The major in Hispanic Studies is designed to foster a detailed understanding of the vast and complex mix of cultural systems that constitutes the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian World, a space that includes the United States of America. In pursuing this goal, students work with a wide range of creative traditions. While most of the textual artifacts we work with are in Spanish, Portuguese is an increasingly important element in these areas. The overarching aim of this analytical work is to enhance students’ ability to understand the multiple manifestations of Hispanic cultural production and the social and historical contexts in which they arise.

REQUIREMENTS

Number of courses, credits and overall GPA required for the major:

Plan A majors in Hispanic studies are required to have a total of 12.5 courses beyond HISP 102.

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is in Hispanic studies are required to take 7.5 credits beyond HISP 102.

Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is in Hispanic studies are required to take a total of five courses in Hispanic studies beyond HISP 102.

Core courses:

The Plan A major: All Plan A majors are required to have a total of 12.5 courses beyond HISP 102. The required courses (totaling 9.5 credits) are to be distributed in the following manner: two courses at the 26X-level; HISP 270; HISP 280; HISP 290 (0.5); one course from another department/program related to the Hispanic world or any course in LACS; three courses at the 300 level; and HISP 401.

The rest of the credits within the major are earned through elective courses. No more than three courses taken abroad can be counted towards the major. One 300-level course taken abroad is counted for the major. All other required courses within the major must be taken with faculty at Trinity’s Hartford campus. Electives could include 201, 202, 214, 215, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 240 245, or extra 26X-level courses, certain approved courses taken abroad, or extra 300-level courses. Teaching assistant credits may not count towards the major or minor.

Spanish majors are expected to study in one of the official Study Away  sites or in any other  program approved by     the Hispanic Studies section in Spain or Latin America (see the Office of Study Away website).  All students wishing    to receive credit toward the major for courses taken abroad, must have taken at least one thematically appropriate (Iberian or Latin American) civilization and culture course (HISP 26X) before their departure. Careful planning in coordination with the student’s adviser and, if applicable, the department’s faculty sponsors of the sites is therefore essential. Students who spend a year abroad in one of the official Study Away sites or in any other program approved  by  the Hispanic Studies section in Spain and/or Latin America may petition to have  more than 3 courses count  towards  the Major.

Students who are unable to study abroad must take an extra 300-level course to substitute for HISP 290.

Required courses for the Plan A major

  • Three electives beyond HISP 102
  • One related field course or any LACS course
  • Two culture courses (HISP 261, 262, 263 or 264)
  • HISP 270. Introduction to Cultural Analysis
  • HISP 280. Hispanic Hartford
  • HISP 290. Studying in the Hispanic World Colloquium (0.5 credits)
  • Three HISP 300 level (upper-level seminars in Spanish)
  • HISP 401 (senior seminar)
  • Study abroad

The Plan B major: (students who combine two of the languages taught in the Department of Language and Culture Studies and the Classical Studies Department)

Plan B majors whose primary concentration is in Hispanic Studies are required to take the following courses (totaling 7.5 credits beyond HISP 102): two courses at the 26X level, HISP 270, HISP 280, HISP 290 (0.5), three courses at the 300 level, and HISP 401. In this final exercise, if possible, the student will engage in in-depth study of a theme that integrates material from the primary and secondary fields of linguistic and cultural competence. The remaining five credits for the major will be taken in the student’s secondary area of linguistic and cultural competence. Students who do not study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country must take an extra 300-level course to substitute for HISP 290.

Majors whose primary competence is Spanish are expected to study in one of the official Study Away sites or in any other program approved by the Hispanic Studies section in Spain or Latin America (see https://www.trincoll.edu/studyaway/trinity-programs/). All students wishing to receive credit toward the major for courses taken abroad must have taken at least one thematically appropriate (Iberian or Latin American) civilization and culture course (HISP 26X) before their departure. Careful planning in coordination with the student’s advisor and the department’s faculty sponsors of the sites is therefore essential. Students who are unable to study abroad must take an extra 300-level course to substitute for HISP 290.

Requirements for the Plan B major with primary competence in Hispanic studies

  • Two culture courses (HISP 261, 262, 263, or 264)
  • HISP 270. Introduction to Cultural Analysis
  • HISP 280. Hispanic Hartford
  • HISP 290. Studying in the Hispanic World Colloquium (0.5 credits)
  • Two HISP 300-level courses (upper level seminars in Spanish)
  • HISP 401 (Senior Seminar)

Plan B majors whose secondary concentration is in Hispanic Studies are required to take a total of five courses in Hispanic Studies beyond HISP 102. Of these, the following must be taken with faculty at Trinity’s Hartford campus: two courses in civilization and culture and two 300-level courses. In certain cases, students may request that one upper-level course taken at an approved study-away program count toward the required number of 300-level courses. Certain prerequisites for 300-level courses may be waived for Plan B majors with secondary competency in Hispanic Studies at instructor’s discretion.

Plan B major with secondary competence in Hispanic studies

  • One elective
  • Two culture courses (HISP 261, 262, 263 or 264)
  • Two HISP 300 level courses (upper level seminars in Spanish)

Electives:

The Plan A major: The rest of the credits within the major are earned through elective courses. Only one 300-level course taken abroad can be counted towards the major. All other required courses within the major must be taken with faculty at Trinity’s Hartford campus. Electives could include 201, 202, 214, 215, 221, 224, 226, 245, extra 26X-level courses, certain approved courses taken abroad, or extra 300-level courses.

Approved courses in Portuguese or Catalan may be counted as electives toward the major. Teaching assistant credits may not count toward the Major or Minor.

Capstone/Senior Project:

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement for students in either the Plan A or plan B Hispanic studies major is fulfilled by HISP 401. Senior Seminar.

Plan A MajorsHISP 401: Senior Seminar. In this final exercise, students will engage theoretical and critical readings around a common theme related to the Spanish-speaking world and require an analytical research paper on  a specific topic related to the common theme.

The Plan B major (primary concentration is in Hispanic studies)—HISP 401. In this final exercise, if possible, the student will engage in in-depth study of a theme that integrates material from the primary and secondary fields of linguistic and cultural competence.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study Away:

Plan A Majors are expected to study in in one of the official Study Away sites or in any other program approved by the Hispanic studies section in Spain or Latin America.

Students who are unable to study abroad must take an extra 300-level course to substitute for HISP 290.

Plan B Majors whose primary competence is Spanish are encouraged to participate in a study away program approved by the Office of Study Abroad.

Research Methods:

The Hispanic Studies section of the Department of Language and Culture Studies presumes the constructed and dynamic nature of most forms of culture, including entities as large and important as nations and states. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the role institutions play in mediating and shaping our sense of social reality.

Honors:

To qualify for honors in Hispanic Studies majors must attain a cumulative average of A- or better in all courses counting toward the major and achieve an A- or better in the HISP 401.

Minor in Hispanic Studies

The Minor in Hispanic Studies —students who wish to minor in Hispanic studies take a minimum of 5.5 credits at the HISP 221 level and beyond to develop linguistic skills and to incur a deeper understanding of Spanish and Latin American culture and civilization.

If the student studies abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, the 5.5 credits (at the HISP 221 level and beyond) must be distributed in the following ways:

  • four courses at Trinity (in Hartford), which must include one HISP 26X-level culture course, HISP 270, and one HISP 300-level seminar ;
  • one course abroad taken in Spanish and on a topic related to Hispanic cultures; and
  • HISP 290: Studying in the Hispanic World Colloquium (0.5 credits)

If the student does not study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, the student must take a minimum of 5.5 credits distributed as follows:

  • Five credits at or above the HISP 221 level, which must include at least one culture course (26X level), HISP 270, and at least one 300-level seminar.
  • One 0.5 credit internship with a Hartford-area organization that works with the local Hispanic community, or a second seminar at the 300 level.

No course in English under the language and culture studies rubric can be counted toward the course total. No more than two transfer courses (taken abroad or at another institution) may be applied to the minor.

To declare a minor in Hispanic studies, contact any Hispanic studies faculty member.