Course Catalog: 2022-23

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.

Professors Brenneis (Chair), Infante*, Schroeder Rodríguez and Stavans; Assistant Professor Coráñez Bolton; Visiting Assistant Professor Ferrari; Senior Lecturer Granda†; Lecturer Piazza; Visiting Instructor Dixon.

The Spanish Department promotes active cultural understanding about the Spanish-speaking world, community engagement at the local and international level, and Spanish as a means of intellectual inquiry. We welcome students with all levels of knowledge and from all backgrounds to our courses and community events: beginning to advanced learners of Spanish; majors and non-majors; heritage, non-heritage, and native speakers. Our wide range of courses offer students many opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the cultures associated with the Spanish-speaking world; highly polished critical thinking and research skills; and the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish using formal and informal registers. The Department sponsors community events throughout the year that help enhance students’ language skills and cultural understanding, such as the Spanish table at Valentine Dining Hall, cultural gatherings at the Spanish Language House, film festivals, lectures, and other activities.

With faculty who specialize in the Spanish language, Applied Linguistics, Latin America, Spain, Transpacific Studies, and Latinx Studies, students are able to explore in depth the aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that most fascinate them, while understanding the roots and intersections of the centuries-long cultural, linguistic, and literary legacies that make up our fields of study. Through coursework, study abroad, and creative- and research-based projects, we offer diverse learning experiences designed to challenge students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. We integrate Spanish language development and practice into all of our courses, from Spanish 101 to 400-level seminars.

The Spanish major offers Amherst students the ability to immerse themselves in the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through coursework, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, a senior capstone portfolio and project, and advanced research. Students are encouraged to explore the diverse curriculum offered by the Spanish Department and the many opportunities to engage with local and international Spanish-speaking communities in order to develop their own interests related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Majors have gone on to non-profit work, teaching, medicine, graduate programs, legal advocacy, media professions, and business, among many other fields. Please consult the Department’s website to read more about our current and former students.

Our courses. Starting with the first semester of the language sequence, and throughout the program, students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Spanish through authentic cultural and literary texts such as songs, films, podcasts, newspaper articles, short stories, plays, novels, maps, artwork, and poems, all from the Spanish-speaking world. Our course numbers correspond with a level in the sequence:

Level 1 (beginning): SPAN 101 and SPAN 102 cover the fundamentals of Spanish language and the cultures of the countries where it is spoken. Level 2 (intermediate): SPAN 201, SPAN 202, and SPAN 205, refine Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge. Level 3 (advanced): SPAN 301 to SPAN 399 courses hone advanced-level skills in Spanish through close readings of a wide range of literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America, and Latinx Studies. Level 4 (seminars): SPAN 400 to SPAN 499 courses refine and polish written and spoken Spanish through independent research, the critical analysis of texts, sustained inquiry of a topic, public engagement, and creative work.

Placement. The Department places students to ensure the best learning environment for all language learners. Placement is based on one or more of the following: AP exams in Spanish Language or Literature, the SAT Spanish subject test, the Spanish Department placement exam, and/or the instructor’s evaluation during the add/drop period. For more information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

Spanish Language Program. The Spanish Language Program at Amherst College develops students’ use of the Spanish language as a tool for communication in a variety of settings ranging from the colloquial to the academic, and as a way to engage more fully with the world around them.  We do this by working with authentic cultural and literary texts from the Spanish-speaking world, starting in the first semester of the program. Classroom time is devoted to active discussions, the development of culturally relevant projects, research and writing in the target language, and oral presentations, among other activities. By the end of the fourth semester, students can expect to have reached the Advanced Low level of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) assessment for Spanish, and be ready to proceed to SPAN 301 (Literature and Culture of the Hispanic World), or study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. For placement information, please visit our website at www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/spanish.

The Spanish Major.  The Spanish major consists of a minimum of eight courses in Spanish.  SPAN 202, 205 and all 300 and 400 level courses count toward the major.  Of these eight courses, at least four must be taken from the Spanish Department offerings at Amherst College, including the senior seminar (SPAN 495) and one additional 400-level seminar during the student’s final year. Other courses may count toward the major with pre-approval from the advisor. These may include a maximum of one Special Topics course, three or four courses taken while studying abroad, and upper-level courses from the Spanish Departments at Smith, Mount Holyoke, or UMass. Double majors may count up to two Spanish courses taken at Amherst, the Five Colleges or an approved Study Away program toward their Spanish major requirements as well as the requirements for their second major. All courses, at Amherst and elsewhere, must be taught in Spanish and not substantially repeat topics that the student has already studied in order to be counted for major credit. Courses in English and courses taken pass/fail may not be counted toward the major. 

We expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study away program in a Spanish-speaking country when feasible. 

Upon graduation, a student majoring in Spanish should have attained a high degree of oral (listening and speaking), reading, and written fluency in the language; a focused grasp of the diverse Spanish-speaking cultures in Latin America, the Carribbean, the United States and Spain, as well as the interactions among these cultures; and superior writing, research and critical thinking skills.

Study Away. Study away programs offer academically-rigorous courses of study and require a solid language foundation. During academic year 2021-2022, we support rather than expect all Spanish majors to spend a semester or a full year in an immersive study abroad program where they have the possibility to enroll in courses at a local university, and where they live with a host family or in another similarly-immersive housing arrangement where only Spanish is spoken.  Students may choose from a list of pre-approved study abroad programs, or they may submit a petition for an alternate program to the Department.

Students studying abroad for one semester may count up to three courses for the major, while students studying abroad for two semesters may count up to four courses towards the major. Under either scenario, one of the courses of each study abroad semester must be a humanities course focused on literature.  If a student does not take a literature course, then the maximum number of courses they may count towards the major drops by one (three for a year-long experience; two for a semester-long experience). Art, dance, and music practice courses may not be counted for major credit while abroad, but they may count for Amherst College credit. Non-liberal arts classes such as Spanish for the Health Professions or business courses taken abroad may not be counted for Amherst College credit nor for major credit.  Spanish majors must discuss their potential classes with their Spanish major advisor before going abroad, and obtain their advisor’s approval of courses via email during their first week of classes abroad.

We highly encourage students to declare the Spanish major before going abroad. Students considering adding a Spanish major after returning from abroad should be aware that these course and program requirements will be applied retroactively.

Capstone Requirement. The Senior Seminar (SPAN 495) is offered every fall semester and, along with a public presentation in the spring, fulfills the capstone requirement. Individually and as a cohort, students complete a research, creative or community-based project as well as an online portfolio representing their trajectory through the major. Thesis students work on their thesis as their individual project.

Departmental Honors (Thesis). An honors thesis for the Spanish major is an opportunity for a student to focus on a topic in depth. Students who propose a thesis are often inspired by their experiences studying abroad and/or by their work on a research assignment in one of their courses. Thesis students work closely with their advisor beginning in the spring of their junior year to develop a topic and research plan. The subject matter must revolve around the culture, literature, language, and/or arts in Spain, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Hispanic Philippines, and/or the United States. The thesis is normally written in Spanish but may be written in English, with Departmental approval, if the topic warrants it. A thesis is typically 80-150 pages in length and may include a creative component. Students writing a thesis take two or three courses. During the fall, they enroll in SPAN 495 (Senior Seminar) and work on the thesis as their capstone project. They have the option to enroll in SPAN 498 (Senior Departmental Honors) in the fall as well. In the spring, all thesis students enroll in SPAN 499 (Senior Departmental Honors).

All prospective thesis writers must develop, in consultation with their Spanish major advisor, a three-to-five-page thesis proposal with a bibliography of one primary source and at least five secondary sources. This proposal must be submitted to the Department for approval by the first Monday in April of the student’s junior year, along with the following questionnaire. Prospective thesis students are encouraged to propose the faculty member with whom they wish to work in their questionnaire, although the thesis advisor is ultimately determined by the Department. All student-faculty consultations and departmental approval can be accomplished via email or video conference if the student is studying abroad. The Department will review the proposal and questionnaire, and within two weeks the Chair will notify the student if the proposal has been approved and who the designated advisor will be. Advisors will be tenured and tenure-track members of the Department. Faculty and thesis writers will determine an individualized advising schedule, responding to the proposed project. Advisors are responsible for guiding the student’s interests and making content and stylistic suggestions throughout the process. Students are responsible for regular communication with their thesis advisor and keeping up with agreed-upon writing and research goals.

After the first semester, the thesis advisor will determine if the project is advancing properly. If so, the fall semester thesis work will be deemed satisfactory and the student will register for the spring thesis course (SPAN 499). If not, the student will receive grades for SPAN 495 and SPAN 498, but may not enroll in SPAN 499. Final thesis manuscripts must be submitted to the Department no later than the first week of April. The thesis defense will take place during the third week of April when the student will be asked to elaborate on the development, content, and style of the thesis. Exact dates will be available in January. The student’s advisor will serve as the defense moderator. Unless otherwise stipulated, the defense committee will be made up of tenured and tenure-track members of the Department.

As a result of the defense, a thesis might be judged fully satisfactory with no revisions requested; minor departmental revisions may be recommended; the student may be asked to make substantial revisions; or the thesis might be deemed unacceptable by departmental standards. Based on the committee’s evaluation and following the College honor system, the Department may recommend thesis students for summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude. Alternatively, the Department may deem the quality of a thesis to be insufficient for honors, in which case the student would receive rite. Latin honors are determined by the Department’s recommendation, the student’s grade point average standing in their class, and the approval of the full faculty of the College. The final version of the thesis is to be submitted to the Registrar, following College guidelines, during the last week of classes.

Special Topics. Special Topics courses can be taken by seniors who are interested in pursuing a subject matter that is a particular faculty's specialty, is not offered by the Department, and is not available at the Five Colleges. The student must have a well-defined idea of the topic and a clear and convincing reason to take the course. Special Topics courses are approved solely at the faculty’s discretion and must be proposed and approved the prior semester. Only one Special Topics course may be counted toward the major. Special Topics courses are limited to one per professor per semester, and enrollments are limited to two students per course.

Combined Majors. Students may combine the Spanish major with any other Amherst major field of study or pre-med requirements. Double majors can often complete course requirements for their other major while abroad, with the approval of their other advisor.

Interdisciplinary Majors. Interdisciplinary majors are established through the Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors, with the endorsement and cooperation of the Department or with the approval of individual members of the Department.

*On leave 2022-23. †On leave Fall semester 2022-23.