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2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Spanish Minor

Requirements for a Minor in Spanish

The minor in Spanish is designed for students majoring in the professions or other disciplines who wish to enhance their knowledge of the primary field by perfecting their Spanish language skills and comprehension of culture. Students choosing Spanish as a minor program must complete a total of 21 hours of Spanish beyond the 200-level. The minor is especially geared toward students in the professions; it is strongly recommended that minors take the appropriate courses for their field (from SPA 304, SPA 305, and SPA 306), as well as SPA 303 - Professional Writing. In addition, students choosing Spanish as a teachable minor must take two civilization and culture courses, SPA 314, and SPA 335. The total number of credits required for the minor is the same regardless of the emphasis.

Credits for SPA 101, SPA 102, SPA 150, SPA 201, SPA 202, SPA 203, or SPA 204 will not be counted toward the major or minor.

Requirements for a Spanish Secondary Education Minor

Students choosing Spanish as a teachable minor must complete 21 credits including: two civilization and culture courses, SPA 314, and SPA 335. In addition, students with a Spanish Secondary Education minor must study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for a minimum of one semester (12 to 15 credits in Spanish at the 300-level) in a departmentally-approved program. Courses taken during the study abroad semester may fulfill some courses required for the minor. The semester abroad should take place after students have completed SPA 322. Students who cannot meet this requirement will need to complete an alternative plan approved by the Spanish section's study abroad committee. Students interested in pursuing a teaching degree in Spanish are urged to meet with a Spanish advisor as early as possible in their program.

It is a requirement of the Michigan Department of Education and Grand Valley's College of Education and Community Innovation that teacher candidates achieve the Advanced-Low level on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish before student teaching. Information sessions on the OPI and other requirements for certification are provided regularly, but students should work closely with their advisor in Spanish. Students planning to teach Spanish are strongly encouraged to fulfill the study abroad requirement before attempting the OPI.

Credits for SPA 101, SPA 102, SPA 150, SPA 201, SPA 202, SPA 203, or SPA 204 will not be counted toward the major or minor.

Requirements for a Spanish Elementary Education Minor

Students choosing Spanish as a teachable minor for elementary education certification (in conjunction with the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teachers major) must complete 27 credits including:

Select two of the following three courses:

AND complete the following:

A student who wishes to complete the Spanish elementary education minor must also complete the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teachers (PCKET) major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the elementary education major in the College of Education and Community Innovation. Due to the complex and extensive nature of the combined programs, minors in Spanish elementary education should consult regularly with both PCKET and Spanish advisors. It is a requirement of the Michigan Department of Education and Grand Valley's College of Education and Community Innovation that teacher candidates achieve the advanced low level on the oral proficiency interview (OPI) in Spanish before student teaching. Students interested in teaching in immersion or dual language programs should plan to develop advanced high oral proficiency. Information sessions on the OPI and other requirements for certification are provided regularly, but students should work closely with an advisor in Spanish. Students are urged to meet with a Spanish advisor as early as possible in their program and strongly encouraged to study abroad for at least one semester. Credits for SPA 101, SPA 102, SPA 150, SPA 201, SPA 202, SPA 203, or SPA 204 will not be counted toward the major or minor.


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