UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OF SANTA BARBARA
Spanish & Portuguese

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Information on Undergraduate Studies
Spanish Major | Spanish Minor | Portuguese Major | Portuguese Minor | FAQ

Note: Major and Minor Requirements for Spanish changed in Fall 2000.
The latest Requirements are posted here.

Bachelor of Arts, Spanish
Spanish Major B.A., 2006-2007

Preparation for the Major
Units
Spanish 1,2,3,4,5,6 (or equivalent)
Spanish 16A* or 16B* or 25* (prerequisite to all UD Spanish course)
*A "C" or better is required. Students may not enroll in a lower level Spanish course than was previously taken.
0-24
4
Upper Division Major  

44 UD Spanish units are required, distributed as follows:

A.  Spanish 100 (prerequisite to all Spanish linguistic courses)
B.  Spanish 102L (prerequisite to all Spanish literature courses)
C.  3 courses from : Spanish 110 ABCD (or equivalent)
D.  2 courses from: Spanish 111 ABC
E.  4 UD Spanish courses taught in Spanish (excluding 195 and 196)
         Recommended: Spanish 119 AB and /or Spanish 177.



4
4
12
8
16


By petition and upon consultation with the faculty undergraduate advisor, eight of the remaining sixteen units may be selected from Luso-Brazilian literature or Comparative Literature courses in which Peninsular or Latin-American literature is studied. Additionally, one course of the eight units may be taken in Chicano / U.S Latino literature originally written in English (e.g. Spanish 135, 139, 179), as an upper-division elective, without petition.

NOTE: Students interested in the Credential Program should consult the Graduate School of Education.
 
Major Regulations  
PREREQUISITES Check the General Catalogue for the pre-requisites to all listed courses.
 
P/NP GRADING OPTION Only 4 units of Spanish 128 may be applied to the Spanish major with a P/NP grading option. All other courses, including those applied to the major from other departments, must be taken for letter grades.
 
SUBSTITUTIONS in the major requirements permissible only by petition to the department chair and dean.
 
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS At least 20 UD units in major while in residence at UCSB.
 
G.P.A REQUIREMENTS At least 2.0 overall average in A) all UD major courses; and B) all major courses (Prep and UD) while in UC.
 
DOUBLE MAJORS With the approval of each department chairperson, up to a total of 8 units may be applied simultaneously to both UD majors.

Spanish Minor, 2006-2007

All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes both courses offered in Spanish and those offered by other departments and applied to the minor.

Preparation for the Minor
Units
Spanish 1,2,3,4,5,6 (or equivalent)
Spanish 16A or 16B or 25 (prerequisite to all UD Spanish course)
*A "C" or better is required. Students may not enroll in a lower level Spanish course than was previously taken.
0-24
4
Upper Division Minor  

24 UD Spanish units are required, distributed as follows:

A.  Spanish 100 (prerequisite to all Spanish linguistic courses)
B.  Spanish 102L (prerequisite to all Spanish literature courses)
C.  1 course from : Spanish 110 ABCD (or equivalent)
D.  1 course from: Spanish 111 ABC
E.  2 UD Spanish courses taught in Spanish
      (Maximum of 4 units may be taken from courses taught in English)



4
4
4
4
8


Substitution and waivers are subject to approval by the chair of the department .

Students must consult the General Catalogue for pre-requisites to required courses. The following conditions must also be met for official recognition of the minor:

  1. The sponsoring department reports completion of the minor prior to the posting of the degree.

    At least 18 upper-division quarter units are completed for the minor. (Waivers cannot reduce the requirements below this number.)

    At least 12 of the upper-division units for the minor are completed while in residence at UCSB.

    The UC grade-point average in pertinent upper-division courses is 2.0 or higher.

  2. No more than 5 upper-division units overlap between this minor and the upper-division portion of the major(s) or other minor(s). If overlap is greater with the major(s), completion of the minor will not be formally recognized; if overlap with other minor(s) is greater, only the first minor reported will be recognized.

NOTE: No reference will be made to the minor on any progress checks or degree clearance forms.

Bachelor of Arts, Portuguese

Portuguese Major B.A., 2006-2007

Preparation for the Major
Units
Portuguese 1,2,3,4,5,6 or equivalent
Strongly recommended: Portuguese 8A-B-C
NOTE: A "C" average is required in lower-division Portuguese courses. *A "C" or better is required. Students may not enroll in a lower level Portuguese course than was previously taken.
0-24
Upper Division Major  

40 UD Portuguese units are required, distributed as follows:

A.  Portuguese 102 AB
B.  Portuguese 105 ABC
C.  Portuguese 106 ABC
D.  * UD Portuguese courses taught in Portuguese
      (excluding Portuguese 195)



8
12
12
8


NOTE: Portuguese 114,115,120,125 AB are acceptable only if readings are in the Portuguese language (by petition).

*Four UD units in Spanish literature, linguistics and culture courses, film courses (Spanish 126 127, 174, Portuguese 128), Comparative Literature courses in which Hispanic, Portuguese, or Brazilian literature are studied, or Portuguese and Brazilian history courses may be substituted by petition to the department.

RECOMMENDED: 2 Courses from: History 153, 154 AB, 155 AB, 157 ABC or Portuguese 125 A-B.
Major Regulations  
PREREQUISITES Check the General Catalogue for the pre-requisites to all listed courses.
 
P/NP GRADING OPTION Not allowed for any major courses (Prep or UD major), including courses applied to the major from other departments.
SUBSTITUTIONS in the major requirements permissible only by petition to the department chair and dean.
 
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS At least 20 UD units in major while in residence at UCSB.
 
G.P.A REQUIREMENTS At least 2.0 overall average in A) all UD major courses; and B) all major courses (Prep and UD) while in UC.
 
DOUBLE MAJORS With the approval of each department chairperson, up to a total of 8 units may be applied simultaneously to both UD majors.


Portuguese Minor, 2006-2007

All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis. This includes both courses offered in Portuguese and those offered by other departments and applied to the minor.


Preparation for the Minor
Units
Portuguese 1,2,3,4,5,6 or equivalent
*A "C" or better is required. Students may not enroll in a lower level Portuguese course than was previously taken.

0-24
Upper Division Minor  

20 UD Portuguese units are required, distributed as follows:

A.  Portuguese 102 A or Portuguese 102 B
B.  1 course from Portuguese 105 ABC
C.  1 course from Portuguese 106 ABC
D. 2 Upper division Portuguese classes



4
4
4
8


Substitution and waivers are subject to approval by the chair of the department.

Students must consult the General Catalogue for pre-requisites to required courses.

The following conditions must also be met for official recognition of the minor:

  1. The sponsoring department reports completion of the minor prior to the posting of the degree.

    At least 18 upper-division quarter units are completed for the minor. (Waivers cannot reduce the requirements below this number.)

    At least 12 of the upper-division units for the minor are completed while in residence at UCSB.

    The UC grade-point average in pertinent upper-division courses is 2.0 or higher.

  2. No more than 5 upper-division units overlap between this minor and the upper-division portion of the major(s) or other minor(s). If overlap is greater with the major(s), completion of the minor will not be formally recognized; if overlap with other minor(s) is greater, only the first minor reported will be recognized.

NOTE: No reference will be made to the minor on any progress checks or degree clearance forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

INSTRUCTOR/COURSE INFORMATION

How do I contact a professor or TA?
Instructor emails and office hours are posted outside the department office, Phelps 4206.
Or, for faculty and staff emails: www.spanport.ucsb.edu/faculty_email/
And TA emails: www.spanport.ucsb.edu/grad_students_instructors/

How do I get into a class that’s full or “Closed by department”?
Get an add code from the instructor, NOT THE DEPARTMENT. All lower-division classes are closed by the department the first day of classes, and require an add code. After Week 1, students need an add code to enroll in any course.
What if I want to switch to a different section or different level Spanish class?

Week 1 attendance figures for all classes are posted outside the department office. Find a class that has space available and contact the instructor. Lower-division courses have a maximum enrollment of 30.
Which courses are prerequisites?
Span 16A or 16B or 25 is a prerequisite for all upper-division Spanish courses taught in Spanish, including 100 and 102L (may be taken concurrently); take it first after completing or passing out of Span 6. Span 102L is a prereq for all literature courses; make it one of your first upper-division Spanish classes. Span 100 is a prereq for all linguistics courses, take it sooner rather than later.
How can I find out what classes will be offered in future quarters?
Pick up a tentative list of course offerings in front of the department office, or view it online at www.spanport.ucsb.edu/courses/.
How do I know what the course is about?
Read the General Catalog, either online or in print.

SPANISH PLACEMENT EXAM
When can I take it? How do I sign up? What does my score mean?
Check out www.spanport.ucsb.edu/faculty/mcgovern/placement.html for an exhaustive discussion of the ins, outs and what-have-yous of the Spanish Placement Exam.
Current Exam Dates

What if I took the AP test or Spanish at another college?
See www.spanport.ucsb.edu/faculty/mcgovern/placement.html.

DECLARING THE MAJOR/MINOR
When should I declare a major/minor?
Whenever you want, sometime before your final quarter. We send relevant emails about all sorts of things to majors and minors, so if you want to receive these, go ahead and declare.
How do I declare a major/minor?
Come to the department office, Phelps 4206, and fill out either a yellow “Petition to Change Major” or a gold “Petition to Declare the Minor.” The “catalog year” is the academic year you’re declaring the major, like 2006-07. If you’re a minor and your expected quarter of graduation changes or you decide to drop the minor please let us know in the main office.
How long does it take for my major/minor to appear on GOLD?
Majors usually take two or three weeks. Minors do not show up on GOLD.

MAJOR/MINOR REQUIREMENTS
What are the lower-division requirements?
Span 1-6 or an equivalent AP or Placement Exam score or similar advanced intermediate language course at another college, AND Span 16A or 16B or 25.
What are the upper-division requirements?
Minor: 100, 102L, one 110ABCD, one 111ABC, two electives.
Major: 100, 102L, three 110ABCD, two 111ABC, four electives.Or see: www.spanport.ucsb.edu/undergrad_programs/
What should I take first?
After you’ve done Span 16A/16B/25, take upper-division courses. 102L is a good one to do first, as it is a prerequisite for all literature courses, which are the bulk of the major/minor requirements. 100 is a good one to do sooner rather than later, because it’s a prerequisite for all linguistics courses and if you leave it until your last quarter and find you really dig it, it’ll be too late to take any linguistics electives. Other than that, order matters not.
What classes count as electives?
Any upper-division Spanish class taught in Spanish can count as an elective.
Pre-approved substitutions for the 110ABCD and 111ABC requirements.
Can I take classes taught in English?
If you want major credit for a class taught in English, you must do all readings and all assignments in Spanish and petition this fact. Exceptions are 135, 139, 153, 157 and 179, of which Spanish majors can take one (1) for major credit, FOC (Free of Charge). Minors can take one course taught in English, FOC. Minors who think they might, some day, want to be majors should avoid taking classes in English.
Can I take Portuguese classes?
Sure. Majors can take up to eight units of Portuguese literature courses and petition them to count for the major. Readings and assignments should be completed in Portuguese or Spanish.

PETITIONS
You mean like to save the whales?
No, a petition is a form you fill out when you want to do something unusual, like have something count for the major that otherwise wouldn’t. You can get them in any department or college office. When you turn one in, attach a self-addressed stamped envelope.
What classes require a petition?
Do a “Petition for Degree Requirements” for any classes taught in English but in which all readings and assignments were done in Spanish. Have the instructor sign saying you did all work in Spanish before you turn it in to the department.
Petition any class that you want to count for the Spanish major that is not a UCSB Spanish class, for example UCSB Portuguese classes or classes taken another college or non-UC EAP study abroad program.
EAP courses go on a “Petition for Graduation Matters EAP,” a different but also readily available form.

EAP AND OTHER STUDY ABROAD
Should I study abroad?
Yes, everyone should study abroad.
Where can I study?
Go to the EAP office (South Hall 2431) to get info on programs/countries. UCSB does not have information on non-EAP study abroad programs. Visit their website at www.eap.ucsb.edu
Will I get credit toward graduation and my major?
All EAP courses yield units toward graduation. To get credit for your major, you must petition appropriate classes for major/minor requirements upon returning to UCSB. This is not hard to do.
EAP Petition.
What classes will count?
Click Here for everything you could need to know about what classes to take!
Literature and linguistics. In addition, up to 4.0 units of each of the following three types of courses are acceptable: advanced language/grammar/composition, film, or culture. Conversation/oral expression classes do not count toward the major.

What if I take, like, an art history or history or political science or whatever that’s all in Spanish and really hard? Shouldn’t that at least count as an elective for Spanish?
NO! In this country, classes are taught in English – certainly they don’t all count for an English major!
Can I petition classes to fulfill specific major/minor requirements?
Absolutely. Any university with a Spanish program will likely offer courses equivalent to UCSB’s Span 110ABCD and Span 111ABC. However, Span 100 and 102L are courses for which you’re not likely to find equivalents abroad, due to their general/introductory nature.
How can I be sure the classes I want to take will count as 110s or 111s?
First, know what 110ABCD and 111ABC are. Then familiarize yourself with the “Courses Approved for Upper Division Credit Without Petition,” a purple sheet available in the department listing courses fulfilling the 110ABCD and 111ABC requirements. Take classes abroad that are identical, equivalent or comparable to 110ABCD and Span 111ABC. For example, if you take “Don Quijote,” of course it’ll count for 110B. If you take “Post-Franco Short Stories of Spain,” it can count for Span 110D. If it looks and sounds like something we do at UCSB, it’ll count for that something. It really is that easy.
What if the class is literature or linguistics but not exactly like something offered at UCSB?
Then it can count as an upper-division Spanish elective. For example, “Short stories in Hispanic Literature Through the Ages” doesn’t correspond to any 110ABCD because it’s not period-specific, but it is certainly literature in Spanish, so BOOM!, elective.
What if I’m studying abroad but not with EAP?
The same guidelines apply. Talk to Barbara Cogan, International Specialist in the Admissions office to make sure you’ll get UC units for your program. When you return, bring a copy of the Credit Memo (stating what UC credit you get for work done abroad) to the department office and petition the courses for Spanish requirements. In order for a course to count for a specific requirement at UCSB, it must be worth at least 4.0 quarter units.

HONORS AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
Is there a departmental honors program?
There sure is, and it’s called Span 195, available to seniors who have completed 30 upper-division Spanish units with a major GPA of 3.50 and overall GPA of 3.0. By successfully completing the course, in which a top-notch research paper of 20 pages is required, seniors earn “Distinction in the Major.” These words appear on the diploma and the student is honored at the end of the year department awards ceremony, where s/he receives a handshake, certificate and cash prize. It is recommended that students do Span 199 prior to 195. Students find an instructor willing to supervise their study, fill out the application, and enroll in 195 with an add code.
What is Span 199?
Independent study, available to students with upper-division standing, eight units of upper-division Spanish courses completed and a 3.0 GPA in each of their last three quarters who want to study something they can’t get in a regular class. Students find an instructor willing to supervise their study, fill out the application, and sign up with an add code. If you want Span 199 to count as an elective, you must submit a Petition for Degree Requirements, stating you did all work in Spanish, upon completion of the course.

WHAT IF I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Come to the department office, Phelps 4206. Se habla español.

 

General Description

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers undergraduates an opportunity to master the four fundamental linguistic skills, speaking, understanding, reading, and writing in Spanish and Portuguese and to study the literary, cultural, and linguistic heritages of the Spanish-and Portuguese-speaking peoples in the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas. The department offers the B.A. degree in Spanish and in Portuguese; the M.A. degree with specialties in Hispanic language and culture, in Spanish and Spanish-American literature, in Hispanic linguistics or studies in bilingualism, and in Hispanic, Portuguese, and Brazilian literatures; and the Ph.D. degree in Hispanic languages and literatures. Students interested in a Spanish or Portuguese major may meet with the department chair and advisors on the first day of each quarter. Resource persons in the department office are available on a regular basis to advise on academic matters.

Qualified students majoring in Spanish or Portuguese may spend their junior year at the university's Education Abroad center at one of the following locations: Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Barcelona, Granada, Mexico City, Costa Rica, Santiago de Chile, or Rio de Janeiro. Students with a bachelor's degree in Spanish or Portuguese who are interested in pursuing a California Teaching Credential should contact the credential advisor in the Graduate School of Education as soon as possible. Successful completion of an advanced degree in Spanish is required for issuance of the Community College Instructor's Credential. Students interested in the related professional preparation program should contact the credential advisor prior to the fall quarter of the year in which the advanced degree will be completed.

UCSB Center for Portuguese Studies
The Center for Portuguese Studies provides support for teaching and degree programs and promotes the study of the literatures, language, and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. Services and activities include awarding student scholarships and stipends; sponsoring the Summer Institute in Portuguese; hosting colloquia; maintaining the center library; and sponsoring a publications series. The Center is made possible by an endowment from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Student applications for scholarships and stipends should be made to the Director of the Center.
Tinta. Graduate Student Journal
The department's publication gives graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to gain valuable experience by editing and publishing their own scholarly work.
UCSB Summer Sessions: Hispanic Institute
The Summer Institute in Hispanic Languages and Culture at the University of California, Santa Barbara offers an M.A. program, unique among universities in the United States in that it offers an MA degree earned during 3 summers. UCSB's Summer Institute aims particularly to meet the needs of elementary, high-school and junior-college teachers of Spanish as well as other professionals unable to pursue graduate studies during a regular academic year. The program also serves students enrolled in regular graduate programs whose Spanish would improve vastly through a summer of total immersion and intensive study with UCSB credits.
Samuel A. Wofsy and Robert E. Wilson Awards
Each year the department awards two Wofsy Fellowships to outstanding graduate students at the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. The department also awards two Wilson Scholarships to outstanding junior and senior students.