Program—Portuguese (87)

MAJOR

Luso-Brazilian language and literature: Nine courses in language, literature, and culture, beyond the intermediate Portuguese language course (V87.0003, V87.0004, or V87.0021). Portuguese courses at the graduate level and related courses in other departments may also be counted toward the major with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies.

MINOR

Five courses beyond the intermediate level, including 1000-level graduate courses, with the advice of the director of undergraduate studies.

 

Program—Spanish (95)

MAJORS

Students may specialize in one of five programs of study: Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures, Romance languages, Latin American studies, Iberian studies, and Spanish and linguistics. Students should discuss and plan their program of study with the director of undergraduate studies. It is highly recommended that all majors spend one semester studying abroad in Spain or Latin America. Transfer students must complete at least five courses toward the major while in residence at New York University.

Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures: Nine courses beyond the intermediate level. Four are required courses prerequisite to advanced electives: Advanced Grammar and Composition (V95.0100), Critical Approaches: Reading, Writing, and Textual Analysis (V95.0200), Readings in Spanish American Literature (V95.0211), and Readings in Spanish Literature (V95.0215). Five are advanced electives in Spanish or Latin American literature and/or culture. Students may substitute one additional advanced language course for one of their five advanced electives: Advanced Spanish Conversation (V95.0101), Techniques of Translation (V95.0110), or Creative Writing in Spanish (V95.0125). Majors who have completed Critical Approaches: Reading, Writing, and Textual Analysis (V95.0200) may, in special circumstances and with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, enroll in advanced electives before having completed the two required readings courses (V95.0211 and V95.0216).

Romance languages: Nine courses distributed between any two of the following languages: French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. The major in Romance languages consists of two conversation courses (one in each of the two languages); two composition courses (one in each of the two languages); two introductory literature or cultural studies courses (one in each of the two languages); and three upper-level literature or culture courses (two in one language, one in the other). Students must consult with the director of undergraduate studies in each department to plan their program of study.

Latin American studies: This interdisciplinary nine-course track allows students to combine studies in Latin American literature and culture with courses related to Latin America offered in other programs or departments throughout the University, including anthropology, cinema studies, comparative literature, economics, fine arts, history, performance studies, politics, and sociology. While individual programs of study should be planned with and approved by the director of undergraduate studies, students pursuing the Latin American studies major normally take three courses in history and politics, three courses in literature and culture, and three courses in other areas. An introductory survey course, such as Introduction to Latin American Culture (V95.0762) or World Cultures: Latin America (V55.0515), is highly recommended for students beginning the major. Requires knowledge of Spanish at the level of V95.0100 and of Portuguese at the level of V87.0010 or V87.0011. Language courses are prerequisites and do not count toward the major in Latin American studies. For further details, see the Latin American Studies section of this bulletin.

Iberian studies: This interdisciplinary nine-course track allows students to combine studies of the literatures and cultures of the Iberian peninsula with courses related to Spain or Portugal offered in other programs or departments throughout the University, including anthropology, cinema studies, comparative literature, economics, European studies, history, politics, religious studies, and sociology. While individual programs of study should be planned with and approved by the director of undergraduate studies, students pursuing the Iberian studies major normally take three courses in history and politics, three courses in literature and culture, and three courses in other areas. An introductory survey course, such as Introduction to Spanish Culture (V95.0261), is highly recommended for students beginning the major. Requires knowledge of Spanish at the level of V95.0100 and knowledge of at least one additional language culturally or historically important to the region, such as Portuguese, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Gallego, Catalan, or Basque/Euskera. Language courses are prerequisites and do not count toward the major in Iberian studies.

Spanish and linguistics: Ten courses (generally five in Spanish and five in linguistics) chosen from the offerings of both departments in consultation with their respective directors of undergraduate studies.

MINORS

Students may complete a minor in Spanish by pursuing one of five minor tracks. All students who wish to minor in Spanish must register with the department.

Spanish: A minor consists of five courses (conducted in Spanish) above the intermediate level. The five courses must include V95.0100 and V95.0200. The remaining courses are determined in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. They may include one advanced language course (numbered between V95.0101 and V95.0199); the others must be literature or culture courses numbered above V95.0200.

Latin American studies: A minor consists of five courses, combining studies in the literatures and cultures of Latin America with related courses in other departments. It provides students in all disciplines with the opportunity to incorporate an interest in Latin America into their overall course of study. Requirements: Introduction to Latin American Culture (V95.0762) and four additional courses, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Students must demonstrate proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese above the intermediate level. (Language courses do not count toward the minor.)

Iberian studies: A minor consists of five courses, combining studies in the literatures and cultures of Spain and/or Portugal with related courses in other departments. It provides students in all disciplines with the opportunity to incorporate an interest in Spain and/or Portugal into their overall course of study. Requirements: Literature, Culture, and the Arts in Spain (V95.0261) and four additional courses, chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. At least two of the five minor courses must be conducted in Spanish or Portuguese. Students must demonstrate proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese above the intermediate level. (Language courses do not count toward the minor.)

Literature in translation: Students interested in this minor should see under Literature in Translation. The courses in Spanish literature in translation are listed below under “Courses Conducted in English.”

Creative writing: A minor consists of five courses: V95.0100 or V95.0111, V95.0125, V95.0200, and two advanced writing workshops (V95.0320 and V95.0325), all conducted in Spanish.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY IN MADRID

New York University has a summer program and an undergraduate full-year program in Madrid. Students who are interested in attending New York University in Madrid should consult with the director of Study Abroad in Madrid in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures.

HONORS PROGRAM

Eligibility: To qualify for the honors program in the department, students must maintain at least a 3.65 general average and a 3.65 major average. During their senior year, students who qualify for honors in any of the department’s major tracks enroll in the Honors Thesis Seminar, a year-long colloquium for thesis writers. The honors thesis is an extended research paper written on a topic of the student’s choice related to his or her course of study and directed by a faculty adviser. The Honors Thesis Seminar guides students through the process of researching and writing the thesis, covering such areas as choosing a topic, compiling a bibliography, conducting library and Web-based research, properly documenting sources, and developing research and writing methods for graduate- or professional-level study. Students interested in pursuing the honors program should consult with the director of undergraduate studies in the second semester of their junior year.

Requirements: Completion or simultaneous completion of the major’s requirements; successful completion of the Honors Seminar; an honors thesis; and an oral presentation on the honors thesis and its bibliography. For general requirements, please see Honors and Awards.