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Transfer Information

Transferring a language course to Duke from another institution may involve up to 3 separate steps:

  • Obtaining course credit which counts toward fulfilling the 34 courses required for graduation;
  • Obtaining Mode of Inquiry FL coding which counts towards fulfilling your language requirement; and
  • Determining the next language course you need to take at Duke to fulfill your language requirement (if it is not completed by this transfer course).

NOTE: Obtaining Spanish 888 or Spanish 999 credit toward the 34 courses required for graduation does not automatically mean that the course will also receive the Mode of Inquiry FL code. Likewise, obtaining a Mode of Inquiry FL code for a transfer course does not automatically mean that you will be prepared to successfully complete a Spanish course at Duke at a higher level.

1. Prior to taking the transfer course:


      a. Familiarize yourself with the procedures for transferring a course for credit given on the T-   

          Reqs web site at http://www.aas.duke.edu/trinity/t-reqs/transfercredit.html
          If you intend to request a FL coding for the transfer course in Spanish, also

          familiarize yourself with the requirements given in parts 2 and 3 below.

      b. In order to transfer to Duke and count as one course credit toward your graduation, the first

          requirement is that the Spanish course must not have fewer contact hours than the equivalent

          course taught on campus at Duke. A Duke language course contact hour is no less than 50

          minutes.

Minimum required contact hours:

Spanish 1: 70
Spanish 2: 70
Spanish 14: 112
Spanish 63: 42
Spanish 76: 42
Spanish 100 and above: 42


      c. In addition to fulfilling the contact hour requirement, Spanish courses that are to be transferred

          for elective credit must meet the following specific minimum requirements:

  • All coursework and class discussion in Spanish, unless seeking course equivalency for the course in translation.
         
  • Substantive linguistic and cultural content.
        
  • Student with three years or more of High school Spanish must not request transfer credit for Spanish 001.
  • Student with more than 1 year of High School Spanish must not request transfer credit for Spanish 014.
  • Class size must not exceed 20 students
  • Obtain a copy of the course description and any other documentation needed to show that the transfer course meets these minimum requirements.

       d. Download the Transfer Course Approval Form from the T-Reqs web site and fill out the top of

the form. Bring the form, the calculation for part b, and the documentation for part c to the Assistant to the DUS in Romance Studies, Ms. Susie Waller, located in Languages 107. If approved, the course will be listed on the form as an elective course in Spanish. (Spanish 888 will be used to designate an elective course at the introductory or intermediate level and Spanish 999 will be used to designate an elective course at the advanced level.)

       e. Take the signed form and documentation to the office of your academic dean for final

           approval. Upon approval, the dean will send the form to the Registrar.

2. While taking the transfer course. If you may later want to request that the transfer course count toward fulfilling your Duke language requirement, you should save all the course materials such as the syllabus, textbooks, papers written, quizzes, exams, etc.

3. After taking the transfer course.


       a. Assuming satisfactory completion of the course with a grade of C- or better, request that

          the Registrar of the institution you attended send a copy of your transcript to the Registrar of

          Duke University, Box 90054, Durham, NC, 27708. Upon receipt of your dean's approval and

          the transcript showing successful completion of the course, the Registrar will add the transfer

          course to your Duke transcript as Spanish 888 or Spanish 999.

       b. If you want the transfer course to count toward fulfilling your Duke language requirement,

          you must request that the transfer course be granted the foreign language Mode of Inquiry

          code, FL.

See part c, below, for requirements for FL Mode of Inquiry credit for an elementary or intermediate Spanish course.

See part d, below, for requirement for FL Mode of Inquiry credit for an advanced level Spanish course (Spanish 101 or higher).

       c. For a course that was approved for transfer to Duke by the DUS in Romance Studies and

          your academic dean with a course number of Spanish 888, the requirement for obtaining a FL

          code is that the transfer course must be equivalent to the corresponding Duke language

          course. The requirements for establishing equivalency are given below.

General requirements:

Language Modalities: Speaking, writing, listening, reading, culture.

Teaching Methodology: Communicative, content based approach; language use in context; use of authentic materials; use of audio and video for development of listening comprehension; regular assignments that focus on writing as a process. Cultural component integrated into teaching and assessment practices.

Writing component: At least 2 formal compositions in Spanish 1, 2, 63 and 76. All composition assignments must include at least one revision stage. Length of compositions for Spanish 1 should be one page, for Spanish 2 is 1 page and 1 page and a half; Spanish 63 and Sp076 is 2 pages. In addition to the formal compositions, the course should include at least 4 informal writing assignments such as electronic forum, journals, etc. Emphasis on developing competency in diverse registers and text types.

Evaluation: For Spanish 1-76, student should be evaluated on all language modalities: two major tests, one midterm, and comprehensive final exam; 2 oral exams.

Reading: Student should be exposed to extensive reading. Adapted reading for Spanish 1, 2, and 14; original readings for Spanish 63, 76.
Class size must not exceed 20 students.

Course-specific requirements:

Spanish 1 must cover at least half of traditional elementary textbook (including present and past tenses, direct and indirect object pronouns).

Spanish 2 must complete the study of a traditional elementary textbook (including future tenses, conditional and subjunctive moods, conjunctions, prepositions, relative pronouns).

Spanish 14 must include everything covered in Spanish 1 and 2 (above)

Spanish 63 must include a complete review of elementary grammar (everything covered in Spanish 1 and 2), application of reading strategies to progressively longer authentic texts, and regular speaking practice. Reading assignments at end of course must be equivalent to a 100-150 page novel (not adapted for classroom use).

Spanish 76 must include a complete review of basic intermediate level grammar, discussion of a diversity of literary texts and other media (film, news, short essays, cartoons, etc.). Reading assignments at end of course must be equivalent to a 150-200 page novel (not adapted for classroom use).

       d. For a course that was approved for transfer to Duke by the DUS of Romance Studies and

          your academic dean with a course number of Spanish 999, the requirements for obtaining a

          FL code are given below:

Reading: Student in literature or culture course should be exposed to extensive reading of original (rather than adapted) texts.

Spanish 101 must include extensive work in advanced Spanish grammar and some stylistics. Emphasis on developing competency in diverse registers and text types through process writing. Daily writing assignments, two exams on grammar and reading topics, five compositions and a final 6-7 page paper.

Spanish 104 must include a study in depth of Spanish morphology and syntax. Emphasis should be given to the reflection of grammar usage in real contexts. Evaluation in this course should include at least three 3- 4 page papers on a grammar issue.

Spanish 105 must include extensive work in oral production. Emphasis on developing oral competency in diverse registers. Daily oral assignments, and one major presentation on a socio-cultural or socio-political aspect of any Spanish speaking country.

In addition the minimum number of contact hours, transfer course syllabus, type and amount of required work, and evaluation methods must be equivalent to those of specific Duke Spanish course for which student is seeking credit.

      e. If the transfer course fulfills the requirements for the FL code given in part c or d above,

         download the Form for Requesting Modes of Inquiry Coding from the T-Reqs web site.

         Complete the form and submit it with the necessary documentation as directed on that form.

      f. If the transfer course is granted a Mode of Inquiry FL code, the FL code will be added to the

         course on your Duke Advisement Report. (Note: Modes of Inquiry designations do not appear

         your transcript.)

      g. A course that was approved as Spanish 999 will be left unchanged on your Duke transcript.

         However, a course that was approved for transfer as Spanish 888 will be changed on your

         Duke transcript to its equivalent Duke course number which means that you cannot

         repeat/take the equivalent Duke course to earn an additional letter grade, course credit, or FL

         code.

4. After receiving a Mode of Inquiry FL code for a transfer course.


      a. If the FL code fulfills your language requirement in Spanish at Duke, then no further action is

          necessary.


      b. If the FL code is not the last one you need in order to complete your language requirement in

          Spanish at Duke, contact the Director of the Spanish Language Program, Liliana Paredes, to

          schedule a placement exam. The exam results will be used to determine your preparedness

          for the next course in the Spanish language program sequence.  Liliana Paredes, 104

          Languages, 660-2437, lparedes@duke.edu