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Spanish

Spanish


More than 410 million people speak Spanish as their primary language, and 31 million of them live in the United States. As these numbers continue to grow, it is becoming more and more important for business, travel and communication that students study Spanish. Students in OU's Spanish program read, write and speak the language fluently. They are prepared for a variety of careers, including translator, customs officer, diplomat and travel agent. These students not only gain important reading and writing skills, but they also get insight into and understanding of the society through literature and culture courses.

Degrees Offered

Students majoring in Spanish graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree. A student can then choose to pursue a Master of Arts, Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration or Doctor of Philosophy degree.


Deadlines to apply for:

  • Fall Admission is February 1
  • Spring Admission is October 1

To be considered for admission to the M.A. program in Spanish a student must:

  • Hold a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature(s), or equivalent is strongly recommended.
  • Have a 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
  • Have excellent proficiency in spoken and written Spanish.

Applicants who hold a B.A. in Spanish but do not have the requisite 3.0 grade point average may be admitted on probation for one semester, provided they have at least a 2.75 grade point average.

Course work in fields other than Spanish literature (for example, Master's or doctoral work in education) will not be applied to the graduate degree in Spanish

Admission in all cases will be determined by the Spanish faculty

Students in the non-thesis program must complete thirty-three hours of acceptable graduate-level course work (including the courses specifically required) and receive a passing grade on the final comprehensive examination.

Requirements for the thesis program are thirty hours, which include twenty-seven hours of acceptable graduate-level course work (including the courses specifically required), 3 hours of thesis credits (maximum), and receive a passing grade on the thesis.

  • At least three seminars (9 credit hours) in Spanish Peninsular Literature and three seminars (9 credit hours) in Spanish-American Literature.

  • The remaining SPAN hours for both the thesis (9 credit hours) and non-thesis options (15 credit hours) are chosen by the students, depending on their needs and wants.The graduate liaison approves each case, but flexibility is essential.

  • Note: A total not to exceed 6 graduate hours at the MLLL level, specifically for the following two courses: 1) MLLL 5063 Early Literary Criticism and 2) MLLL 5073 Contemporary Literary Criticism is allowed as part of the major.

  • All Graduate Teaching Assistants are required during their first year to enroll in MLLL 5813, Teaching Foreign Languages. GTAs who have already had this course or one similar to it may be exempted.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistants are required to maintain enrollment in a minimum of five credit hours.

  • A comprehensive examination is required for the non-thesis programs. The examination is administered during the twelfth and thirteenth week of each semester. It is based on courses taken by the student and on the reading list.

Deadlines to apply for:

  • Fall Admission is February 1
  • Spring Admission is October 1

Prerequisites for admission to the Ph.D. program in Spanish include the following:

  • Master's degree in Spanish or equivalent. 3.50 (on the 4.00 scale) on all graduate course work.
  • Students entering the program are encouraged to show evidence of residence in a Spanish-speaking country.
  • The total number of hours required for the Ph.D. is ninety hours beyond the Bachelor's degree, including credit earned for the M.A., if applicable to the Ph.D. program.
  • Only graduate-level courses (4000/5000 level) preceded by a "G" in the General Course Catalog are applicable toward the Ph.D. major and concentration.

A concentration consisting of nine hours as approved by the student's committee.

The following courses were strongly recommended for students who started the program before the spring of 2014, are now required for students who will start the program in the fall of 2014 or later:

  • SPAN 5713 (History of the Spanish Language)
  • MLLL 5063 (Early Literary Criticism)
  • MLLL 5073 (Contemporary Literary Criticism)

All Graduate Teaching Assistants are required during their first year to enroll in MLLL 5813, Teaching Foreign Languages. GTAs who have already had this course or one similar to it may be exempted.

Before completion of the degree, students must demonstrate reading competency in a second language. In order to do so, they may take the departmental Graduate Reading Exam (pdf) or complete two semesters or ten hours in another language.

A general examination based on coursework and a reading list established in consultation with the student's committee members is required for the Ph.D. 

Graduate Teaching Assistants are required to maintain enrollment in a minimum of five credit hours of graduate-level courses per semester.

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Spanish at OU

  • Many students in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics choose to study abroad, and OU has one of the best study-abroad programs in the country.
  • Faculty members in the Spanish program have won such prestigious awards as the Fulbright Fellowship. They have also been recognized for their accomplishments in publications and have produced a number of books and journal articles.
  • OU is also home to the literary magazine World Literature Today (WLT), and students have the opportunity to meet with writers from countries around the world. In addition, OU graduate students referee and publish the literary journal PEGASO in affiliation with WLT.
  • Public and private schools
  • Hospitals
  • Local/state government agencies
  • Non-profit (501-c3) organizations
  • FBI, DEA, U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security
  • Child welfare organizations and social service departments
  • SPAN 1115 Beginning Spanish
    • An elementary course in understanding, speaking, reading and writing Spanish. Laboratory. This course does not count for major credit in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. 
  • SPAN 1225 Beginning Spanish Continued
    • An elementary course in understanding, speaking, reading and writing Spanish. Laboratory. This course does not count for major credit in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. Prerequisite: 1115
  • SPAN 2113 Intermediate Spanish
    • Develops reading skills and control of grammar while cultivating depth of oral and writing ability. Emphasis on expansion of vocabulary and strong re-enforcement of grammatical structures. Reading and discussion of texts of literary and cultural interest. Oral and written assignments. Prerequisite: 1225 
  • SPAN 2223 Intermediate Spanish Continued
    • Refines reading skill and mastery of grammar. Emphasis on sophisticated vocabulary and understanding of grammatical structures. Literary and cultural texts discussed in oral and essay form. Prerequisite: 2113.
  • SPAN 3073 Grammar in Conversational Communication
    • Aim is to improve students' conversational skills through an active use of the Spanish language. By using a contextualized content-based approach, focuses on seven core communicative functions and engages in meaningful communicative practices through listening and speaking activities related to cinema and other forms of cultural production. Prerequisite: SPAN 2223
  • SPAN 3423 Grammar in Written Communication
    • Further develops communicative abilities as well as increasing students' knowledge and ability to produce a variety of forms of cultural production in the Spanish language. Writing as a process that includes brainstorming, organization, outline, drafts and revisions will be learned. Familiarity with authentic texts written in different styles will be developed. Prerequisite: SPAN 2223
  • SPAN 3853 Introducation to Hispanic Literature and Culture
    • Initiates students into the literatures and cultures of the Hispanic world, both in Spain and Latin America. Teaches how to analyze literature by literary genres and movements. Emphasis on all four language skills (hearing, speaking, reading, and writing) and culture. Prerequisite: SPAN 2223.
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Spanish Faculty and Advisors

Luis Cortest.
Luis Cortest

Section Head, Full Professor, Medieval Spanish Literature and Culture


lcortest@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 130
Luis Cortest's Bio

Dan Anderson.
Dan Anderson

1st-Year Coordinator,
Instructor, Spanish 


Daniel.M.Anderson-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 113
Dan Anderson's Bio

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Kristin Aguilar

Instructor, Spanish


kirstin.m.aguilar-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 127
Kristin Aguilar's Bio

Esther Andres Montecatini.
Esther Andres Montecatini
Yesenia Blanco
Yesenia Blanco

Lecturer, Spanish


yesenia.blanco-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Yesenia Blanco's Bio

Bruce Boggs.
Bruce Boggs

Associate Professor, Spanish


baboggs@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 225A
Bruce Bogg's Bio

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Adriana Chávez-Losoya

Instructor, Spanish
 


adrianacl@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 115
Adriana Chávez-Losoya's Bio

Bobby Clinton.
Bobby Clinton

Lecturer, Spanish
 


bobclinton@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Bobby Clinton's Bio

Reinaldo Cortés-Quantip.
Reinaldo Cortés-Quantip

Assistant to the Graduate Liaison, Lecturer, Spanish


rcortes@ou.edu
Copeland Hall 118
Reinaldo Cortés-Quantip's Bio

Rachel Winters Cortest.
Rachel Cortest

Instructor, Spanish


rcortest@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 116
Rachel Cortest's Bio

Leanee Díaz Sardinas.
Leanee Díaz Sardinas

Lecturer, Spanish


diazsardinas@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 103C
Leanee Díaz Sardinas's Bio


 

Tyson Echelle.
Tyson Echelle

Lecturer, Spanish

 


Tyson.S.Echelle-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 127
Tyson Echelle's Bio

Shawn Gralla.
Shawn Gralla

Instructor, Spanish 
 


shawn.m.gralla-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 220
Shawn Gralla's Bio

Arturo Gutiérrez-Plaza.
Arturo Gutiérrez-Plaza

Assistant Professor and Graduate Liaison, Latin American Literature and Culture


Arturo.J.Gutiérrez.Plaza-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 225B
Arturo Gutiérrez-Plaza's Bio

Jennifer Jarvis-Denny.
Jennifer Jarvis-Denny

Instructor, Spanish
 


jjarvisdenny@ou.edu
OMS Room 3685
Jennifer Jarvis-Denny's Bio

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Humberto Medina

Lecturer, 2nd-Year Coordinator, Spanish


hjmedina@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 220
Humberto Medina's Bio

Francis Watlington.
Daniel Raso-Llarás

Lecturer, Spanish


daniel.raso.llaras-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 126
Daniel Raso Llaras's Bio

Marcelo Rioseco.
Marcelo Rioseco

Associate Professor, Latin American Literature


mrioseco@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 105/106
Marcelo Rioseco's Bio

Isis Pamela Rodríguez.
Isis Pamela Rodríguez Lopez

Instructor, Spanish


iprodriguez@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Isis Pamela Rodríguez's Bio

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Alicia Salcido

Instructor, Spanish


asalcido@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 103A
Alicia Salcido's Bio

Emilio Sánchez Mendoza.
Emilio Sánchez Mendoza

Instructor, Spanish


emiliosanchez@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 211
Emilio Sánchez Mendoza's Bio

Luis Silve.
Luis Silve

Instructor, Spanish


lsilve@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 225D
Luis Silve's Bio

Irma Tomaszewski.
Irma Tomaszewski

Instructor, Spanish


Irma.I.Tomaszewski-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 127
Irma Tomaszewski's Bio

Diego Valdecantos Monteagudo.
Diego Valdecantos Monteagudo

Lecturer, Spanish


diegovalmon@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 217
Diego Valdecantos Monteagudo's Bio

Victoria Correa Carey
Victoria Correa Carey

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.
 


victoria.correa.carey-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Victoria Correa Carey's Bio

Christian Doig Ruiz
Christian Doig Ruiz

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish Ph.D.


christian.doig@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Christian Doig Ruiz's Bio

Pío Gasca
Pío Gasca

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish Ph.D
 


gascapa-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Pío Gasca's Bio

José Antonio Núñez
José Antonio Núñez

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish Ph.D.


Antonio.Nunez@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 221D
José Antonio Núñez's Bio

Diego Valdecantos Monteagudo.
CARLOS J. PEREZ DE ARCE BOLADOS

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish MA


cjperezdearcebolados@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Carlos Pérez de Arce B.'s Bio

Beverly Pérez-Perazzo
Beverly Pérez-Perazzo

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish Ph.D


bprego@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 232
Beverly Pérez-Perazzo's Bio

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AMELIA R. MAÑAS

Assistant Professor, Spanish


amelia.manas@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 216
Amelia R. Maña's Bio

María Marchand.
María Marchand

Instructor, Spanish


cmarchand@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 117
María Marchand's Bio

Fany Aracely Martínez Barahona.
Fany Aracely Martínez Barahona

Instructor, Spanish


fmartinez@ou.edu
Copeland Hall 120A
Fany Aracely Martínez Barahona's Bio

Francis Watlington.
Francis Watlington

Lecturer, Spanish


francis.watlington@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 225C
Francis Watlington's Bio

A. Robert Lauer.
A. Robert Lauer

Professor, Drama, Poetry, Prose, Film Studies


arlauer@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 131
A. Robert Lauer's Bio

Andrea Alfaro Álvarez
Andrea Alfaro Álvarez

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.


alfaroandrea@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Andrea Alfaro Álvarez's Bio

Amber Hernández
Alejandro Perez Segura

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.


wilson.alejandro.perez.segura-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Alejandro Perez Segura's Bio

Ashley Rogers.
Ashley Rogers

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A. 


Ashley.N.Rogers-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Ashleys's Bio

Antonio Sapene
Antonio Sapene

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.


antoniosapene@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Antonio Sapene's Bio

Iyan Smith Williams
Iyan Smith Williams

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.


iyan.smith.williams@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Iyan Smith Williams's Bio

Enereida Soto
Enereida Soto

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish Ph.D


Enereida.R.Soto.Gallegos-1@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Enereida Soto Gallegos's Bio

Trinidad Torres Escobar
Trinidad Torres Escobar

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Spanish M.A.


ttorres@ou.edu
Kaufman Hall 341
Trinidad Torres Escobar's Bio

Bryan Allwine Headshot.
Bryan Allwine

Academic Advisor

Office: Kaufman Hall, Room 203A
Email: bryan.allwine-1@ou.edu

Make Appointment with Bryan Allwine