Program Overview
The Department of Behavioral Science & Cultural Studies offers both Spanish and French courses, with major and minor programs of study in Spanish and Spanish Education. These areas of study are designed for the student who wants to study Spanish and Hispanic culture in a variety of settings. From beginning Spanish instruction to upper-division topics courses in Spanish and Latin American Studies, NNU’s Spanish program provides a rich environment for learning a foreign language and the cultural and historical setting in which the language exists. In addition to the linguistic foundations of language courses at NNU, the Spanish majors draw from contributions in the fields of history, political science, education, sociology, and a number of other disciplines.
The Spanish major can be combined with a minor or a second major. The structure of the major allows students to complete a double major in Spanish and a second area of study which inevitably enhances the liberal arts degree. The Spanish Education major is designed for the individual who plans to teach in a secondary school.
A special requirement of the two majors is travel and study in a country where Spanish is the principal language. Arrangements with language schools in Cuernavaca, México, and San José, Costa Rica allow students to travel abroad and obtain invaluable cultural and linguistic experiences. Additionally, the Department maintains a recommended list of programs throughout Latin America and Spain, and has worked with students to set up travel and study arrangements in Ecuador, Venezuela, Perú, and several other countries. Most recently, the Department took a student group to South Central Mexico in May 2006 on a cultural and historical tour of pre-Colombian, colonial, and modern sites. Future trips to Spain and other parts of Latin America are currently being planned.
A student who is a heritage speaker of Spanish or who has studied Spanish for several years in high school may arrange for placement in intermediate or advanced-level courses. An AP score of 4 or higher will give credit for intermediate Spanish.
For more information about specific courses of study in the Department, please click on the links below or the corresponding tabs to the left. All of the catalog information presented here in dynamic format is also available via NNU's online 2006-08 Catalog
Spanish Teaching Area Emphasis
Spanish Education First Teaching Field
Spanish Education Second Teaching Field
