Catalogue

Spanish Studies

spanish.bard.edu

Faculty

Nicole Caso (director), John Burns, Patricia López-Gay, Melanie Nicholson 

Overview

The Spanish Studies Program offers a full range of courses in the language, literatures, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, including Spain, Latin America, and the Latinx communities of the United States. By the time of Moderation, students are expected to have a solid grasp of the language, as well as a familiarity with reading literary texts and writing about literature and culture. After Moderation, students concentrate on particular aspects of Hispanic culture by taking specialized seminars that focus on certain geographic regions, time periods, or cultural manifestations. Spanish Studies majors are strongly encouraged to spend a semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. Faculty members help with choosing appropriate programs and locations, and provide guidance through the application process.   

Requirements

Prior to Moderation, students should have completed three semesters of Spanish language at Bard, or the equivalent. Students should also have taken two literature courses, which may include Spanish 301 or 302, Introduction to Spanish Literature or Introduction to Latin American Literature, respectively. After Moderation, majors should complete a minimum of three additional seminars in the program (in addition to any coursework completed abroad). They are also highly encouraged to take one or more courses in literature taught in English, including literary theory. The Senior Project should be written under the direction of a Spanish Studies Program faculty member; the project should be either a critical analysis of a literary work or a translation of a text originally published in Spanish, with a carefully researched critical introduction. Additionally, these projects often explore an innovative dialogue with other forms of cultural expression, such as dance, film, or photography. 

Recent Senior Projects in Spanish Studies

• “Ec-static Images: Reading Spirits in Eduardo L. Holmberg’s Viaje maravilloso del Señor Nic-Nac” 
• “Liquid Phone Calls: Translations of Roberto Bolaño in Conversatioin with Zygmunt Bauman”
• “Meta: una telenovela, quizás”