College of Letters and Science
5310 Rolfe Hall
Box 951532
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1532
Spanish and Portuguese
310-825-1036
Department e-mail
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is dedicated to the study and teaching of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Hispanic heritage in all areas of the world, particularly on the continents of Europe and America. It maintains a strong commitment to the value of original research and professional instruction at all levels of its activities.
Whether studying for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, students are given careful guidance in the choice of courses and in the preparation of a study program. The richness of Hispanic culture is amply represented in the extensive range of courses in language, linguistics, and literature. Although the literatures of Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Spanish America predominate, courses are also offered in Chicano literature. The breadth of courses offered by the department allows undergraduate students to pursue many possible interests and enables graduate students to concentrate in depth in several areas of specialization.
Department courses are primarily designed to serve the five BA programs: BA in Spanish, BA in Spanish and Community and Culture, BA in Spanish and Linguistics, BA in Spanish and Portuguese, and BA in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies; as well as to prepare students for its three graduate programs: MA in Spanish, MA in Portuguese, and PhD in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. The courses are also functionally supportive of such interdepartmental programs as the BA, MA, and PhD programs in Chicana and Chicano Studies, BA and MA programs in Latin American Studies, and MA and PhD programs in Comparative Literature.
Beginning- and intermediate-level Spanish language courses are offered for Spanish second language learners and Spanish heritage learners. Beginning- and intermediate-level Portuguese language courses are offered for second language learners and learners proficient in another Romance language.
The approach is proficiency-oriented, communicative, and task-based. Students develop communicative competence in all four skill areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Classes are conducted completely in Spanish or Portuguese.
Language courses are delivered in a blended form; students are required to attend face-to-face class meetings and also complete two hours per week of work assigned, online. The two hours of online work are included in the required contact hours for the course.
Students with one or more years of high school Spanish or Portuguese who plan to enroll in Spanish 1 through 27 should take the departmental placement examination. Consult the Schedule of Classes or the department office for more information.
No credit is allowed for completing a less advanced course after successful completion of a more advanced course in Spanish and Portuguese grammar and/or composition.
Spanish and Portuguese courses are in the following subject areas:
