Hispanic Studies
The Hispanic Studies program offers courses in Spanish language and Peninsular, Latin American and US Hispanic literature, civilization and culture, Mexican-American studies, Bilingual/Bicultural education, and Teaching English as a Second Language. All areas of Hispanic language, literature and culture are taught in the same school in order to offer students degree programs that integrate related areas of study and to maximize faculty expertise.
School resources include a student conversation and study lounge. Faculty are readily available for advising and consultation. Study-abroad programs have been established and majors and minors are encouraged to participate. Freshman and sophomore students may take part in this program and may take some courses for Liberal Arts core credit.
Current research interests of the faculty include:
Liberal Arts Emphasis
The fundamental objective of the bachelor's in Mexican American Studies is to provide the student with knowledge and understanding of the historical development and cultural experience of the largest Latino community in the United States: Mexican Americans. Emphasis is placed on its contemporary reality by various theoretical perspectives and areas of academic inquiry through the arts and sciences: history, literature, sociology, political science, gender studies and psychology.
This integrative approach seeks to help the student develop critical thinking and writing skills in order to establish a solid foundation in the liberal arts. It provides the essential tools for making informed judgments about the complex nature of our diverse society. The program culminates with the capstone course, an extensive research project, which fuses theoretical concepts with practical knowledge. The Mexican American Studies major prepares the student to pursue careers in the fields of law, business, public service, and education.
Secondary Teaching Emphasis: Social Sciences Endorsement
Social Sciences Endorsement This program fulfills an important role in training teachers at the undergraduate level to be social studies teachers. With increasing student diversity in our schools, both in Colorado and the nation, districts are desperate to hire teachers who are well grounded in curriculum and approaches that meet the needs of culturally diverse learners and their families. The secondary education emphasis in Mexican American Studies effectively prepares preservice teachers to teach social studies to culturally diverse students at the middle and secondary levels. Students approach learning and curriculum from an interdisciplinary focus, one which includes contributions and perspectives of people of Mexican American origin. In addition to taking coursework in Mexican American Studies, History, Economics, Geography and Political Science, students will participate in the UNC partner school program through student teaching and field experience.
For degree and program requirements, see:
Secondary Teaching Emphasis: Social Science Endorsement
Liberal Arts Emphasis
Students develop a functional proficiency in the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and an appreciation and understanding of the civilization and culture of the Hispanic world.
Students become functionally proficient in the Spanish language with a broad understanding and knowledge of the civilization and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.
Secondary Teaching Emphasis
Students develop a functional proficiency in the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) with an appreciation and understanding of the civilization and culture of the Hispanic world. Students become competent secondary school teachers of Spanish.
Spanish B.A. — PTEP
Students wishing to be licensed must complete FL 341. It is recommended that Spanish majors take HIST 118 and either HIST 314 or HIST 315.
In order to gain permission to apply for student teaching, a Spanish major must successfully pass the program’s oral proficiency interview.
All Spanish language courses to be counted for the major and minor must be beyond the first year level.
Courses with the SPAN prefix are taught in Spanish and courses with the HISP prefix are taught in English.