Placement

If you already know some Spanish, you should take the CLEP test before or during your first Spanish course with us. Black Hills State University will allow you to earn CLEP credits through SPAN 202. You can arrange to take the test through BHSU Testing Services. Please know that you will no longer be eligible to earn credits this way once you have completed your first Spanish course on our campus.

If you do not plan to take the CLEP or still have questions about which course you should take, please contact one of us.

Course Descriptions

SPAN-101 Introductory Spanish I Introduces the fundamental elements of Spanish sentence structure and vocabulary. Promotes speaking, listening and writing within a cultural context. Class work may be supplemented with required aural/oral practice outside of class. (Fall) Semester Hours: 4

SPAN-102 Introductory Spanish II Introduces the fundamental elements of Spanish sentence structure and vocabulary. Promotes speaking, listening, and writing within a cultural context. Class work may be supplemented with required aural/oral practice outside of class. (Spring) PreRequisite: SPAN-101 Semester Hours: 4

SPAN-201 Intermediate Spanish I Students use previously learned elements of fundamental Spanish to improve speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Authentic materials promote the understanding of Hispanic culture. PreRequisite: SPAN-102 (First 8 weeks of fall semester) Semester Hours: 3

SPAN-202 Intermediate Spanish II Continuation of 201 with more emphasis on using grammar structures in an interactive way. Further study of the Hispanic world. (Second 8 weeks of fall semester) PreRequisite: SPAN-201 Semester Hours: 3 

SPAN 211 Intermediate Oral Practice I Conversational work and oral reports. May be taken concurrently with SPAN 201 and SPAN 202 Semester hours: 3

SPAN-301 Spanish Conversation & Composition I The course is designed to develop knowledge of cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and to improve proficiency in speaking and writing through the study of advanced grammar, classroom discussion, independent research, and composition writing. (Spring) PreRequisite: SPAN-202 Semester Hours: 3

SPAN-302 Spanish Conversation & Composition II The course is designed to develop knowledge of cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and to improve proficiency in speaking and writing through the study of advanced grammar, classroom discussion, independent research, and composition writing. (Fall) PreRequisite: SPAN-301 Semester Hours: 3

SPAN-304 The Structure of Spanish The course offers intensive examination of Spanish grammatical structure. Students develop analytical skill and control for grammatical accuracy in written and spoken expression. PreRequisite: SPAN-202 (Spring) Semester Hours: 3  

SPAN-490 Seminar A highly focused, and topical course. The format includes student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practices, problems, and research. Seminars may be conducted over electronic media such as internet and are at the upper division or graduate levels. Enrollment is generally limited to fewer than20 students. (Elective) Semester Hours: 1-3

SPAN-491 Independent Study Includes directed study, problems, readings, directed readings, special problems and special projects. Students complete individualized plans of study which include significant one-on-one student-teacher involvement. The faculty member and students negotiate the details of the study plans. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students. Meetings depending upon the requirements of the topic.(Elective) Semester Hours: 1-6

SPAN-492 Topics Includes current topics, advanced topics and special topics. A course devoted to a particular issue in a specified field. Course content is not wholly included in the regular curriculum. Guest artists or experts may serve as instructors. Enrollments are usually of 10 or fewer students with significant one-on-one student/teacher involvement.(Elective) Semester Hours: 1-3

FL-391 Independent Study A broad Student arranges course of study abroad. Plans must be approved prior to student departure. This course requires permission of the Instructor and/or College Dean.(Elective) Semester Hours: 1-6

HIST-418 History of Latin America Examines the political, social, and economic developments in Latin America for the pre-Columbian period to the present.(Elective) Semester Hours: 3

MFL-420 K-12 Foreign Language Methods Methods and materials for teaching modern languages in the secondary school. (Offered every other fall- 2007, 2009, and so forth)  (Required course for education majors and minors) Prerequisite: Although there is no official prerequisite, it is strongly recommended that students have completed through the intermediate level of the language they intend to teach. Semester Hours: 3

Schedule

Fall Semesters 

• SPAN 101 (4) Beginning Spanish 1
• SPAN 201 (3) Intermediate Spanish
• SPAN 301 (3) Spanish Conversation and Composition 2
• *SPAN 304 (3) The Structure of Spanish      

Spring Semesters

• SPAN 102 (4) Beginning Spanish 2
• SPAN 202 (3) Intermediate Spanish 2
• SPAN 302 (3) Spanish Conversation and Composition
• *SPAN 211 (3) Intermediate Oral Practice I         

*Odd years.

As needed courses 

• SPAN 490 (3) Seminar
• SPAN 491 (3) Independent Study
• SPAN 492 (3) Topics (topics include: Film and Culture Studies, Language and Culture, The Spanish Short Story)
• MFL 420 (3) K-12 Foreign Language Methods (offered every other fall for Spanish Teaching Majors).

*These courses are usually offered late in the day to accommodate working professionals and education students.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Modern Language Program is:

• to encourage interest and understanding of other worlds and cultures through the study of language and literature;
• to develop knowledge of the structure of the target language with a concomitant appreciation of the structural complexity of languages in general.

Towards these means, we offer a Spanish major and minor, including a teaching and non-teaching option, and courses in German and Russian. The university also offers courses in Lakota through the American Indian Studies program.

If you decide to major in Spanish, you will discover a curriculum designed for the development of a degree of proficiency in language and culture sufficient for independent access to the Spanish-speaking world. It is designed to expose you to the rich literary traditions of Iberian and Latin American cultures in order to stimulate enthusiasm for lifelong learning or advanced study at the graduate level. Its aim is also to prepare you for successful entry into the teaching profession or into careers that call for interaction with Hispanic populations of the U.S. and abroad. At every level of language study; including the study of literature, the development of oral language proficiency is emphasized.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our faculty members.