Romance Languages and Literature

Department Overview

C104 Padelford

The department consists of two divisions: French and Italian Studies and Spanish and Portuguese Studies. The divisions offer programs designed to develop competence in the reading, speaking, and writing of the languages and in the study of the literatures and cultures.

• French and Italian Studies: Undergraduate or Graduate
• Spanish and Portuguese Studies: Undergraduate or Graduate

Undergraduate Program

• French and Italian Studies (Minor)
• Spanish and Portuguese Studies (Minor)

French and Italian Studies

C254 Padelford

Adviser
C252 Padelford
(206) 616-5366

The Division of French and Italian Studies offers the following programs of study:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in French or Italian
• Minors in French and Italian

Bachelor of Arts

Suggested First- and Second-Year College Courses: Community college students should take as many lower-division language courses as possible before transferring to the UW.

Department Admission Requirements

Students in good academic standing may declare this major at any time.

Major Requirements

French: 60 credits beyond FRENCH 203, to include FRENCH 301; FRENCH 302; FRENCH 303; three of the following four survey courses: FRENCH 304, FRENCH 305, FRENCH 306, FRENCH 307; and FRENCH 376 or FRENCH 378. 15 credits in 400-level courses and 10 additional credits above FRENCH 203, excluding FRENCH 207, FRENCH 227, FRENCH 234, FRENCH 237, FRENCH 297, FRENCH 299, FRENCH 327, and FRENCH 337. Transfer credits at the 400 level are accepted only by petition to the Faculty Studies Committee. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for courses applied toward the major.

Italian: 60 credits in courses at the 300 and 400 levels, including ITAL 301, ITAL 302, ITAL 303; two from ITAL 341, ITAL 342, ITAL 343, ITAL 351, ITAL 352; ITAL 401 (or ITAL 470); ITAL 402 (or ITAL 403); and ITAL 404 (or ITAL 405); 20 additional credits in literature/culture/film courses at the 300 or 400 level, with at least 10 of these credits at the 400 level. Prerequisite for all 300-level courses is ITAL 203 or approved equivalent. Minimum 2.0 grade for course applied toward the major.

Minor

Minor Requirements: French - 30 credits beyond FRENCH 203, including FRENCH 301; FRENCH 302; FRENCH 303; one of the following four survey courses: FRENCH 304, FRENCH 305, FRENCH 306, FRENCH 307; FRENCH 376 or FRENCH 378. Five elective credits above FRENCH 203, excluding FRENCH 207, FRENCH 227, FRENCH 234, FRENCH 237, FRENCH 297, FRENCH 299, FRENCH 327, and FRENCH 337. Up to 10 credits taken abroad may be counted toward the minor. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for courses applied toward the minor.

Minor Requirements: Italian - 30 credits as follows: ITAL 301, ITAL 302, ITAL 303, or ITAL 334 (15 credits); two-5 credit courses chosen from ITAL 341, ITAL 342, ITAL 343, ITAL 351, ITAL 352, ITAL 353; 5 elective credits beyond ITAL 203 (excluding ITAL 227, ITAL 234, ITAL 327, ITAL 334). N more than one course offered in English may be counted toward the minor. Up to 10 credits taken abroad may be applied toward the minor with adviser approval. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for courses applied toward the minor.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Students achieve levels of linguistic and cultural competency that allow them to pursue professional opportunities in a wide variety of internationally oriented fields and to be effective citizens in a rapidly changing world.

  Students with substantial foreign language fluency who combine language skills with a solid foundation in liberal education and adequate job preparation and internships find fulfilling occupations. . The combination of studies in foreign languages and international affairs is ideal for students seeking job opportunities in government (foreign service and diplomatic fields, intelligence agencies, immigration and customs, Department of Labor, law enforcement, armed forces, legal agencies, public aid, social and community work, and international agencies, such as the United Nations and UNICEF), business (airlines, marketing, banking/finance, multi-national corporations, shipping industry, travel and hotel industries, import/export firms, publishing houses, and consulting), and communication fields (journalism, radio and television, fashion enterprises, teaching/counseling, translation, bilingual office work, library/museum work, nursing, phone companies, art and cultural affairs, and film and theatrical industries).

  Beyond the practical, the department's commitment is to impart to our students the skills and the genuine desire to learn throughout their lives, fostering the type of cultural and intellectual flexibility that lends itself to the multiple work and personal changes that most will face over the course of their lives.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: UW Rome Center in Rome, Italy.
• Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors); With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: The Rome Center offers one intern position per year, providing room and board and a modest stipend. Interns work in the administrative Rome/UW office and are required to follow an independent course of language and literature study or other proposed course of study.
• Department Scholarships: Scholarships for departmental study abroad programs are available. Program applicants are notified of opportunities by their program director.
• Student Organizations/Associations: French Club, Italian Club.

Of Special Note: The department sponsors study-abroad programs in France, Italy, and Martinique. See adviser for details.

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Spanish and Portuguese Studies

C104 Padelford

The educational philosophy of Spanish and Portuguese studies is that knowledge and understanding of other cultures is fundamental in an increasingly global world, and that competence in the languages of those cultures is an indispensable gateway to them. Spanish studies provides students with the four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in increasing levels of sophistication so that they may read and analyze works of literature written in Spanish as well as understand complex cultural structures and artifacts from Spain, Latin America, and the Latino populations of the United States. The UW offers beginning and intermediate Portuguese and all levels of Spanish.

Adviser
C104F Padelford, Box 354360
(206) 543-2075
spsadv@uw.edu

The Division of Spanish and Portuguese Studies offers the following programs of study:

• The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Spanish
• A minor in Spanish

Bachelor of Arts

Suggested First- and Second-Year College Courses: SPAN 101, SPAN 102, SPAN 103, or SPAN 121, SPAN 122, SPAN 123, or SPAN 134; SPAN 201, SPAN 202 (or SPAN 210), SPAN 203. Spanish, Latin American, and Chicano literature. Courses related to history and culture. Courses in English literature and comparative literature

Department Admission Requirements

1. Completion of SPAN 203, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 for all Spanish coursework completed and a minimum grade of 2.5 in each Spanish course
2. Completion of at least 5 credits of English composition with a minimum grade of 2.5
3. Change-of-major forms, available online and outside C-104F Padelford Hall, are processed autumn, winter, and spring quarters only. Forms and unofficial transcripts must be turned in by the end of the third week of the quarter to assure registration priority for the following quarter. Paperwork turned in after the third week of the quarter is processed during the following admission cycle.

Major Requirements

58 credits beyond SPAN 203 as follows:

1. SPAN 301, SPAN 302, SPAN 303 (or equivalents, SPAN 314, SPAN 315, SPAN 316; SPAN 310; SPAN 330)
2. SPAN 321, SPAN 322, SPAN 323
3. One 300-level literature elective: See department website for list of eligible courses.
4. Five 400-level courses (only one course numbered SPAN 400 through SPAN 405 may apply to the major)
5. Participation in an approved study abroad program (one quarter minimum, any level) or one or more experiential learning projects (minimum 2 credits of SPAN 392) which involve significant engagement with the Spanish-speaking community. Students are strongly encouraged to do both.
6. Other than SPAN 400 through SPAN 406, only one course whose instructional materials are primarily in English may apply to the major.

Minor

Minor Requirements: Minimum 27 credits above SPAN 203 level to include the following:

1. One of the following sequences: SPAN 301, SPAN 302, and either SPAN 303 or SPAN 330; SPAN 314, SPAN 315, and either SPAN 316 or SPAN 330; SPAN 310 and either SPAN 303, SPAN 316, or SPAN 330
2. Four 300- or 400-level electives
3. Only one course in which instructional materials are primarily in English may apply to the minor. SPAN 327 may not apply to the minor and is not open to heritage/native speakers.

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The study of Spanish and Portuguese is both skills- and content-based, i.e., it has practical and cognitive elements. Students learn to communicate in Spanish or Portuguese, refining their language skills as they acquire a body of knowledge about the literary and cultural history of Spain, Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking populations of the United States. Graduates have found these skills extremely useful as they pursue careers in teaching, business, NGOs and human rights organizations, law, and politics.
• Instructional and Research Facilities: Departmental facilities include a Writing Center for students registered in third-year Spanish. The Center for Spanish Studies, housed in the department, is a joint initiative of the University of Washington, the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. This center provides services that include workshops for K-12 teachers of Spanish, sponsorship of cultural events, and a lending library of books as well as audio and visual materials. A branch of the Spanish government sponsored Cervantes Institute, also housed in the department, offers linguistic and cultural resources to the university and the general community as well.

  The department directs three study abroad programs, in León (Spain), Oaxaca (Mexico) and Cádiz (Spain). These programs are "living laboratories." Approximately 100 students participate each year.

• Honors Options Available: With College Honors (Completion of Honors Core Curriculum and Departmental Honors). With Honors (Completion of Departmental Honors requirements in the major). See adviser for requirements.
• Research, Internships, and Experiential Learning: Internship opportunities are posted on the department website as they become available. Also, students may participate in experiential learning (which may include service learning), in which they combine study with service to the community. Students must volunteer two to five hours per week (a minimum of 30 hours per quarter) in organizations that provide services primarily, although not exclusively, to Spanish speakers. Alternatively, they may volunteer in public schools as tutors of different academic themes. Some of the organizations and schools involved include CASA Latina, The Mexican Consulate, El Centro de la Raza, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Cascade People's Center, Center for Spanish Studies, John Stanford International School, Bryant Elementary School, John Hay Elementary School, Hamilton Middle School, Nathan Hale High School, the Pipeline Project, and the East Side Literacy program. Students apply and increase their knowledge of the Spanish language in a real context. They are exposed to Hispanic multiculturalism and become active agents of social change in the community.
• Department Scholarships: An annual scholarship, the Susan B. Johnson Memorial Endowment Fund, is awarded to a student of Spanish for foreign study in Spain.
• Student Organizations/Associations: None.

Of Special Note: 100- and 200-level Spanish courses do not count toward major/minor requirements.

Graduate Program

• French and Italian Studies
• Spanish and Portuguese Studies

French and Italian Studies

Graduate Adviser
C256 Padelford, Box 354361
(206) 616-5366

Graduate Program Coordinator
C259 Padelford

The Division of French and Italian Studies offers programs of graduate study leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in French or Italian and Doctor of Philosophy in French. Students who wish to complete their doctoral studies in Italian may apply to do so through the Department of Comparative Literature during their second year in the master's program.

Master of Arts in French Studies

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate major or its equivalent in French literature and culture. Preparation equivalent to requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in French at the UW. Proficiency in speaking and writing the French language.

Application for Graduate Admission, along with supporting documents
1. Three letters of recommendation
2. Autobiographical statement
3. Digital file of recording of the applicant reading the autobiographical statement mentioned above, together with any other informal comments the applicant wishes to make
4. Writing sample
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
6. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency as outlined in Memo 8: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements. Such students who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants (TAs) must meet the conditions for appointment specified in Graduate School Memorandum 15, “Conditions of appointment for TAs who are not native speakers of English.”

Degree Requirements

55 credits, as follows:

A total of 45 applicable credits (400-level and above) are required in coursework, and an additional 10 credits in FRENCH 600 are given for examination preparation. 15 credits must be taken at the 500 level (courses limited to graduate students). 5 credits are given for the required pedagogy methods seminar for first-time TAs. To remain in good standing the student must maintain a cumulative 3.60 GPA. The minimum acceptable grade for any course is 2.7.

Four of the department's seven period distributions, plus one class in the history of criticism/critical theory rubric.

Up to 15 credits in supporting or related fields (other than the major field of study) may be taken with approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Courses must be at the 400 level or above.

MA examinations (written and oral) are taken in the sixth quarter of study.

Master of Arts in Italian Studies

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate major or its equivalent in Italian literature and culture. Preparation equivalent to requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian at the UW. Proficiency in speaking and writing the Italian language.

1. Application for Graduate Admission, along with supporting documents
2. Three letters of recommendation
3. Autobiographical statement
4. Digital file recording of the applicant reading the autobiographical statement mentioned above, together with other informal comments the applicant wishes to make.
5. Writing sample
6. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency as outlined in Memo 8: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements. Such students who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants (TAs) must meet the conditions for appointment specified in Graduate School Memorandum 15, “Conditions of appointment for TAs who are not native speakers of English.”

Degree Requirements

60 credits

50 applicable credits (400-level and above) in coursework, 30 of which must be taken at the 500 level (courses limited to graduate students). An additional 10 credits in ITAL 600 required for examination preparation. To remain in good standing the student must maintain a minimum 3.60 cumulative GPA. Minimum acceptable grade for any course is 2.7.

Up to 10 credits in disciplines other than the major field may be taken. Courses must be at the 400 level or above. Students are encouraged to take up to 10 credits in disciplines other than their major field of study. Credits in such supporting or related fields are allowed only for courses numbered 400 or above.

MA candidates must pass a foreign language reading ability examination in a language other than the major or their native language. Students stipulate their choice at the time of first enrollment, after consultation with the Graduate Adviser.

The Graduate Program Coordinator, in consultation with the student and appropriate faculty members, appoints a Supervisory Committee no later than the first week of the quarter prior to the MA examinations, consisting of three Italian and Italian adjunct faculty members. The MA examinations (written and oral) are taken the final quarter of study.

Doctor of Philosophy in French Studies

Admission Requirements

MA degree in French or its equivalent. Students with a background in comparative literature or with a specialization in French within another national literature and language program are admitted on a case-by-case basis. All incoming doctoral students must have demonstrable, broad knowledge in French literature and culture as well as a general background in critical theory (i.e., coursework in critical theory and/or coursework that incorporates a strong component of critical theory).

Degree Requirements

77 credits (beyond the MA)

77 credits (beyond the 45 required for the French studies MA), of which 25 should be taken in applicable 500-level courses (graduate seminars both inside and outside the division) and 27 as dissertation credits (FRENCH 800). The other 25 credits of 400-level and above courses should be chosen in collaboration with the Graduate Program Coordinator. 10 of these credits can be 600-level independent studies. Doctoral students work closely with the Graduate Program Coordinator in the selection of graduate seminars within French studies and of courses outside French studies that correspond to the students' cross-disciplinary interests.

Financial Aid

The department awards a number of teaching assistantships. Teaching assistants normally participate in teaching three classes during the academic year. A typical class is limited to approximately 25 students and meets five hours a week for the 10 weeks of the quarter. Research assistantships are available on a limited and competitive basis.

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Spanish and Portugese Studies

Graduate Program Adviser
C104F Padelford, Box 354360
(206) 543-2020
spsadv@uw.edu

The Division of Spanish and Portuguese Studies offers a program of graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree.

The Master of Arts degree program in Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies was reformed and updated in 2001 to foster study of Hispanic culture, literature, and language together. The program calls attention to the rich diversity of Hispanic cultural texts and to their interdisciplinary study while also promoting broad understanding of Spanish and Latin American literature. The program gives careful attention to acquainting students with the traditions of scholarship in the field as well as a range of current textual theory, criticism, and research methods.

Study of Portuguese and other Romance literatures and cultures, comparative literature, Romance and Spanish linguistics, and other related disciplines may be included in the master's degree program. The degree is earned normally in six academic quarters.

Students who wish to pursue advanced study in Spanish and Portuguese in a post-master's degree program may do so by entering the doctoral studies programs in Hispanic Studies of Comparative Literature or other departments of the University.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

1. Application for admission to the Graduate School
2. Three letters of recommendation
3. Unofficial transcripts. International applicants must also submit official transcripts to the Graduate School.
4. Academic autobiographical statement composed by the applicant in Spanish
5. A sample of the applicant's written work in Spanish in some area of Hispanic literature and culture. This may be a copy of a paper written for a course in the area of the applicant's major. An analytical or critical writing sample is preferred.
6. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required from applicants whose first language is English, and from applicants whose first language is not English who hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in one of the countries noted in Memo 8 from the Graduate School Memoranda. The GRE requirement is waived for applicants whose first language is not English, if they do not hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in one of the countries noted in Memo 8 from the Graduate School Memoranda.
7. Foreign students Applicants whose native language is not English should note that the Graduate School requires proof of proficiency in the English language in one of the ways described in detail in Memo 8 of the Graduate School Memoranda. the form of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or its computerized version (TOEFLC) or the Michigan Test and also the TSE (Test of Spoken English). A TOEFL score of 500 (or a TOEFLC score of 173) is required for admission, and a score of 580 (or 237 on the computerized form) is required for teaching assistant eligibility. Alternatively a Michigan Test score of 80 is required for admission and 90 for teaching assistantship eligibility. A minimum score of 55 is required on the TSE.8. Complete and upload Assistantship and Fellowship Application regardless of whether or not applicant is applying for a TA position.
8. Complete and upload Assistantship and Fellowship Application regardless of whether or not applicant is applying for a TA position. If applying for a Teaching Assistant position, the following is also required.
   • A digital voice recording (mp3 file format preferred) in which the applicant summarizes his/her reasons for applying to the graduate program and explains his/her interest in the TA position. Only spontaneous speech will be considered. The recording must be in English for native Spanish speakers, and in Spanish for all other applicants.
   • Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Degree Requirements

1. A total of 60 applicable credits (500 level and above). To remain in good standing the student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00. The minimum acceptable grade for any given course is 2.7.
2. Either SPAN 577, or an alternate graduate-level literary theory course which must be pre-approved by the GPC (Graduate Program Coordinator).
3. SPAN 510 is required of all teaching assistants and is to be taken during or before a student's first quarter of teaching.
4. Distribution requirement: A minimum of 5 credits (normally one course) must be earned in five of the six: Medieval Spain, "Golden Age" Spain; Spain of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; twentieth-century Spain; colonial and nineteenth-century Latin America; and twentieth-century Latin America.
5. MA candidates must pass an MA examination: During the first quarter of graduate study, students must select one area in which to be examined from the six areas of study specified above. They then have a year to prepare that field. Students may not write their MA Thesis in the field they have chosen for their examination. The MA examination is written at the beginning of the fourth quarter of study (ordinarily fall quarter). The examination consists of one question, and the student has five hours to answer his/her question, with only a dictionary available for consultation. The examination in the chosen area is based on the MA reading list, available on this website: depts.washington.edu/spanport/programs/grad_readingList.html.
6. MA candidates must complete an MA Thesis: Students must take ten credits of MA thesis (SPAN 700) in their second year of study (5 credits in the fall quarter and 5 credits in the winter quarter). The MA Thesis (minimum 45 pages of text, plus bibliography) is directed by a graduate faculty member and submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for its approval by the end of the fifth quarter of study.
7. Admission to the Graduate School allows students to continue graduate study and research at University of Washington only as long as they maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their degree program. Details can be found here: depts.washington.edu/spanport/programs/grad_academicRequirement.html.

Financial Aid

The department awards annually a number of teaching assistantships. The assistant normally participates in teaching three classes during the academic year. Each class is limited to approximately 25 students and meets five hours a week for the ten weeks of the quarter.

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the ways described in the Graduate School's Memorandum 15 to be considered for a TA position. For more information see: www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo08.shtml; www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo15.shtml.