UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE FORMS
Academic Program Approval
Revised proposal—
This form is a routing document for the approval of new
and revised academic programs. Proposing department should
complete this form. For more information,
call the Faculty Senate Office at 831-2921.
Submitted by: _____Cynthia
Schmidt-Cruz______________phone number__302-831-0439___
Department: ___Foreign Languages & Literatures_______email
address_csc@udel.edu_____
Date: _____October 15, 2009__________________
Action: Revise Spanish Studies major—create OPTION I: Language and Literature; OPTION
II: Language, Literature, and Intensive Portuguese ; Option III: Language and
Culture ; and Option IV: Language,
Culture, and Intensive Portuguese
(Example: add major/minor/concentration, delete
major/minor/concentration, revise
major/minor/concentration, academic unit
name change, request for permanent status, policy change, etc.)
Effective term______________10F_________________________________________________________________
(use format
04F, 05W)
Current degree______________BA________________________________________________
(Example: BA, BACH, BACJ, HBA,
Proposed change leads to the
degree of: ______BA_________________________________
(Example: BA,
BACH,
Proposed names: Spanish Studies: Language and Literature;
Spanish Studies: Language, Literature, and Intensive Portuguese; Spanish
Studies: Language and Culture; Spanish Studies: Language, Culture, and
Intensive Portuguese
Proposed new name for revised
or new major / minor / concentration / academic unit
(if
applicable)
Revising or Deleting:
Undergraduate major / Concentration: Creating four study
options to the Major: Foreign Languages and Literatures, Concentration: Spanish Studies.
(Example: Applied Music – Instrumental degree BMAS)
Options:
Undergraduate
minor:____________________________________________________
(Example: African
Studies, Business Administration, English, Leadership, etc.)
Graduate Program Policy statement
change:_________________________________
(Must attach your Graduate Program Policy Statement)
Graduate Program of
Study:______________________________________________
(Example: Animal Science: MS Animal Science: PHD
Economics: MA Economics: PHD)
Graduate minor /
concentration:___________________________________________
List new courses required for
the new or revised curriculum. How do they support the overall program
objectives of the major/minor/concentrations)?
(Be aware that approval
of the curriculum is dependent upon these courses successfully passing through
the Course Challenge list. If there are no new courses enter “None”)
Explain, when appropriate,
how this new/revised curriculum supports the 10 goals of undergraduate
education: http://www.ugs.udel.edu/gened/
1) Attain effective
skills in oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning, and the use
of information technology.
Written
communication in Spanish and perfection of grammatical structures are the
objectives of
Research shows that
knowledge of other languages boosts students' understanding of languages in
general and enables students to use their native language more effectively.
This applies to specific language skills as well as overall linguistic
abilities. Foreign language learners have stronger vocabulary skills in English,
a better understanding of the language, and improved literacy in general.
Higher reading achievement in the native language as well as enhanced listening
skills and memory have been shown to correlate with extended foreign language
study.
Source: http://www.vistawide.com/languages/why_languages2-4.htm
2) Learn to think
critically to solve problems.
Furthermore, because
learning a language involves a variety of learning skills, studying a foreign
language can enhance one's ability to learn and function in several other
areas. People who have learned foreign languages show greater cognitive
development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order
thinking skills, such as problem-solving, conceptualizing, and reasoning. In
addition to cognitive benefits, the study of foreign languages leads to the
acquisition of some important life skills. Because language learners learn to
deal with unfamiliar cultural ideas, they are much better equipped to adapt and
cope in a fast-changing world. They also learn to effectively handle new
situations.
Source:
http://www.vistawide.com/languages/why_languages2-4.htm
3) Be able to work and
learn both independently and collaboratively.
Students must work
independently to master many of the components of language skills—for instance,
learning verb conjugations and vocabulary is often independent work. Literary
readings are largely independent work as well. On the other hand, there is
frequent collaborative work in language, literature, and culture classrooms.
Students often work in pairs or in small groups to solve problems. The
collaborative development of skits and dialogues is an important component of
4) Engage questions of
ethics and recognize responsibilities to self, community, and society at large.
As part of the
subject matter of conversation, literature, and culture courses, students learn
about and engage ethic and social issues that Latino/Hispanic cultures face.
For instance in the culture courses, students will address issues such as urban
problems; political issues including authoritarian regimes, revolutions, and
the consolidation of democracies; immigration; environmental issues; and health
care. In addition, service learning is incorporated into several courses, such
as
5) Understand the
diverse ways of thinking that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts,
humanities, sciences and social sciences.
Many important
literary and artistic works have been written in Spanish. A translation can
never wholly communication the intent, style, and uniqueness of the original
version; to be able to fully appreciate the innuendoes and cultural references
of literature, theater, and film, one must be able to access them in the
original language.
Additionally, in
the literature and culture courses, students study diverse forms of expression
that underlie different forms of thinking, such as literary texts, essays,
music, art works, and political manifestos.
6) Develop the
intellectual curiosity, confidence, and engagement that will lead to lifelong
learning.
Once we begin to
study other cultures we have opened the door to lifelong learning. As students
begin to study the language, literary expression, and culture of the Hispanic
world, they realize that they have only scratched the surface of a vast and
infinite network of cultural knowledge.
Students are
encouraged to explore the context and implications of literary works and cultural
issues. For instance if in
7) Develop the ability
to integrate academic knowledge with experiences that extend the boundaries of
the classroom.
With the study of
foreign languages, literatures and culture, the “classroom” has no boundaries.
Everything students learn in the courses they take for the Spanish major is
relevant to their experiences beyond the classroom, and this learning is vital
in their interactions in foreign countries or with diverse cultures in the
A prime example of
use of classroom learning outside the classroom setting is participation in
study abroad programs. Indeed, the vast majority of UD Spanish majors do
participate in study abroad, many students taking advantage of more than one of
the department’s study abroad offerings in Spanish-speaking countries, currently
including
8) Expand
understanding and appreciation of human creativity and diverse forms of
aesthetic and intellectual expressions.
In the classes for
the Spanish major, students will learn to appreciate human creativity and
aesthetic and intellectual expressions. In
In these classes
and in the upper division literature classes, students reflect on the artistic
value of literary works. Culture classes will include study of other forms of
aesthetic expression, such as plastic art, music, and film.
9) Understand the
foundations of
To able to fully
understand one’s own culture, one must look at it from the outside as well from
the inside, that is from the perspective of another culture. There are aspects
of our own culture that we accept as absolute and never question until we view
these practices or beliefs through the eyes of a culture and people with
different customs, values, and beliefs. Indeed, there are university programs
in U.S. Studies that require study outside of the country as an integral part
of the course of study.
And of course,
Hispanics make up an increasingly large segment of the population of the
10) Develop an
international perspective in order to live and work effectively in an
increasingly global society.
Learning another
language is the key that gives learners access to another culture, enabling
them to step inside the mind and context of that culture and understand it on
its own terms. A person competent in other languages can understand foreign
news sources and provide insights into other perspectives on international
situations and current events. In addition to language learning, the courses
required for the Spanish major teach students about Hispanic culture and
values, helping them to understand and appreciate cultural values and belief
structures that differ from their own. While all courses include the study of
culture, SPAN 307, 308, 325 and 326 have it as their central focus. And, of
course, the opportunity to live in another culture via participation in one of
the many FLL study abroad offerings in Spanish-speaking countries and in
Identify other units affected
by the proposed changes:
(Attach permission from the affected units. If no other unit is affected, enter “None”)
Latin American Studies (LAMS). A note from the LAMS Director
is attached.
Please note: The History, Political Science,
Anthropology, Art History courses taught in Spanish are offered during UD’s
study abroad semesters. ARTH339, HIST339 and POSC441 are offered in Spanish
every fall and every spring semester in UD’s program in
Describe the rationale for
the proposed program change(s):
(Explain your reasons for creating, revising, or
deleting the curriculum or program.)
We are creating four different tracks, or “options” for
students who choose the Spanish Studies concentration of the Foreign Languages
and Literatures major. The current catalog offers a single track. The new
options will allow students to choose between a track focused on language and
literature and a track focused on language and culture. Students also have the
possibility of choosing the options including Intensive Portuguese studies.
1.
Rationale for revised
Language and Literature Option (Option I)
This revised program reduces the major from 42 to 36
credits while strengthening the Spanish language component by eliminating the
Related Work which students were able to take in English. The new major offers
students the possibility of taking two courses in another discipline taught in
Spanish. (These courses are currently available in our study abroad semesters
in
2.
Rationale for Language, Literature,
and Intensive Portuguese Option (Option II)
The Enhanced Option with Intensive Portuguese allows
those students who are interested in learning Portuguese to earn an enhanced
degree which acknowledges this additional language study.
3.
Rationale for Language and Culture
Option (Option III)
We have found that
many of our students are not interested in the traditional Spanish major with a
heavy literature requirement, and instead are oriented toward the study of
language and culture. This new orientation of students of Spanish is described
in an article published in the Chronicle
of Higher Education entitled “Hispanic Studies Must Reform to Stave Off
Obsolescence”(Dec. 19, 2008). “Previously students chose upper-division Spanish
courses to pursue literary interests and perhaps prepare for graduate studies,”
writes Frank Graziano, author of the article. “But today most of the students
are double major or minors with primary interest in a range of disciplines.
Those students view Hispanic studies in the context of broader academic and
career goals. They seek a working knowledge of Spanish and an understanding of
Hispanic-world regions to enhance their effectiveness as professionals among
Spanish-speaking peoples here and abroad.”
The new Spanish Studies: Language & Culture track
is designed to meet the needs of the student population described above. This
major only requires two courses in literary studies—an introductory course at
the 200-level and a literary survey course at the 300-level. At the 400-level,
majors are free to chose advanced language study, culture courses, or
literature, if they wish. Thus, strength of this track is its
flexibility—students can select the combination of courses that best suits
their learning goals and career objectives. Importantly, the new track offers
students the possibility of taking two courses in other disciplines taught in
Spanish, thus integrating study of the Hispanic world from different
disciplinary perspectives and featuring a “Spanish-Across-the-Curriculum”
approach. These courses are currently available in our study abroad semesters
in
In this 36-credit major all of the course work is taken
in the Spanish language.
4.
Rationale for Language,
Culture, and Intensive Portuguese Option (Option IV)
The Enhanced Option with Intensive Portuguese allows
those students who are interested in learning Portuguese to earn an enhanced
degree which acknowledges this additional language study.
Program Requirements for
Options I & II: Language and
Literature; Language, Literature, and
Intensive Portuguese
(Show the new or revised curriculum as it should appear in the
Course Catalog. If this is a revision,
be sure to indicate the changes being made to the current curriculum and include a side-by-side comparison of
the credit distribution before and after the proposed change.)
Program Requirements for
Options III & IV: Language and
Culture; Language, Culture, and
Intensive Portuguese
Program Requirements:
(Show the new or revised curriculum as it should appear in the
Course Catalog. If this is a revision,
be sure to indicate the changes being made to the current curriculum and include a side-by-side comparison of
the credit distribution before and after the proposed change.)
Option III. Spanish
Studies: Language & Culture
MAJOR
REQUIREMENTS
12 courses (36 credits), as follows:
Nine
One of
One of
One of
One of
Two
Capstone Experience:
Two courses in
Spanish (6 credits) to be chosen from the following: . . . . . . . . . . 6
ELECTIVES
After required
courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken
to meet the
minimum credit requirement for the degree.
CREDITS TO
TOTAL A MINIMUM OF . . . . . . . . . 124
Option IV. Spanish Studies: Language, Culture, and Intensive
Portuguese
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
14 courses (42 credits), as follows:
Same major requirements as
above ...........................................................36 credits
ELECTIVES
After required courses are
completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit
requirement for the degree.
ROUTING AND AUTHORIZATION: (Please do not remove supporting
documentation.)
Department Chairperson Date
Dean of College Date
Chairperson, College Curriculum
Committee___________________________________Date_____________________
Chairperson, Senate Com. on UG or GR
Studies Date
Chairperson, Senate Coordinating
Com. Date
Secretary, Faculty Senate Date
Date of Senate Resolution Date
to be Effective
Registrar Program
Code Date
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
& International Programs Date
Provost Date
Board of Trustee Notification Date
Revised
Date: Wed 10
Mar 10:01:36 EST 2010
From: Persephone Braham <braham@UDel.Edu> Add To Address Book | This is Spam
Subject: Approval of Spanish Language/Culture track
To: Cynthia Schmidt-Cruz <csc@UDel.Edu>
Dear Cindy,
As Director of the Latin American Studies
Program, I approve the new Spanish Studies Language and Culture option as well
as the new Spanish Studies Language, Culture and Intensive Portuguese option,
and will welcome students from these major options into my LAMS475 class which
will be cross-listed with SPAN475.
Yours,
Persephone Braham
--
Persephone
Braham, PhD
Director, Latin American Studies Program
Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures
209 Jastak-Burgess Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
Spring 2010 office hours: T/Th 12:30-1:30 and by appointment
Skype: persephonebraham