to take a Spanish course on campus upon returning from study abroad.
Suggested curricular flow through the major
Major: 11 Credits Required
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish
SPAN 215: Spanish Composition and Conversation
SPAN 245: Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
Four 200-level courses*
Four 300-level courses
Notes:
• The following Spanish & Portuguese Studies major requirements are effective with the class entering in Fall 2026 and after. Students beginning prior to Fall 2026 should reference the requirements in the Academic Bulletin for their entering class. Advisors will help students work through the prior or new requirements.
• *No more than four 200-level electives can be counted toward the major. Students may opt to take less than four at the 200-level and complete additional 300-level courses in their place.
• *Either SPAN 206 (Spanish for Business Professions) OR SPAN 207 (Spanish for the Health Professions) can be taken as one of the 200-level electives and can count toward the major, but not both. Neither SPAN 206 nor 207 is required for the major.
• Twelve credits are required for honors; students cannot count SPAN 550 for honors as one of their 11 required credits.
• Language: Only one course in English or Portuguese offered by the department may count toward the major. No FLIC option is required. For example, students may count toward the major either SPAN 225 (Panoramas I, taught in English) or SPAN 325 (Panoramas II, taught in English), but not both.
• Study Abroad: Up to four study abroad credits relevant to the major may be applied in a 1-semester study abroad program. Should a student spend a full year abroad, an additional credit relevant to the major may be applied. If a student couples Spanish 205 (Málaga Summer Immersion) with a semester abroad in either Spain or Argentina, Spanish 205 can count as a 5th credit toward the major. If Málaga Summer Immersion is coupled with a year-long study abroad program, it can count as a 6th credit. In all cases, Málaga Summer Immersion counts as one of the four permitted 200-level electives.
Honors: Honors can be attained by completing a 12th credit for SPAN 550 and by successfully defending the resulting honors thesis project.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Communicate proficiently in Spanish across spoken and written forms;
• Interpret and analyze a range of literary, filmic, and cultural texts from the Americas and Spain across a variety of historical periods;
• Develop intercultural awareness and appreciation of the diverse Hispanic world.
Four-Year Course Plan
The 4-year course plan would depend on a student’s placement level. The following is based on placement into 101:
First Year: Fall: 101; Spring: 102; 225
Sophomore: Fall: 201; Spring: 202
Junior: Fall: 215 AND 206 OR 207 OR Port; Spring: 245
Senior: Fall: 200-elective (i.e. 280) Spring: 200-elective (i.e. 280)
300, 300 300, 300
The following is an example based on placement into 201:
First Year: Fall: 201; Spring: 202, 225
Sophomore: Fall: 215; Spring: 245
Junior: Fall: Abroad – 3, 200-level Spring: 300, 300
1, 300-level
Senior: Fall: 300 Spring: Honors
Major completed fall of senior year; Honors could be obtained with a 12th credit for Span 550 in spring.
Honors
Spanish majors wishing to graduate with honors in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese should speak with the department chair during the fall semester of the senior year. Honors will be awarded to students who successfully complete a significant scholarly essay (normally thirty to fifty pages in length) and defend the work during an oral examination given by a committee of departmental faculty. This project should be done in close collaboration with a department faculty member and cannot be undertaken before fulfillment of the senior seminar requirement. Essays done for the senior seminar or other advanced course will often be the starting point for the Honors project. Detailed are available on the department's web page.
Opportunities for Off-Campus Study
Dickinson offers fall semester or full year programs at the University of Málaga, Spain. This program is intended to enhance and enrich the strong Spanish major the student has initiated on the Carlisle campus. Students wishing to study in Latin America may take advantage of Dickinson's South America program in Mendoza, Argentina. Dickinson also has a Partner Program in Brazil. Information is available from faculty in the Spanish department or the .
NOTE: Spanish majors studying abroad should carefully plan their course schedule with the assistance of their faculty advisor.
Independent study and independent research
This is an opportunity to explore individually an area of special interest to the student within the discipline. It is normally arranged through individual contact between the student and the professor involved in the semester preceding the actual project, and approved by the department chair.
Honors
Spanish majors wishing to graduate with honors in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies should speak with the department chair during the fall semester of the senior year about completing SPAN 550 in addition to the eleven courses required for the major. Honors will be awarded to students who successfully complete a significant scholarly essay (normally thirty to fifty pages in length) and defend the work during an oral examination given by a committee of departmental faculty. This project should be done in close collaboration with a department faculty member and cannot be undertaken before fulfillment of the senior seminar requirement. Essays done for the senior seminar or other advanced course will often be the starting point for the Honors project. Detailed are available on the department's web page.
Opportunities for off-campus study
Dickinson offers fall semester or full year programs at the University of Málaga, Spain. This program is intended to enhance and enrich the strong Spanish major the student has initiated on the Carlisle campus. Students wishing to study in Latin America may take advantage of Dickinson's South America program in Cuenca, Ecuador and Mendoza, Argentina. Dickinson also has a Partner Program in Brazil. Information is available from faculty in the Spanish department or the .
NOTE: Spanish majors going abroad should carefully plan their course schedule with the assistance of their faculty advisor.
Co-curricular activities/programs
The department's co-curricular activities include: (1) a Spanish Club, which is open to majors and non-majors alike, sponsored lectures, field trips, and other cultural activities, (2) the Spanish Table, held once a week in a private dining area of the Holland Union Building, where students and professors meet over dinner for conversation and informal discussions in Spanish, and (3) the Casa de Lenguas Romances, which offers a unique opportunity for the students to live in a Spanish-speaking environment, using the Spanish language as the main vehicle for daily communication.
International students from the University of Málaga and from the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina (where Dickinson students take classes when they study abroad) play a key role in these extra-curricular activities. These Overseas Student Assistants live in the Casa de Lenguas Romances and/or the International House during the school year, are in charge of the Spanish Table, and assist faculty with language courses and special events in the department.
Courses
The following courses are offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga:
205 Málaga Summer Immersion
Offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga. A five-week course in contemporary Spanish language and culture offered at the University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain. Students will reside with Spanish families, speak only Spanish during this five-week period, and participate in intensive language and culture classes, special lectures, and field trips arranged by Dickinson in cooperation with the Centro Internacional de Español (CIE-UMA) of the University of Málaga.
Prerequisite: 201 or equivalent and permission of the department.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
251 Spanish for Academic Contexts in Málaga
An advanced and in-depth study of grammatical structures to prepare students for the demands of Spanish university classes, with a focus on achieving the necessary command of the language according to DELE standards. Students will learn some of the intricacies, complexities and subtleties of Spanish grammar through personalized instruction, oral presentations and written analysis of diverse texts. These will include cultural texts, literature, art, current affairs, politics, etc. This is an intensive, four week pre-semester required course, which includes weekly exams in addition to other specific assignments.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
253 Engaging Málaga
This course provides a structured framework for students to learn from and connect their experiences in and outside the classroom in Málaga and Spain to issues with local and global significance through several lenses such as sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. Students will expand their own cultural and self-awareness as they engage with the history, people and communities of Málaga. It has four primary goals. (1) It teaches students about the history and diverse cultures of the region, including how different communities have sought to sustain their cultural inheritances and advocate for a more just society. (2) It helps students understand the structure and culture of the Spanish university system, and the University of Málaga in particular, so they are better able to navigate it and be successful in their course work.(3) It provides an academic context to better understand and reflect on the history and cultures of the sites visited on program excursions. (4) It facilitates students’ civic engagement in the Málaga community and enables them to learn with and from the community in informed, thoughtful, and reciprocal ways.
Meets once a week for 3 hours a week during the semester. 1 credit
Attributes: SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
254 Engaging Spain
This course provides a structured framework for students to connect their experiences in Málaga and Spain to issues with local and global significance through multiple lenses. It has four primary goals. (1) It provides an advanced study of grammatical structures to prepare students for the demands of Spanish university classes. It helps students understand the Spanish university system, to better navigate it, and achieve success in their course work. (2) It teaches students about the history and diverse cultures of the region. (3) It facilitates students’ engagement in the Málaga community through which they will learn with and from the community in informed, thoughtful, and reciprocal ways. (4) It provides an academic context to better understand and reflect on the history and cultures of the sites visited on program excursions.
Prerequisite: SPAN 202 or 245.
298 Literary Analysis of Hispanic Texts
Offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga. An in-depth study of texts of a specific period and/or genre. This course often focuses on contemporary writers and includes class visits by authors being studied. (br> This course counts as 299.
Attributes: Humanities, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
372 Spanish Society and Culture
Offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga. In-depth study of several aspects of Spanish cultural traditions and values. Contrasts Andalusian culture with other peninsular cultures. Oral and written reports concerning cultural aspects of life in Málaga. Local field trips and interviews are an important part of the course.
Offered in the fall semester.
Attributes: Humanities, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
381 Topics in Hispanic Studies
Offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga. Study of significant cultural, literary, and historical topics concerning the Spanish-speaking world. Peninsular and Latin American topics may be offered. Specific topics to be announced.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
The following courses are offered in the Dickinson in South America Program:
252 The Southern Cone: Culture, History, and Society
This interdisciplinary class examines the culture, society, history, and literature of the Southern Cone region, including Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Students will explore topics such as immigration, inequality and globalization, focusing on impacts of migration processes and expressions of cultural identity. Emphasis will be placed on identities through the lens of gender, ethnicity, and race. This class also includes a Spanish language component. Class trips will be made to selected port cities in the Southern Cone that are of cultural, political, and historical significance.
Prerequisites: 231 and acceptance into the Dickinson in South America program. This course is cross-listed as LALC 203. Offered every semester.
Attributes: Global Diversity, INST Latin America Course, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
362 Argentina in a Latin American Context
This class approaches Argentine reality from an interdisciplinary perspective, including culture, economic and social life, geography and history, and philosophical and social factors. It will examine the diversity of Argentine society in the context of Latin American political, social, and cultural developments. National and regional perspectives will be included as well. Class trips will be made to selected areas of the Mendoza region that are of cultural and historical significance.
Prerequisites: 231 and acceptance into the Dickinson in South America program. This course is cross-listed as LALC 204. Offered every semester.
Attributes: Global Diversity, INST Latin America Course, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
Spanish Courses
101 Elementary Spanish
This is the first course in the language sequence. The course focuses on all four language skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking, with an emphasis on vocabulary development and listening comprehension development.
Prerequisite: Placement exam.
Attributes: Can't be taken pass/fail, SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
102 Elementary Spanish
This course is a continuation of Spanish 101. The course focuses on all four langage skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking, with increasing emphasis on speaking.
Prerequisite: 101. Upon completion, students go to 201.
Attributes: Can't be taken pass/fail, SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
201 Intermediate Spanish
This course is a continuation of Spanish 102. The course focuses on all four langage skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking, with increasing emphasis on writing and speaking.
Prerequisite: 102 or placement by department. This course fulfills the language graduation requirement.
Attributes: Can't be taken pass/fail, SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
202 Intermediate Spanish II
The primary goal of this course is to develop students' formal knowledge of Spanish by reviewing and studying the more challenging grammatical structures. The course will also work on development of skills in reading, oral expression, and vocabulary development. The purpose of the course is to equip students with the formal grammatical background necessary to be successful in courses on Hispanic literatures, linguistics and cultures.
Prerequisite: 201 or placement by department.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
206 Spanish for Business Professions
This is a specialized course that emphasizes the language of business. Students will study the lexicon and language protocols appropriate to the basic functions of international business. The goal is to improve oral, reading, and writing skills while acquiring a general business vocabulary, and a broadened intercultural perspective.
Prerequisite: 202 or 205.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT Acad & Prof Contexts
207 Spanish for the Health Professions
This course prepares students to use Spanish meaningfully in real-world health contexts by combining classroom learning with direct service. This is a space where linguistic, cultural, ethical, and social knowledge come together. Through reflection, reading, and a sustained partnership with the Beacon Clinic, students build the vocabulary, cultural awareness, and interpersonal skills required to serve Spanish-speaking communities with empathy and clarity. By applying Spanish in healthcare settings, students confront the complexities of power, equity, and responsibility, especially in the context of migration, labor, and structural inequality.
Prerequisite: 202 or 205. This course is cross-listed as LALC 239.
Attributes: Food Studies Elective, Health Studies Elective, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, NRSC Non-Div 3 Elective, Service Learning, Sustainability Connections, US Diversity
215 Spanish Composition and Conversation
This course is designed to further develop students’ writing, listening, and speaking skills in Spanish, while introducing them to more formal written assignments. Through a diverse selection of readings across the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds, students will engage with the fundamentals of close reading analysis, refine their oral expression, and strengthen their knowledge of cultural themes and ideas.
Prerequisite: 202. NOTE: Completion of both 215 and 245 fulfills the WID requirement. Students who have completed 231 or courses above 239 may not take this course.
Attributes: Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, SPAN/PORT Acad & Prof Contexts
225 Panoramas I
This English-language course presents an overview of major cultural productions from Latinx, Hispanic, and Luso-Brazilian individuals and communities. Students will engage with diverse genres and media from Latin America, the Caribbean, the Iberian Peninsula, Africa, the United States, and diasporic populations from across the globe. Depending on the professor, texts may focus on historical, social, cultural, political, methodological, and/or aesthetic contexts through a comparative and interdisciplinary approach.
Students majoring or minoring in Spanish and Portuguese Studies should complete the sequence of SPAN 215 and 245. Taught in English.
Attributes: Humanities, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, Taught in English
245 Introduction to Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
This course provides a survey of Hispanic literature and culture through the study of texts from a range of authors, periods, and regions of the Spanish-speaking world. As a continuation of SPAN 215, it advances students’ skills in reading, writing, and critical analysis in Spanish while building on key concepts and vocabulary for literary and cultural interpretation.
Prerequisite: 215. NOTE: Completion of both 215 and 245 fulfills the WID requirement. Students who have completed 299 or above may not take this course.
Attributes: Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, SPAN/PORT Intro Cult/Ling/Lit, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
280 Topics in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Studies
This course continues to expose students to major themes, authors, and/or directors while developing reading comprehension, writing skills in Spanish, and foundational interpretive strategies. Course topics will consist of a focused theme chosen by the professor. Examples may include: Approaches to Second Language Acquisition; Bilingualism and Language Contact in the Spanish-Speaking; World; Changing Voices: Latin American Poetry Through the Ages; Cuentos cuĂr/queer latinoamericanos; Exploring Early Modern Spanish Worlds; Hispanic Women Writers; Identity, Social Conflict, and Change in Contemporary Spain; Latin American Cinema: A Historical Overview; Roots and Routes: A History of Migration Narratives; Spanish through Film: Culture, Conflict, and Change; The Art of the Short Story in the Southern Cone; Traditions and Transformations: Spanish Theater; Writing to Read: Foundations of Narrative and Creative Nonfiction.
Prerequisite: 245. Students who have completed 380 or above may not take this course.
Attributes: Humanities, SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
325 Panoramas II
Study of significant, cultural, literary, and historical topics concerning the Spanish and/or Portuguese speaking world. Specific class topic to be decided by professor.
Attributes: Arts, Humanities, Taught in English
380 Advanced Topics
Study of significant, cultural, literary, and historical topics concerning the Spanish and/or Portuguese speaking world. Specific class topic to be decided by professor. This course is taught solely in Spanish.
Prerequisite: 245 or permission of the instructor.
401 Senior Research Seminar
Students will work on a semi-independent basis along with the professor on a focused research project. Students will choose a research project that investigates a particular aspect of Hispanic or Luso-Brazilian studies. Students will be required to submit regularly scheduled progress reports and will participate in discussions on research strategies, the writing process, and peer review of their writing. Students will be required to present their research at various stages. The culmination of this course will be a research paper that may serve as a launching pad for the Honor’s Thesis in the spring semester.
Offered regularly in the fall. Students may write their papers in Spanish or English, depending on their priorities and interests.
Prerequisite: SPAN 299, two 300-level courses, and permission of the professor based on the professor’s advanced approval of the student’s topic. This course is cross-listed as LALC 390.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT Advanced Topics
Portuguese
General Information
The College offers an interdisciplinary minor in. Students may take significant course work on the language, culture, and literature of the Luso-Brazilian world through regular courses and independent studies.
Students interested in taking Portuguese should consult with the chair of the Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies.
Opportunities for off-campus study
Students in the PBST minor, and students interested in the Portuguese-speaking world in general, can enhance their learning experience by participating in Dickinson's study abroad program in Brazil. Dickinson's Brazil program offers the best of all worlds, immersion in Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language, direct enrollment at the University of São Paulo and the support they need to navigate Brazils biggest city and thrive at its most prestigious university. Academic opportunities are enriched with homestays and excursions. Please visit CGSE webpage for more information.
Courses
In addition to the offerings below, Portuguese is offered on a tutorial basis.
200 Portuguese for Speakers of a Romance Language
This course is designed for students who have previously studied another Romance language and would like develop speaking, reading, writing and listening skills in Portuguese. The course assumes no previous knowledge of Portuguese, and will rely on the comparative grammar and cognate vocabulary of Spanish and other Romance languages to develop language skills over the course of the semester. In addition, the class will explore aspects of Portuguese-speaking cultures in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Prerequisites: four semesters of a Romance language (or the equivalent), or permission of instructor.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
202 Intermediate Portuguese II
The primary goals of this course are to review and study advanced grammatical structures, as well as develop writing skills. The course will aim to further develop students’ formal knowledge of Portuguese by studying challenging grammatical structures and producing formal and informal texts, such as letters, reports, narrations, summaries, etc. In order to familiarize students further with the cultures of Portuguese speaking countries, the course will use diverse target-language materials, such as short stories, films, newspaper clips, blog entries, YouTube videos, songs, etc. This course is intended as the gateway to the Portuguese and Brazilian Studies minor.
This course will be offered as determined by student needs and on a tutorial (one-on-one) basis based on faculty availability. Prerequisite: 200 or 201
Attributes: Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT Language & Culture
231 Portuguese Conversation and Composition
Advanced practice in oral and written Portuguese. In-class work focuses primarily on oral practice through presentations and class-wide discussions of these presentations, of current events, readings and films, as well as small group practice emphasizing everyday situations. Out-of-class work focuses on writing and revision of compositions with emphasis on both grammar and style.
This course will be offered as determined by student needs and on a tutorial (one-on-one) basis based on faculty availability. Prerequisite: 200 or permission of the instructor.
Attributes: Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT Acad & Prof Contexts
240 Brazil in a Latin American Context
This course approaches Brazilian cultures and society from an interdisciplinary perspective, with emphasis on social, economic, and environmental justice. The course will examine the diversity of Brazilian society in the context of Latin American cultural, historical, social, philosophical, political, and economic developments, with a special focus on SĂŁo Paulo. Students will analyze a variety of written and visual texts (from literature, art, popular culture, sociopolitical groups, and the media), scholarly works (articles/book chapters), as well as music and multimedia (documentaries/films/television/new media). Classroom activities will be enhanced with visits to selected areas of metropolitan SĂŁo Paulo of cultural and historical significance. This course also functions as an introduction to the Brazilian university system and supports the writing and research skills required for study at the University of SĂŁo Paulo.
Prerequisite: PORT 200 or 201. This course is cross-listed as LALC 205.
Attributes: Global Diversity, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT St Abd Lang/Cult/Top
242 Brazilian Cultural and Social Issues
In this class students learn about a variety of aspects of Brazilian culture and social issues. While highly discussed topics in Brazil and about Brazil, such as carnival, malandragem, and jeitinho are examined, throughout the semester students explore three different types of encounters: Native encounters, African and Afro-Brazilian encounters, and gender encounters. Students analyze these ideas concentrating on the nature of the encounters and the criticisms generated. Also, the class examines issues of representation related to marginalization, violence and banditry. In order to carry out the analysis of ideas and cultural representations and their development, students work with a variety of texts from different disciplines - literature, anthropology, sociology, history, and film - and follow an intersectional methodology.
This course is cross-listed as LALC 242. Offered every year.
Attributes: Global Diversity, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT Intro Cult/Ling/Lit, Taught in English
290 Brazilian Cinema
This class focuses on important examples of Brazilian cinema, as well as on critical episodes, manifestos, and challenges faced by Brazilian directors, screenwriters, and actors. The class will also analyze diverse periods and genres, such as chanchadas, Cinema Novo, and retomada. Particular attention will be paid to the representation of native Brazilians, Afro-Brazilians, women, and marginalized places (Backlands, favelas, etc.), and how their representation has had social and economic repercussions in Brazil. Taught in English. Available as a FLIC option in Portuguese.
This course is cross-listed as LALC 290. Offered every two years.
Attributes: Humanities, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, SPAN/PORT Intro Cult/Ling/Lit, Taught in English
304 Afro-Brazilian Literature
This class analyzes the literary production of Afro-Brazilians writers, as well as the representation of Afro-Brazilian characters in literary texts. It reviews different literary periods and the images those periods created and/or challenged and how they have affected and continue to affect the lives of Afro-Brazilians. Also, by paying particular attention to gender and social issues in different regional contexts, the class considers how Brazilian authors of African descent critically approach national discourses, such as racial democracy and Brazilianness. Taught in English. Available as a FLIC option in Portuguese.
This course is cross-listed as AFST 304 and LALC 304. Offered every two years.
Attributes: AFST - Diaspora Course, Humanities, Lat Am, Latinx, Carib St Elect, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, SPAN/PORT Advanced Topics, Taught in English, Writing in the Discipline
320 Popular Musics of the Portuguese Black Atlantic
Samba, semba, fado, morna, tropicália, bossa nova, kudero: these are all popular music/dance forms from Portuguese speaking cultures. This interdisciplinary course explores popular music from 20th-21st century Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, and Portugal as lenses into histories of Portuguese colonialism and African diaspora. We will listen to sound recordings, watch documentary films about performance, and read and discuss widely. We will ask questions about relationships between musical expression and the enduring legacies of colonialism. We will study music making in relation to power and resistance. We will explore issues of cultural appropriation, musical exoticism and hybridity in the marketing of local musics for international “world music” consumers.
This course is cross-listed as AFST 220, LALC 212, and MUAC 212.
Attributes: Global Diversity
380 Topics in Luso-Brazilian and Hispanic Studies
Study of significant cultural, literary, and historical topics concerning the Portuguese and, when appropriate, the Spanish speaking world. A sampling of topics includes the Medieval Song, Gender Transgression in Brazilian literature, Malandragem and Bandits in Brazil, Gender and Race in the literatures of the luso-phone world, Writing after the 1964 Brazilian Coup d'etat, Performing Gender in Latin America.
Prerequisite: 242 or permission of the instructor.
Attributes: SPAN/PORT Advanced Topics