Spanish and Portuguese

Undergraduate majors: Spanish (BA); Portuguese (BA)

Undergraduate minors: Spanish; Portuguese

Graduate degrees: MA in Spanish; MFA in Spanish creative writing; PhD in Spanish

Faculty: https://spanish-portuguese.uiowa.edu/people

Website: https://spanish-portuguese.uiowa.edu/

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers courses for the GE CLAS Core world language requirement, undergraduate majors and minors, and three graduate degree programs: MA and PhD in Spanish and MFA in Spanish Creative Writing.

Faculty in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese specialize in language pedagogy, literary and cultural studies, creative writing, linguistics, and Spanish for the professions. Coursework prepares students to be multilingual global citizens providing them with diverse cultural perspectives; critical and creative thinking skills; opportunities to develop language abilities; and awareness of contemporary and historical issues related to the Hispanic world. Spanish and Portuguese language courses are open to any student who has satisfied the course prerequisites. Beyond the GE CLAS Core world language courses, the department offers a wide range of courses on literature, writing, linguistics, and culture that serve as the foundation for the Spanish major. Additionally, the department offers a wide range of elective courses on topics such as Spanish for the professions (medicine and business), translation, and interpretation. The department also participates in multiple study abroad programs.

Undergraduate students in all majors may satisfy the World Languages requirement of the GE CLAS Core with courses in Spanish or Portuguese; see Language for GE CLAS Core. The department also offers courses taught in English that are approved for GE CLAS Core and a First-Year Seminar designed for undergraduates in their first year at the university.

Two people sitting on a bench happily talking with the iconic Old Capitol building on the campus of the University of Iowa.

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is one of the academic units in the Division of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Language for GE CLAS Core

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers course sequences that students in all majors may use to satisfy the World Languages requirement of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core. Elementary and intermediate courses in Spanish language interrelate five performance goals—listening, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural knowledge—in a staged progression to develop proficiency. The curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of Spanish language skills in communicative contexts, enrichment of vocabulary through an introduction to Hispanic culture, and development of grammatical accuracy in speaking and writing.

Students who have previous coursework or other experience with Spanish (for example, speaking Spanish at home or living abroad in a Spanish-speaking country) should take the online placement test, which helps determine the level at which a student should begin Spanish language study at the University of Iowa. Students should take the test before they register for their first University of Iowa Spanish course. Students with experience in Portuguese should take the online placement test, which helps determine the level at which they should begin language study at the University of Iowa.

Spanish

The following course sequences in Spanish satisfy the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. For students without previous knowledge of Spanish, the department recommends the following sequence.

Course # Title Hours
SPAN:1001Elementary Spanish I4
SPAN:1002Elementary Spanish II4
SPAN:1501Intermediate Spanish I4
SPAN:1502Intermediate Spanish II4

The accelerated course, SPAN:1503 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish, which combines SPAN:1501 and SPAN:1502, may be appropriate for some students.

Those with previous knowledge of Spanish may be able to fulfill the World Languages requirement with the following sequence.

Course # Title Hours
SPAN:1003Elementary Spanish Review5
SPAN:1501Intermediate Spanish I4
SPAN:1502Intermediate Spanish II4

The accelerated course, SPAN:1505 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers, may be appropriate for some students who grew up speaking Spanish at home.

Students should consult a departmental advisor to determine which sequence is best for them.

Portuguese

The following course sequences in Portuguese fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. The first option consists of two intensive courses that combine two semesters into one so that the sequence is completed in a total of two semesters rather than four. Both courses are open to entering first-year students.

Course # Title Hours
PORT:2000Accelerated Elementary Portuguese5
PORT:2500Accelerated Intermediate Portuguese5

The second option requires three courses taken in the following sequence to complete the World Languages requirement.

Course # Title Hours
PORT:2010Elementary Portuguese I3
PORT:2015Elementary Portuguese II3
PORT:2500Accelerated Intermediate Portuguese5

Students should consult the general education coordinator to determine which sequence is best for them.

Related Certificates and Minors

Minor and Certificate: Latin American Studies

The department plays an important role in the Latin American Studies Program, which focuses on the history, politics, social organization, economy, art, music, religion, and literature of Latin America. See Latin American Studies in the catalog for information about the program's undergraduate certificate and minor.

Minor: Translation for Global Literacy

The minor in translation for global literacy encourages undergraduate students to explore translation as a crucial dimension of global literacy and communication. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers several courses that count toward the minor. See the minor in translation for global literacy in the catalog for more information.

Certificate: International Business

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Tippie College of Business offer the Certificate in International Business. The program includes requirements for global business; political, environmental, and cultural contexts; and cultural immersion, which can be satisfied with a fourth semester-level world language course. For more information, see the Certificate in International Business in the catalog.