The Faculty
Chair: Elena Martnez
Deputy Chair: Wayne Finke Professors:
Associate Professors:
Assistant Professors:
Senior College Laboratory Technician:
Field Description
The study of divergent modes of expression and cultures serves to broaden students perspectives and deepen their understanding of both themselves and their world. Language students not only develop an oral and written command of the studied language but also gain a comprehensive knowledge of the civilizations and cultures of the countries where the language is spoken. Literary analysis develops the students critical faculties and sense of style as well. The department offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, and literature courses conducted in English.
The Majors
Spanish
The Spanish courses of the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature are designed to give students oral and written fluency in the language and to impart a knowledge of the literatures of Spain and Latin America. It is hoped that literary appreciation and critical methods will be developed and that the students cultural and intellectual vistas will be broadened.
Required Courses All students who major in Spanish will take a minimum of 24 credits in this field. Students who have had three or more years of Spanish in high school or the equivalent may start their electives immediately. Those who are not sufficiently proficient in the aural-oral use of the language are advised to take SPA 4000 Advanced Oral Communication I early in their programs. All students who major in Spanish are required to take the following courses: | |||
| Advanced Written Communication | 4 credits | |
| Introduction to Literary Theory | 3 credits | |
As part of the 24-credit requirement, majors will take at least one course from each of the following groups: | |||
| Group 1: Language and Linguistics | |||
| Advanced Oral Communication II | 4 credits | |
| Translation Workshop: Spanish to English | 3 credits | |
| Structures of Modern Spanish | 3 credits | |
| Phonetics | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Bilingualism | 3 credits | |
| History of the Spanish Language | 3 credits | |
Group 2: Latin American Literature | |||
| Contemporary Latin-American Theatre | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Novel | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Short Story | 3 credits | |
| Afro-Caribbean Literature | 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century Women’s Writing in Latin America | 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America I | 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America II | 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean I | 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean II | 3 credits | |
Group 3: Peninsular Literature | |||
| Spanish Medieval Literature | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literature of the Golden Age | 3 credits | |
| Neoclassicism to Romanticism | 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Drama | 3 credits | |
| The Generation of 98 | 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century Spanish Literature | 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Short Story | 3 credits | |
| Cervantes | 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature I | 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature II | 3 credits | |
Group 4: Culture and Civilization | |||
| Images of Women in Spanish Culture | 3 credits | |
| Civilization and Culture of Spain | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Film: Cinematic Representation of the Spanish Artistic Tradition | 3 credits | |
| Civilization and Culture of Latin America | 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in Spanish | 3 credits | |
| Independent Study | variable | |
| Honors Seminars | variable | |
Electives The remaining 12 credits will be chosen from the following list of advanced course offerings in Spanish: | |||
| Advanced Oral Communication I | 4 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication II | 4 credits | |
| Translation Workshop: Spanish to English | 3 credits | |
| Structures of Modern Spanish | 3 credits | |
| Phonetics | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Bilingualism | 3 credits | |
| History of the Spanish Language | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Medieval Literature | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literature of the Renaissance | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literature of the Golden Age | 3 credits | |
| Neoclassicism to Romanticism | 3 credits | |
| Modern Poetry | 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Drama | 3 credits | |
| The Modern Novel | 3 credits | |
| The Generation of 98 | 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century Spanish Literature | 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Short Story | 3 credits | |
| Cervantes | 3 credits | |
| Civilization and Culture of Spain | 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature I | 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature II | 3 credits | |
| Spanish Film: Cinematic Representations of the Spanish Artistic Tradition | 3 credits | |
| Nineteenth-Century Latin-American Literature Prior to Modernismo | 3 credits | |
| Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Latin-American Poetry | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Theatre | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Novel | 3 credits | |
| Modernismo in Latin-America | 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Short Story | 3 credits | |
| The Indian in the Novel of Spanish America | 3 credits | |
| Afro-Caribbean Literature | 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century Womens Writing in Latin America | 3 credits | |
| Civilizations and Cultures of Latin America | 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America I | 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America II | 3 credits | |
| Survey of Puerto Rican Literature I | 3 credits | |
| Survey of Puerto Rican Literature II | 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean I | 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean II | 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Global Markets I | 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Global Markets II | 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in Spanish | 3 credits | |
| Independent Study | variable | |
| Honors Seminars | variable | |
Arts and Sciences Ad Hoc Major
When a students educational objectives cannot be fully attained solely by study within an existing department, program, or school, he or she is given the option of devising an ad hoc pattern of courses in an area of concentration of his or her own choosing. A student may embark upon an ad hoc major following preparation and acceptance of a proposal outlining the area of study, the desired outcomes, and the educational values of the program. The program must be approved by the chairpersons of the appropriate departments and the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Students interested in including courses in French, Spanish, or Italian as part of an arts and sciences ad hoc major should contact the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature at 646-312-4210.
The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences ad hoc major requires 30–33 credits.
The Minors
A minor consists of a minimum of 9 credits as described below, not including courses taken toward the fulfillment of the base curriculum.
Chinese
Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in Chinese may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the Chinese section of the departments course offerings. Any 4000-level course in Chinese may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
French
Advanced training in francophone language and literature is increasingly necessary for business, teaching, translation, and other professional careers. Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in these areas may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the French section of the departments offering. To complete their minors, students must enroll in an appropriate capstone course. Any 4000- or 5000-level course in French may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
Hebrew
Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in Hebrew language and literature may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the Hebrew section of the departments course offerings. To complete their minors, they must enroll in an appropriate capstone course. All 4000-level offerings in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature or an independent studies course in Hebrew may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
Italian
Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in Italian language, literature, and culture may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the Italian section of the department. To complete their minors, students must enroll in an appropriate capstone course. Any 4000- or 5000-level course in Italian may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
Japanese
Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in Japanese may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the Japanese section of the departments course offerings. Any 4000-level course in Japanese may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
Spanish
Advanced training in Spanish language and literature is increasingly necessary for business, teaching, translation, and other professional careers. Students who choose to develop their intellectual abilities in these areas may select two courses at the 3000 level or above from the Spanish section of the department. To complete their minors, students must enroll in an appropriate capstone course. Any 4000- or 5000-level course in Spanish may serve as the capstone course for the Tier III requirement.
Spanish-English Translation
Translation is the language of global communication, whether the text to be translated is a company's year-end report, an ad campaign, a politician's speech, a poem, or a novel. The interdisciplinary Minor in Spanish-English Translation, suitable for both Arts and Sciences and Business majors, allows students with good skills in English and Spanish to perfect their knowledge of both languages and gain the ability to produce fluent, accurate, and effective translations between them. The minor is open to all students who have successfully completed a 4000-level Literature or Culture and Civilization course in Spanish. To complete the minor, students must take three courses: SPA 4003, Spanish-English Translation Workshop; the capstone, SPA 4004, Seminar in Translation: Spanish-English; and one 3000 or 4000-level course from the list of approved electives offered by the Departments of English, Communication Studies, or Modern Languages and Comparative Literature.
Program Prerequisite: Any 4000-level course in Literature or Culture and Civilization offered by the MLCL Department's Spanish program. Required Courses: Capstone Course: | |||
| Seminar in Translation: Spanish-English | 3 credits | |
Workshop: | |||
| Translation Workshop: Spanish to English | 3 credits | |
| |||
| Intercultural Communication | 3 credits | |
| Advanced Essay Writing: Style and Styles in Prose | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Linguistics and Language Learning ( | 3 credits | |
| The Structure and History of English ( | 3 credits | |
| Globalization of English ( | 3 credits | |
| Stylistics | 3 credits | |
| Structures of Modern Spanish | 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Bilingualism | 3 credits | |
| History of the Spanish Language | 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Global Markets I | 3 credits | |
| or | |||
| Spanish for Global Markets II | 3 credits | |
Comparative Literature
The minor in comparative literature provides students with a thorough knowledge of several national literatures through comparative and interdisciplinary study. Students must complete three courses at the 3000 level or higher, at least one of which must be a capstone, 4000-level course. Students are also encouraged to pursue the study of a foreign language.
Special Program
Majors in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature will be admitted to the honors program in their junior and senior years with the following provisions: that a letter of recommendation from the students sponsor be written and reviewed by an Honors Program Committee consisting of three members chosen by the chairperson of the department, that the student has at least 12 credits in modern languages, and that the student has at least a 3.4 average in his or her major and that his or her overall record is good.
Structure: Students must take courses 6001 and 6002 either consecutively or simultaneously. Course 6002 can be a continuation of 6001, or it can be in a related field. In this context, a related field may be construed as comparative literature or linguistics.
Honors Paper 60032 credits: The final outcome of courses 6001 and 6002 will be an honors paper written by the student and supervised by a sponsor. The honors paper, after being approved by the sponsor, will be read by two other members of the department who are to be appointed by an Honors Program Committee. The degree with honors will be awarded by the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences upon recom - mendation of the department, whose minimum standards for such recommendation will be the grade of A in all three courses.
| Elementary Spanish I and II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester | |
| Elementary Spanish II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Continuing Spanish for Non-Heritage Speakers | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate Spanish I | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate Spanish II | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Intermediate Spanish for Business | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication I | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication II | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Translation Workshop: Spanish to English | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Seminar in Translation: Spanish-English | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Written Communication | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Structures of Modern Spanish | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Phonetics | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Bilingualism | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of the Spanish Language | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Introduction to Literary Theory | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Medieval Literature of Spain | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Images of Women in Spanish Culture | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literature of the Renaissance | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literature of the Golden Age | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Neoclassicism to Romanticism | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Modern Poetry | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Drama | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern Novel | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Generation of '98 | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century Spanish Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Modern Spanish Short Story | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Cervantes | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Civilization and Culture of Spain | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of Spanish Literature II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Film | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Nineteenth-Century Latin-American Literature Prior to Modernism | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Latin-American Poetry | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Theatre | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Novel | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Modernismo in Latin America | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin-American Short Story | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Indian in the Novel of Spanish America | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Afro-Caribbean Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin American Fiction | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Latin American Women?s Literature: Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Civilizations and Cultures of Latin America | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Latin America II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The City in Latin American Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Latin American Essay: From the Nineteenth-Century to the Present | Prerequisite: SPA 3002 or three years of high school Spanish or equivalent or departmental permission | |
| Latin American Cinema | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Cuban Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Survey of Puerto Rican Literature I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Hispanic Caribbean II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Global Markets I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish for Global Markets II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in Spanish | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Independent Study | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Honors | Credits flexible; usually 4 credits per term |
| Advanced Beginners French | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate French I | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate French II | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Advanced Intermediate French | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Commercial French I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Commercial French II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication I | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication II | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Advanced Composition | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Advanced Grammar and Syntax | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Eighteenth Century | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern Novel: 1800-1920s | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary French Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern French Short Story | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Literary Avant-Garde in France 1898-1945 | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of French Literature I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of French Literature II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Women Writers in French | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| French Comedy from Moli?re to the Present | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Black French Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Commercial French I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Commercial French II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary French Cinema and Society | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in French | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Translation Workshop I | 2 hours; 2 credits | |
| Translation Workshop II | 2 hours; 2 credits | |
| Translation Workshop IIIII | 2 hours; 2 credits | |
| Translation Workshop IV | 2 hours; 2 credits | |
| Elementary French I and II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester | |
| Independent Study | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Honors | Credits flexible; usually 4 credits per term |
| Intensive Intermediate Japanese I | 4 hours; 4 credits each semester | |
| Intensive Intermediate Japanese II | 4 hours; 4 credits each semester | |
| "Contemporary Japanese Literature, Film, and Culture" | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Japanese for Global Markets | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| IND STUDY JAPAN II | 3 credits; 3 hours | |
| Elementary Japanese I and II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester |
| Civilization and Culture of Italy (in English) | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Italian-American Contributions (in English) | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate Italian I | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Intensive Intermediate Italian II | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Commercial Italian I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Commercial Italian II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Italian Culture | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Oral Communication I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of Italian Literature I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of Italian Literature II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Italian Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Commercial Italian I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Advanced Commercial Italian II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in Italian | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Elementary Italian I and II | 3 hours; 3 credits per semester | |
| Independent Study | Hours and credits to be arranged | |
| Honors | Credits flexible; usually 4 credits per term |
| Elementary Chinese I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Elementary Chinese II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Upper Elementary Chinese I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Upper Elementary Chinese II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Lower Intermediate Chinese | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Upper Intermediate Chinese | 4 hours; 4 credits | |
| Chinese for Heritage Students I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Chinese for Heritage Students II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Classical Chinese Literature I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Classical Chinese Literature II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Chinese Cinema | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Business Chinese I | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Business Chinese II | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Studies in Chinese | 3 hours; 3 credits |
| Italian Cinema | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Cinema | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Great Works of Literature I | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Great Works of Literature II | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Archaeology and the Bible | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Women and Family in the Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Survey of Caribbean Literature in English (Cross-listed with BLS & ENG) | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern Hero in Contemporary Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin American Fiction | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Latino/a Literature in the U.S. | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Italy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| ITALIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN THE U.S.: CULTURE AND LITERATURE | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Works of Cervantes | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of French Cinema | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Post-Colonial French Literature of Africa and the Caribbean | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Topics in Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Laughter Through Tears: Classic Yiddish Fiction in Translation | "3.0 Hours, 3.0 Credits" | |
| The City and the Text: Representations of the City in Modern and Contemporary World Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Literary Theory | 3 credits; 3credits | |
| Translating Between Worlds: Literature and Anthropology | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Immigration Cinema: Migrations and Border Crossings to the U.S. and Europe | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| "African Diasporas: U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean" | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Writers in New York City | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| "Language, Literature, and Culture of Japan" | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Critical Approaches to Japanese Popular Culture | "3.0 Hours, 3.0 Credits" | |
| HON GRT WORKS LIT I | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hon Grt Works Lit II | 4 hours; 3 credits |
| The Literature of France | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Existential Themes in Contemporary French Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Twentieth-Century French Adaptations of the Greek Myths | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Literary Masterpieces | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Italian Cinema | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| French Cinema | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Spanish Cinema | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Great Works of Literature I | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Great Works of Literature II | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Archaeology and the Bible | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Women and Family in the Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Survey of Caribbean Literature in English (Cross-listed with BLS & ENG) | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern Hero in Contemporary Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Sixties in America | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Contemporary Latin American Fiction | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Literature of Italy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Works of Cervantes | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| History of French Cinema | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Post-Colonial French Literature of Africa and the Caribbean | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Special Topics in Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The City and the Text: Representations of the City in Modern and Contemporary World Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Immigration Cinema: Migrations and Border Crossings to the U.S. and Europe | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hispanic Writers in New York City | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| "Language, Literature, and Culture of Japan" | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hon Grt Works Lit I | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hon Grt Works Lit II | 4 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hon Immigrtn Cinema | 3 hours; 3 credits |
| Dead Sea Scrolls in English Translation | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Hebrew Literature in English Translation | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Yiddish Literature in English Translation | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Literature of the Holocaust in English Translation | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Archaeology and the Bible | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Women and Family in the Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Modern Hero in Contemporary Literature | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Independent Study | Hours and credits to be arranged |
| The Literature of Italy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| The Works of Cervantes | 3 hours; 3 credits |