Course Selection Guide
The Course Description and placement guidelines that follow should help you to place yourself into the proper gateway course given your background. Be aware in particular that your records will be reviewed to verify your eligibility for Spanish 001 and Spanish 014, since you may not enroll in either of these courses if you have had more than two years of Spanish in high school. Also keep in mind that if you have taken an AP test or SAT II test (with or without listening), you should use that score as your guide for selecting a course.
The following are the usual gateway courses students consider as first Spanish courses at Duke:
Elementary Courses
Course Description: Spanish 001
Elementary Spanish introduces the basic elements of the language and includes exposure to some aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures. Aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills receive equal attention. This course meets 5 times a week.. It covers present tense, present perfect, present progressive and the morphology (forms) of the past tenses. It introduces students to Spanish-speaking cultures through readings, audio texts and other authentic materials. Students read 2 stories of about 550 words each. Only if you fit the following profile will you be allowed to take the course.
Spanish 001 is appropriate for you if:
- You have two years (or less) of high school Spanish.
ATTENTION: If you have 3 (or more) years of high school Spanish, you MUST enroll in Spanish 002 or above - You have a score of 370 or lower on the SATII
- You did not read any texts in Spanish
Your records will be reviewed the first week of classes to verify your eligibility. If you have too much previous experience you will be dropped from Spanish 001.
Course Description: Spanish 002
Second semester of elementary Spanish continues with the introduction of the basic elements of Spanish. This course builds on the elements of the language acquired in Elementary Spanish 1. It covers the past tenses (preterit and imperfect), past progressive, the future tense, commands and an introduction to the present subjunctive. It also studies the direct and indirect object pronouns and possessive pronouns. It exposes students to Spanish-speaking cultures through readings, audio texts and other authentic materials. Students read 2 stories of about 1000 words each.
Spanish 002 is appropriate for you if:
- You have successfully completed Spanish 001 or its equivalent at the university level
- You have a score of 380-450 on the SATII
- You have studied Spanish for at least 2 years in high school and have covered material pertaining to Spanish 001 (see description of Spanish 001)
Course Description: Spanish 014
Spanish 014 is an intensive course; it covers the basic elementary language curriculum (Spanish 001 and 002) in one semester, targeted to students with none or very little experience in Spanish.
Spanish 014 is appropriate for you if:
- You have never studied Spanish
- You have maximum of one year of high school Spanish
- You have very little contact with a Spanish-speaking environment.
Intermediate Courses
Course Description: Spanish 063
Spanish 063 is the third semester Spanish course. This course is for students who have successfully completed Spanish 002 or its equivalent. The course includes a complete review of elementary grammar (everything covered in Spanish 001 and 002), past subjunctive, pluperfect tenses, application of reading strategies to progressively longer authentic texts, and regular speaking practice. There is a continued development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing with attention to expanding the range and complexity of grammar usage and vocabulary through exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures. Reading assignments at end of course are equivalent to a 100-150-page novel (not adapted for classroom use).
Spanish 063 is appropriate for you if:
- You have successfully completed Spanish 002.
- You have a score of 460-580 on the SATII, or a score 3 on the AP exam (language or literature)
- You have studied Spanish for at least 2 years in high school and have covered material pertaining to Spanish 002 (see description of Spanish 002)
Course Description: Spanish 076
Spanish 076 is the fourth semester Spanish course. This course is for students who have successfully completed Spanish 063 or its equivalent. Spanish 076 includes a complete review of basic intermediate level grammar, expansion of pronominal constructions, discourse connectors, and a range of conversational strategies. There is further development of the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. With emphasis on various writing tasks students expand their range and sophistication of grammar usage and vocabulary and exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures. Students build comprehension and produce texts of greater extension and complexity. This course prepares students for 100-level Spanish courses through literary texts and other media (film, news, short essays, cartoons, etc.). Reading assignments at the end of course are equivalent to a 150-200-page novel (not adapted for classroom use).
Spanish 076 is appropriate for you if:
- You have successfully completed Spanish 063.
- You have a score of 590-650 on the SATII, or a score 4 on the AP language exam.
- You have studied Spanish for at least 2 years in high school and have covered material pertaining to Spanish 063 (see description of Spanish 063)
Advanced Courses
100 level courses
100 level courses correspond to the 5th semester of Spanish and are built on the elements acquired in advanced intermediate Spanish. The Spanish Language Program offers a range of courses at the 100 level. See course descriptions below.
The 100 level courses are appropriate for you if:
- You have completed 076 or its equivalent.
- You have a score of 660+ on the SATII, or a score 4 on the AP literature exam; or a 5 in the language AP exam
- You have studied Spanish for at least 3 years in high school and have covered material pertaining to Spanish 076 (see description of Spanish 076)
- You learned Spanish outside the classroom but Spanish is not your dominant language
- You are a native speaker of Spanish and it is your dominant language-- As a native speaker of Spanish you should consider enrolling in Spanish 110: Introduction to Literature, Film, and Popular Culture or higher. If you feel that you want either grammar or writing skill development you may consider enrolling in Spanish 101: Advanced Spanish Writing or Spanish 104: Advanced Grammar. You are not eligible to enroll in Spanish 105: Discourse Strategies through Politics, Culture, and Society
Spanish 101: Advanced Spanish Writing
Development of composition skills related to expository and other forms of writing, focus on techniques for organizing information, vocabulary, editing, revising, rewriting and grammatical accuracy. Substantial work on the development of writing strategies through several short papers and a final long paper. This course is strongly recommended before enrollment in literature classes in Spanish.
Spanish 104: Advanced Spanish Grammar
Intended to foster students' reflection about Spanish grammar and to consolidate students' knowledge of the system of rules underlying the Spanish languages. Special attention given to grammar in oral and written communication. Not open to students who have previously taken both Spanish 101 and 105.
Spanish 105: Spanish for Oral Communication
Development of effective strategies for oral communication. Use of language ranges from informal to formal situations and concrete to abstract topics. Focus on developing structured arguments and increasing linguistic accuracy. Does not count towards the Spanish major or minor; not open to students who have previously taken both Spanish 101 and 104 or Native Speakers of Spanish.
Spanish 106A: Health, Culture and the Latino Community
Issues associated with access to the health care industry for growing Latino/a population in the US. Topics: cultural competency issues, medical practices, lexical knowledge related to the field. Develop research proposal informed by required 20 hours of service work with local community partners. Assessment on knowledge of content, oral and written Spanish, and participation in service. Recommended students take one 100-level Spanish course prior to enrolling. Pre-requisite: Spanish 76 or equivalent.
Spanish 106B: Andean Oral Tradition
Oral narrations of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru as a reservoir of indigenous traditional knowledge and wisdom. Taught in Spanish, with exposure to Aymara language.
Spanish 106CS: Issues of Education and Immigration
Community-based interaction with Durham Public Schools. Topics: Latino/a identity, access to education for immigrants, academic performance, assimilation, general pressures of family and peers, bilingualism, configurations of ethno-racial consciousness. Required 20 hours outside of class with assigned community partners. Assessment on knowledge of content, oral and written Spanish, and participation in service. Recommended students take one 100-level Spanish course prior to enrolling. Pre-requisite: Spanish 76 or equivalent.
Spanish 106ES: Latino/a Voices in Duke, Durham, and Beyond
Formation of Latino/a identity(ies) and community voices through the lens of cultural, political, and social issues at local and national level. Topics: Minority voices, power and class, linguistic and artistic expression. Required 20 hours outside of class working with Mariposa Stories Project in Durham Public Schools. Assessment on knowledge of content, oral and written Spanish, service. Recommended students take one 100-level Spanish course prior to enrolling.
Consult with your advisor if you are unsure of your course selection. If further questions arise, you may request an appointment with the Director of the Spanish Language Program at 684-8628 during the first week of classes.