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
• Spanish and Portuguese Studies

French and Italian Studies

C254 Padelford

Undergraduate Program

Adviser
C252 Padelford, Box 354361
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, FRENCH 304, FRENCH 305, FRENCH 306, FRENCH 378. Three 400-level courses and two 300- or 400-level courses chosen to satisfy the requirements for an emphasis on literature/culture. Transfer credits at the 400 level are accepted only by petition to the Faculty Studies Committee.

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 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. A minimum 2.0 grade is required in any course applied toward the major.

Minor

Minor Requirements: French -- 30 credits including FRENCH 301, FRENCH 302, FRENCH 303, FRENCH 304 (or FRENCH 305), FRENCH 306 (or a 400-level course, with permission of instructor), FRENCH 378. Up to five credits taken abroad may be counted toward the minor.

Minor Requirements: Italian -- 30 credits in courses at the 300 and 400 levels, including ITAL 301, ITAL 302, ITAL 303, ITAL 401, ITAL 402 (or ITAL 403), and ITAL 404 (or ITAL 405), (or equivalent 400-level courses).

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Employment related to foreign languages is sometimes in specialized fields, but in general could be in many areas. 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 related 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).

  Students with substantial foreign language fluency who combine their language skills with a solid foundation in liberal education and adequate job preparation and internships find fulfilling occupations. The department's commitment is to impart to our students a genuine desire to learn throughout their lives, a flexibility that lends itself to changes, and a seriousness of purpose to apply to whatever they undertake in life.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: UW Rome Center in Rome, Italy.
• Honors Options Available: With College Honors; With Distinction (Departmental Honors). See adviser for requirements.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: 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: None available.
• Student Organizations/Associations: Italian Club.

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

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
C259 Padelford, Box 354360
206-616-5366

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 do so through the Department of Comparative Literature.

Master of Arts in French Studies

Admission Requirements

Applicants for a Master of Arts in French should present an undergraduate major or its equivalent in French literature and culture. Preparation should be equivalent to the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in French at the University of Washington. All applicants must prove proficiency in the speaking and writing of the French language.

Before their enrollment in French Studies, all incoming M.A. students must complete a list of period and critical readings.

Degree Requirements

55 credits, as follows:

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

Students must fulfill four of the department's seven period distributions. In addition, they must take one class in the History of Criticism / Critical Theory rubric.

Students are encouraged to take courses (up to 15 credits) in disciplines other than their major field of study. These credits must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator at the time or registration. Credits in such supporting or related fields are allowed only for courses numbered 400 or above.

The M.A. examinations (written and oral) are to be taken in the sixth quarter of study.

Master of Arts in Italian Studies

Admission Requirements

Applicants for a Master of Arts in Italian should present an undergraduate major or its equivalent in Italian literature and culture. Preparation should be equivalent to the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian at the University of Washington. All applicants must prove proficiency in the speaking and writing of Italian language.

• Application for Graduate Admission, along with supporting documents
• Three letters of recommendation
• Autobiographical statement
• CD or audio cassette recording of the applicant reading the autobiographical statement mentioned above, together with any other informal comments the applicant wishes to make.
• Writing sample
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
• Foreign students should note that the Graduate School requires proof of proficiency in the English language in 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.

Degree Requirements

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

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.

M.A. 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 committee of three Italian and Italian adjunct faculty members. The supervisory committee should be formed no later than the first week of the quarter prior to the examination.

The M.A. examinations (written and oral) are to be taken in the final quarter of study.

Doctor of Philosophy in French Studies

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the doctorate in French studies are normally required to present the M.A. degree in French or to demonstrate its equivalent for admission into the Ph.D. program. Students with a background in comparative literature or with a specialization in French within another national literature and language program will be admitted to the Ph.D. program 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. course work in critical theory and/or course work that incorporates a strong component of critical theory).

Degree Requirements

The program demands a total of 77 credits (beyond the 45 required for the French Studies’ M.A.), 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. The doctoral coursework should normally be completed in six full-time academic quarters, after which the doctoral student advances to Ph.D. candidate status and completes the minimum 27 hours of dissertation credits. Upon completion of the requisite course credits and the other departmental requirements, the student proceeds, with the approval of the Doctoral Supervisory Committee, to the written general examinations and then to the oral general examinations.

Financial Aid

The department awards annually a number of teaching assistantships. Research assistantships are available on a limited and competitive basis. 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 10 weeks of the quarter.

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 U.S. The UW offers beginning and intermediate Portuguese and all levels of Spanish.

Undergraduate Program

Adviser
C104F Padelford, Box 354360
206-543-2075
spanport@u.washington.edu

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

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

Bachelor of Arts

Suggested First- and Second-Year College Courses: First year: SPAN 101, SPAN 102 (or SPAN 110) and SPAN 103; or SPAN 121, SPAN 122, SPAN 123; or SPAN 134; Second year: SPAN 201, SPAN 202 (or SPAN 210) and 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 course- work 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. Applications are available outside C-104F Padelford and online beginning the first day of autumn, winter, spring, and summer quarter.  To assure registration priority, applications should be reviewed with the Spanish adviser and filed ideally during the first three weeks of the quarter.

Major Requirements

58 credits beyond SPAN 203 as follows:

1. SPAN 301, SPAN 302, SPAN 303 (or SPAN 314, SPAN 315, SPAN 316; or SPAN 310; or SPAN 330); SPAN 321, SPAN 322, SPAN 323.
2. One 300-level literature elective course (chosen from SPAN 304 through SPAN 308, SPAN 319, SPAN 340, SPAN 350 through SPAN 352).
3. Five 400-level courses (only one course numbered from SPAN 400 through SPAN 406 may apply to the major).
4. Participation in an approved study abroad program (one quarter minimum, any level) or one or more experiential learning experiences (minimum 3 credits of SPAN 392) which involve significant engagement with the Spanish-speaking community. Students are strongly encouraged to do both.
5. Other than SPAN 400 through SPAN 405, only one course whose instructional materials are primarily in English may apply toward the major.

Minor

Minor Requirements: Seven courses (minimum 31 credits) above the 203 level to include the following:

1. SPAN 301, SPAN 302, SPAN 303 (or SPAN 314, SPAN 315, SPAN 316; or SPAN 310; or SPAN 330).
2. Two of the following three core courses: SPAN 321, SPAN 322, SPAN 323.
3. Two 300-level electives. (400-level courses may be substituted for one or both electives.)
4. Only one course whose instructional materials are primarily in English may apply to the minor. SPAN 327 does 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.

The department directs two study abroad programs, in Mexico (Oaxaca) and Spain (Cadiz). These programs are "living laboratories." Approximately 75 students participate each year.

• Honors Options Available: With College Honors. With Distinction. See adviser for details.
• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: Internship opportunities are posted on the department Web site as they become available. Also, students may participate in service learning, in which they combine study with service to the community. Students must volunteer two to five hours per week (a minimum of 20 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. Approximately 18 students participate each year.
• 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

Graduate Program Coordinator
C104 Padelford, Box 354360
206-543-2075
spanport@u.washington.edu

The Division of Spanish and Portuguese Studies offers programs 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 of Comparative Literature or other departments of the University.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

• Application for admission to the Graduate School
• Three letters of recommendation
• A Waiver Form, on which the applicant waives the write to have access to the letters of recommendation.
• Academic autobiographical statement composed by the applicant in Spanish
• A cassette recording (no micro-cassettes) of the applicant reading the autobiographical statement mentioned in above, together with any other informal comments the applicant wishes to make.
• 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.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• Foreign students should note that the Graduate School requires proof of proficiency in the English language in 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.

Degree Requirements

• A total of 60 applicable credits (400 level and above), 25 of which must be at the 500 level. 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.
• SPAN 577 (5). Note: SPAN 510 (3) is required of all teaching assistants and is to be taken during or before a student's first quarter of teaching.
• Distribution requirement: A minimum of 5 credits (normally one course) must be earned in each of the following areas: medieval and "Golden Age" Spain; Spain of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; twentieth-century Spain; colonial and nineteenth-century Latin America; and twentieth-century Latin America.
• M.A. candidates must pass an auxiliary language reading ability examination in a language other than English and Spanish. Normally this language will be selected from among the Romance Languages and German. Students stipulate their choice at the time of first enrollment, after consultation with the Graduate Program Coordinator, and is examined no later than the fourth quarter of enrollment. The student consults first with the division's academic adviser and then completes arrangements with the language department administering the examination or with the Educational Assessment Center.
• The M.A. examination: The M.A. examination is written in the sixth quarter of study, ordinarily in spring quarter.
• Thesis or essay: Students may elect to include in the required 60 applicable credits 10 credits of M.A. thesis (SPAN 700) or 5 credits of M.A. essay (SPAN 590). Neither the thesis nor the essay is a degree requirement. The M.A. thesis (minimum 40 pages of text) and M.A. Essay (minimum 20 pages) are directed by a graduate faculty member and submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for its approval.

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.