Spanish and French Studies

Overview

The study of a culture through its language offers insights into unfamiliar worlds which cannot be realized in any other way; such study is one of the distinguishing features of a liberal arts education. Moreover, competence in a language other than English can provide a decided advantage for any post-graduate education or career objective.

The Spanish and French Studies program at Occidental is designed to provide the student with an analytical grasp of the traditions and complexities of the Spanish and/or French-speaking world. The rich cultural and literary expressions of Spain and Latin America provide the context for a classroom environment that builds strong conversational skills and immerses the student in intensive language use. Similarly, the department introduces students to the rich intellectual, literary, cultural, and political traditions of the Francophone world through the study of works from Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. Classroom instruction and discussions take place entirely in Spanish or French, and Occidental College's strategic position in Southern California also provides students with numerous opportunities to use the Spanish language interactively.

The department strongly encourages all students, whether considering a major in the department or not, to investigate Occidental's opportunities for study abroad (see Off-Campus Study). In recent years, students from a wide variety of departments, including the sciences, have taken advantage of these programs, greatly enhancing their education and future opportunities. These programs exemplify Occidental's ideal of a liberal education that increases sensitivity to and appreciation of other cultures. Finally, the department also invites students to engage in community-based learning through the different activities available in the intermediate and advanced Spanish language classes.

Linguistics at Occidental College is housed in the Department of Spanish and French Studies.

Linguistics is the scientific study of language as a type of human activity: how languages are constructed and why, where they came from, and how they got that way. It also delineates the breadth and limitations of language's usability. Thus, linguistics straddles the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. As an applied field, it is highly useful to anyone learning another language, to those intending to teach English or any other language, to people studying other cultures (since culture is encoded and transmitted largely via language structures), and to those studying human cognition or child development (since language structure plays a central role in both).

French Studies

Major Requirements

French Studies majors are required to take seven courses, including FREN 202 and six 300-level courses. Additionally, students must complete a 2-unit senior comprehensive independent study. A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs. Only one course may be taken in English, with approval from the department. Students are responsible for documenting the work they do abroad, especially regarding independent research, internships, or courses taken directly at a university. A portfolio of their work should be submitted upon their return in order to receive credit towards the French major or minor. French majors must enroll in at least four units in the department during their senior year.

When planning their 300-level coursework for the major, we strongly encourage students to take a course on translation, a course with a pre-1800 focus, and a course on Francophonie.

Honors in the Major

Majors in the department with an overall GPA of 3.25 may qualify for Honors at graduation through a distinguished comprehensive thesis or examination. Consult the major advisor and chair for details by the end of the fall semester, junior year.

Minor

A minor in French consists of 5 courses (20 units), including FREN 201, FREN 202, plus three 300-level courses, and including one course (4 units) at the 350 level or above. A maximum of two courses can be taken outside the department, including courses abroad.

Spanish Studies

Major

Spanish majors are required to take eight courses (32 units), including SPAN 202 or SPAN 211, six 300-level courses, and SPAN 490. Of the group of six 300-level courses, a minimum of two must be in literature and one in linguistics. At least one of the six 300-level courses must be numbered SPAN 340 or above.

A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs. Only one course may be taken in English, with approval of the department. All courses taken outside the department for the Spanish major must be approved in advance by the chair. Students are responsible for documenting the work they do abroad, especially regarding independent research, internships, or courses taken directly at a university. A portfolio of their work should be submitted upon their return in order to receive credit towards the Spanish major or minor.

For both the Spanish major and minor, the terms literature and culture refer to the literatures and cultures of Spain, Spanish America, and the Latino United States. The term linguistics includes courses taught both in English and Spanish.

Concentration

Students majoring in Spanish Studies have the option to choose a concentration in Literature, Culture, or Linguistics. In addition to the requirements above, students pursuing a concentration must also satisfy the following requirements:

• Literature. Three courses in literature, one course in linguistics, and two additional courses in literature, linguistics, or culture
• Culture. Three courses in culture, two courses in literature, and one course in linguistics
• Linguistics. Three courses in linguistics, two courses in literature, and one additional course in literature, linguistics, or culture

Literature

Culture

Linguistics

Honors in the Major

Majors in the department with GPA of at least 3.50 in major courses and an overall GPA of 3.25 may qualify for Honors at graduation through a distinguished comprehensive thesis. Students pursuing Honors enroll in a 4-unit independent study in which they extend the work conducted during the senior seminar. Consult the major advisor or chair for details by the end of the fall semester, senior year.

Minor

Students with a Spanish minor are required to take five courses, SPAN 202/SPAN 211 and four at the 300-level. All courses that count for the Spanish major also count for the minor. Courses numbered 300 and above are courses in literature, linguistics, and culture. At least one course must be numbered 340 or above. All SPAN courses are taught in Spanish. One course in English may also count for the minor. A maximum of two courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs. All courses taken outside the department for the Spanish minor must be approved in advance by the department.

Second Stage Writing

French Studies

Students majoring in French may satisfy the second-stage of Occidental's college-wide writing requirement by submission of either a paper written during their junior year or a translation portfolio.

Spanish Studies

Students majoring in Spanish will satisfy the second-stage component of Occidental College's writing requirement by receiving a grade of B- or higher in a Spanish course numbered 340 or above. See the department chair for additional information.

Comprehensive Requirement

French Studies

The comprehensive requirements in French consist of a 2-unit senior comprehensive independent study.

Spanish Studies

The comprehensive requirement consists of the senior seminar and an oral presentation on a topic related to the senior research paper.

Linguistics

Minor

Students pursuing a minor in Linguistics are required to take LING 301. Subsequently, they must take a second course in linguistics. This course may be a second course listed under linguistics in the catalog, a Spanish linguistics course, or a linguistics course via transfer or study abroad (with approval of the linguistics faculty). All students must take one semester of a foreign language from one of the following categories: 1) Greek or Latin, 2) Spanish or French, 3) German or Russian, 4) Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese. This course must be in addition to and in a different category from the language used to fulfill the Core language requirement. Students must also choose two additional courses with a language focus in consultation with the linguistics faculty. These courses may include one more foreign language course, a course in Spanish linguistics, COGS 330, COMP 331, PHIL 344, EDUC 205, or a linguistics course via transfer or study abroad (with approval of the linguistics faculty).

Transfer Credit Policies

The Spanish and French Studies Department does not accept online courses (including hybrid courses) for transfer credit.

Students who earn a score of 4 on the AP French Language examination will earn four units of credit and be placed into FREN 201 while those who earn a score of 5 will earn four units of credit and be placed in to FREN 202. Students who earn a score of 4 on the AP Spanish Language examination will earn four units of credit and be placed into SPAN 201 while those who earn a score of 5 will earn four units of credit and be placed into SPAN 202. The department does not place students based on IB or A-level examinations.

Students may apply up to three courses (12 units of credit) in transfer toward the major or two courses (eight units) in transfer toward the minor.

Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.

Advising Information

Students interested in the French Studies major should take the online French placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify their appropriate course level as they  start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in French every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a French-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships.

French Studies

Students interested in the French Studies major should take the online French placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify their appropriate course level as they  start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in French every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a French-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships.

Placement Information

For detailed placement information, please see the Language Study & Placement page. 

Sample 4-Year Plan

French Majors (starting at 101-level) 

Curricular Notes

• A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs.

• Only one FREN elective may be taken in English.

French Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: 3 courses

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in French:

• Junior transfers should have language proficiency equivalent to FREN 202 or higher. They should have completed at least two-thirds of their core requirements. 

• No specific preparation is required for students transferring in as sophomores or midway through their sophomore year, though previous language experience will allow for additional flexibility. 

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Junior transfers should take FREN 202 unless they have already completed an equivalent course; in that case, they should take a 300-level course. Spring transfers should contact the transfer adviser or department chair as early as possible to discuss their plans.

• Other transfer students should take a placement exam or use prior coursework to determine the appropriate French language course to take during their first semester.

Spanish Studies

Students interested in the Spanish Studies major should take the online Spanish placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify the appropriate course to start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in Spanish every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships. 

Placement Information

For detailed placement information, please see the Language Study & Placement page. 

Sample 4-Year Plan

Spanish Studies Major (starting at 101-level) 

Curricular Notes

• Once course must be numbered 340 or higher

• A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs

• Only one course may be taken in English

Spanish Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: 3 courses

Designated Transfer Adviser

Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Spanish:

• Junior transfers should have language proficiency equivalent to SPAN 202 or higher. They should have completed at least two-thirds of their Core requirements. 

• No specific preparation is required for students transferring in as sophomores or midway through their sophomore year, though previous language experience will allow for additional flexibility. 

What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

• Junior transfers should take SPAN 202 unless they have already completed an equivalent course; in that case, they should take a 300-level course. Spring transfers should contact the transfer adviser or department chair as early as possible to discuss their plans.

• Other transfer students should take a placement exam or use prior coursework to determine the appropriate Spanish language course to take during their first semester.

Courses

French Courses

Linguistics Courses

Spanish Courses

Faculty

Tenure and Tenure Track Faculty

Michael Shelton, chair; designated transfer adviser

Professor

B.S., St. Cloud State University; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Mariska Bolyanatz Brown

Assistant Professor

B.A., Gordon College, Massachusetts; M.A., University of Illinois, Chicago; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles 

Hanan Elsayed

Associate Professor 

B.A., Montclair State University; M.A., Ph.D., Rutgers University; Graduate Certificate in African Studies, Rutgers University

Salvador Fernández

Professor; Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

B.A., University of California, Riverside; M.A., Indiana University; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Susan Grayson

Professor

A.B., M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., Wright Institute Los Angeles Attestation d’études, Université de Bordeaux 

Celia Martínez-Saez

Assistant Professor

B.A., University of Alicante; M.A., Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Lauren Brown

Visiting Associate Professor

B.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles 

Luz D. Forero

Alicia Gonzalez

Resident Senior Instructor

A.B., Stanford University; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Marta Llorente Bravo

Karina Rincon

Resident Instructor

A.B., Occidental College; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles

Penelope Rosenstock-Murav
Visiting Assistant Professor

M. Gabriela Venegas