Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures

Return to: Curricula by Department

Graduate Advisor: Schmidt, Lauren, Assistant Professor (B.A., M.A., University of Florida; Ph.D., Indiana University)

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty:

Alamillo Olivas, Rosalva A., Assistant Professor of Spanish  and Portuguese (B.A., Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Mexico; M.A., New Mexico State University; Ph.D., University of Houston)

Altamirano, Magdalena, Associate Professor of Spanish, SDSU Imperial Valley (B.A., Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; M.A., Ph.D., El Colegio de México)

Ares-Lopez, Daniel, Assistant Professor (B.A., Universidade de Santiago, Spain; M.A., University of Kansas; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Beverinotti, Matías, Assistant Professor (B.A., Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; M.A., University of Kansas; Ph.D., University of Michigan)

Godoy Marquet, Juan M., Professor of Spanish, Emeritus, (M.A., University of California, Riverside; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley)

Martín-Flores, José Mario, Professor of Spanish (B.A., Autonomous University, Mexico; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Irvine)

Ramirez-Pimienta, Juan C., Professor of Spanish, SDSU Imperial Valley (B.A., University of California, San Diego; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., University of Michigan)

Urzúa Beltrán, Alfredo, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures (B.A., Universidad de Guadalajara, México; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., Northern Arizona University)

Emeritus:

Angelelli, Claudia V., Ph.D., 2001-2014, Professor of Spanish

Ballesteros, David, Ph.D., 1983-1998, Dean, SDSU Imperial Valley

Blanco, Alda, Ph.D., 2008-2019, Professor of Spanish

Hidalgo, Margarita G., Ph.D., 1987-2008, Professor of Spanish

Jiménez-Vera, Arturo, Ph.D., 1970-1992, Professor of Spanish

Kish, Kathleen V., Ph.D., 1999-2004, Professor of Spanish

O’Brien, Mary E., Ph.D., 1966-2000, Associate Professor of Spanish

Robinson, Gail L., Ph.D., 1989-2011, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics

Segade, Gustavo V., Ph.D., 1967-2000, Professor of Spanish

Talamantes, Florence W., Ph.D., 1963-1992, Associate Professor of Spanish

Varela-Ibarra, José L., Ph.D., 1976-1991, Associate Professor of Spanish, SDSU Imperial Valley

Young, Ronald R., Ph.D., 1971-2003, Associate Professor of Spanish

Undergraduate Information

Spanish

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 134
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6588 / FAX: 619-594-5293

The Major

Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world and the second most frequently used language in the Southwest. Because of San Diego’s proximity to Mexico and other Spanish- speaking countries, many students here are interested in learning Spanish. Their reasons range from practical application in jobs, travel, reading or recreation to a curiosity about the culture or literature of Spanish-speaking countries. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers a wide range of courses and programs designed to satisfy the varied needs of students who enter the Spanish major.

Advising

All College of Arts and Letters majors are urged to consult with their department adviser at the Student Success Center as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Students electing the study of Spanish to fulfill the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences must successfully complete SPAN 201  or the equivalent level of achievement. The usual sequence of coursework is SPAN 101 , SPAN 102 , and SPAN 201 . Refer to General Education Requirements  for additional ways to satisfy competency.

High School Equivalents

High school language other than English courses may be used for purposes of placement in college courses and may be counted toward meeting the language requirement in various majors. These high school courses will not count as college credit toward graduation. Secondary school language courses can be used as follows:

1. The first two years of high school level language count as the equivalent of the first semester of a college level course.
2. The first three years of high school level language count as the equivalent of the first two college semesters.
3. Four years of high school level language count as the equivalent of three college semesters or five college quarters, thus fulfilling the language requirement. Students entering San Diego State University with five or six years of high school Spanish may enroll in SPAN 202 ; the department recommends, however, that they take SPAN 301 .

Advanced Placement in Spanish*

1. Students scoring a 3 on the Spanish Language Advanced Placement Examination will receive 6 units of academic credit for SPAN 201  and SPAN 211 . The continuation placement level with this score is SPAN 202  and/or SPAN 212 . Credit will not be awarded for numbered Spanish courses (SPAN 101 , SPAN 102 , SPAN 281 ).
2. Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the Spanish Language Advanced Placement Examination will receive 6 units of academic credit for SPAN 202  and SPAN 212 . The continuation placement level with these scores is SPAN 301  or SPAN 381 . Credit will not be awarded for lower division Spanish courses (SPAN 101 , SPAN 102 , SPAN 201 , SPAN 211 , SPAN 281 , SPAN 282 ).

*AP credit automatically clears the language requirement.

International Baccalaureate

Students with the International Baccalaureate in Spanish will be awarded six units of Spanish equal to credit in SPAN 202  and SPAN 212 . International Baccalaureate students will not receive duplicate credit for Advanced Placement in Spanish scores nor for enrollment in any lower division Spanish language courses.

Portuguese

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 134
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6588 / FAX: 619-594-5293

Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Students electing the study of Portuguese to fulfill the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences must successfully complete PORT 203  or the equivalent level of achievement. Refer to General Education Requirements  for additional ways to satisfy competency.

High School Equivalents

High school language other than English courses may be used for purposes of placement in college courses and may be counted toward meeting the language requirement in various majors. These high school courses will not count as college credit toward graduation.

Secondary school language courses can be used as follows:

1. The first two years of high school level language count as the equivalent of the first semester of a college level course.
2. The first three years of high school level language count as the equivalent of the first two college semesters.
3. Four years of high school level language count as the equivalent of three college semesters or five college quarters, thus fulfilling the language requirement.

Graduate Information

OFFICE: Arts and Letters 134
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6588 / FAX: 619-594-5293

Associateships

Graduate teaching associateships in Spanish are available to a limited number of qualified students. New teaching associates are required to enroll in SPAN 770  during their first semester as teaching associates. Application blanks and additional information may be secured from the chair of the department.

General Information

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in Spanish. The program prepares students for a professional career in teaching.

Library facilities include rich resources in Spanish literature and linguistics, including books, periodicals and newspapers. A Language Acquisition Resource Center with modern equipment is available to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Admission to Graduate Study

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin. An undergraduate major in Spanish is preferable. Applicants from other disciplines may be accepted at the discretion of the graduate admissions committee.

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the $70 application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions
Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all postsecondary institutions attended;
   • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
   • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

The following materials should be mailed or delivered to:

Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures
(Attention: Graduate Adviser)
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7703

1. Three letters of recommendation from professors who are familiar with your abilities as a student;
2. Statement of purpose in Spanish;
3. Writing sample (preferably a research paper or essay written in Spanish that was submitted in an undergraduate course from 6 to 10 pages).

Programs

• Portuguese and Brazilian Language and Cultures Minor
• Spanish for the Professions Certificate
• Spanish Minor
• Spanish Translation and Interpretation Studies Certificate
• Spanish, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Spanish, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences in preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Foreign Languages
• Spanish, M.A.

Return to: Curricula by Department