Associate Professor Gordon Birrell, Department Chair
Chinese: Associate Professor: Shuqin Cui; Senior Lecturer: Lisa Ahnert; French: Professor: André Winandy; Associate Professor: William Beauchamp; Assistant Professors: David Aldstadt, Dayna Oscherwitz, Zoe Urbanek; Senior Lecturer: Rita Winandy; Lecturers: Gwen Aaron, Martha Nichols-Pecceu; Adjunct Lecturers: Therese Bishara, Sumita Doré, Kathleen Hugley-Cook; German: Associate Professors: Gordon Birrell, Marie-Louise Gättens, Jutta Van Selm. Hindi: Adjunct Lecturer: Manju Bansal. Italian: Associate Professor: Vincenzo Denardo; Lecturer: Brandy Alvarez, Teresa Brentegani, Adjunct Lecturers: Sandra Haas, Paola Buckley. Japanese: Lecturer: Nobuko Taguchi; Adjunct Lecturer: Tomiko Stahl; Latin: Adjunct Lecturer: Paula Lemmon. Russian: Adjunct Lecturer: Tatiana Zimakova . Spanish: Assistant Professors: Olga Colbert, Richard Gordon, Eric Kartchner; Senior Lecturers: Lucille Herrera, Verónica León, Betty Nelson; Lecturers: Pilar Chamorro, Angie Moron-Nozaleda, Daniel Wiegman. Adjunct Lecturers: Peggy Patterson, Jacqueline Wald.
The B.A. degree is offered in French, German, German Area Studies, Italian Area Studies, Spanish, and Foreign Languages.
Academic minors are available in Chinese, French, German, German Area Studies, Italian, Italian Area Studies, Japanese, Japanese Area Studies, Russian Area Studies, and Spanish.
Students wishing to specialize in two foreign languages may receive the B.A. degree in Foreign Languages by completing the requirements for the minor plus two additional advanced courses in Language I, and by completing the requirements for the minor in Language II. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser in Language I. Minors in area studies may not be applied to this major.
Requirements for the Minor in Chinese: Seventeen term hours, including 14 hours of language training, beginning with the intermediate level, as well as one FL course in Chinese culture, or one from History or Political Science, as follows:
CHIN 2401 and 2402
CHIN 3311 and 3312
One course from the following:
FL 3310, 3312, 3325; HIST 3393, or PLSC 3352
1401, 1402. Beginning Chinese. Introduction to spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. Course emphasizes intensive drills in sounds and tones, sentence structure, and a vocabulary of 500 characters. Students attend three weekly master classes plus two hours of practice in small groups. Computer, video, and audio assignments are required. Four credits per term. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of area chair.
2401, 2402. Intermediate Chinese. Enhances basic language skills learned in Beginning Chinese but focuses on language proficiency, particularly in the areas of description, narration, correspondence, and comparisons based on situational context. Students attend four weekly classes. Video and audio materials are used. Four credits per term. Prerequisite for 2401: C- or better in CHIN 1402 or permission of area chair. Prerequisite for 2402: C- or better in CHIN 2401 or permission of area chair.
3311. Advanced Chinese. This course emphasizes the requirement of skills in Mandarin Chinese through the study of selected topics in contemporary Chinese culture and society. Students develop the ability to express themselves in sustained oral and written forms. Prerequisite: Beginning and Intermediate Chinese.
3312. Advanced Chinese (Second Term). This course enhances students' proficiency in Mandarin Chinese through a multimedia software program. Special concentration is given to China's current affairs through the use of authentic journalistic materials television news and newspaper reports. Prerequisite: CHIN 3311.
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in Chinese. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of Chinese and the cultures of Chinese-speaking countries is relevant: Corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Chinese of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
4381. Readings in Chinese Literature and Culture. An upper-level course designed for students who have finished third-year Chinese. Students will enhance their four language skills, especially reading and writing, through a wide variety of primary, unedited texts. Prerequisite: CHIN 3312 or consent of area chair.
(See course descriptions at end of Foreign Languages and Literatures section.)
FL 3310 Transnational Chinese Cinema
FL 3312 Women in Modern China
FL 3325 Perspectives on Modern China
All courses are conducted in French.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree in French: Thirty-two credit hours, including FREN 2401 or the equivalent, and 28 hours of advanced courses. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser and must include the following: FREN 3101, 3355, 3356, 4370; six hours chosen from 4379, 4380, and 4381; plus six hours of 5000-level courses and six hours of elective French at the 4000 level or above. Study with SMU-in-Paris or SMU-in-the-South of France is strongly recommended.
Requirements for the Minor in French: A total of 20 hours, including FREN 2401 or the equivalent, plus 16 advanced hours: FREN 3101, 3355, 3356, 4370, and two additional courses at the 4000 level.
Language Courses
1401, 1402. Beginning French. Stresses acquisition of basic skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Five classes per week. Four credits per term. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of area chair.
2201. France Today: Culture, Society, Daily Life. In conjunction with FREN 2401, a systematic exploration of diverse aspects of French life, involving both classroom study and on-site investigation. Emphasis on contextual language acquisition, both written and oral. Prerequisite: Permission of program director. (SMU-in-the-South of France only)
2401. Intermediate French. Continues to strengthen the four language skills, with added emphasis on reading and writing. Five classes per week. Four credits per term. Prerequisite: C-or better in FREN 1402 or permission of area chair.
3101. French Phonics. Perfecting French pronunciation: individual sounds, word groups, rhythmic patterns, intonation. Use of audiocassettes and interactive software. Corequisite: FREN 3355. Prerequisite: FREN 2401.
3355. Advanced French I. Refinement of all four language skills. Special emphasis on conversation, particularly in the following areas: common social situations, narration, reporting in indirect discourse, expository oral presentation. Includes grammar review. Outside reading, compositions, use of audio and videocassettes. Corequisite: FREN 3101. Prerequisite: FREN 2401.
3356. Advanced French II. Refinement of all four language skills. Special emphasis on writing proficiency, particularly in the following areas: exposition, narration, description, correspondence, literary analysis. Includes grammar review, oral presentations, dictionary research, outside reading. Prerequisites: FREN 3101 and 3355.
4185, 4285,4385. Internship in French. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of French and the cultures of French-speaking countries is relevant: Corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in French of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation
4355. Advanced Spoken French. Practice in styles and genres of spoken French: exposé, literary explication, persuasion, recitation, formal versus informal conversation. Prerequisites: FREN 3355 and 3356.
4356. Advanced Communication Skills: The French-Language Media. An exploration of the many countries and regions of the French-speaking world through the use of films, videos, and the Internet, as well as expository texts from the French-language press and other media. Development of listening and reading comprehension, advanced conversational skills, and writing of short expository texts. Prerequisites: FREN 3355 and 3356.
4365. Introduction to French Cinema. An introduction to French cinema's major works, filmmakers, and trend with a continued emphasis on improvement of advanced French language skills. Prerequisites: FREN 3356 and 4370, or permission of the instructor and French Area chair.
4391. Commercial French for International Trade. An advanced course for international trade and communication. Prerequisites: FREN 3355 and 3356.
5361. Literary Translation: Theory and Practice. Exploring the relationship between interpretation and translation. Individual projects in a workshop setting. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 and two of the following courses: FREN 4379, 4380, 4381.
5365, 5466. Topics in French and Francophone Cinema. A seminar in French and Francophone film studies. Topic varies. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 or permission of the instructor. FREN 4365, Introduction to French, suggested.
Literature and Culture Courses
4370. Introduction to French Literary Texts. Strategies for reading and analyzing French and Francophone literary texts. Focus on the three principal genres: poetry, drama, and prose narrative. Prerequisites: FREN 3355 and 3356..
4373, 4374. French Civilization. The evolution of French society, with emphasis on cultural, artistic, and intellectual trends. Prerequisites: FREN 3355 and 3356. (SMU-in-Paris and SMU-in-the-South of France only)
4379. Introduction to French Cultures and Literatures I: Middle Ages to the Age of Louis XIV. Survey of French social, cultural, and literary histories from the time of Charlemagne to the end of the reign of Louis XIV. Prerequisites: FREN 3355, 3356, and 4370. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.
4380. Introduction to French Cultures and Literatures II: Enlightenment to the Belle Époque (1715-1900). Survey of French and Francophone social, cultural, and literary histories from the death of Louis XIV to the Dreyfus Affair. Prerequisites: FREN 3355, 3356, and 4370. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.
4381. Introduction to French Cultures and Literatures III: 1900 to the Present. Survey of French and Francophone social, cultural, and literary histories from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Prerequisites: FREN 3355, 3356, and 4370. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.
5320, 5321. Literary Periods. The study of a variety of authors and works with respect to the ways in which they define and reflect the literary, political, and social aspects of a given historical period. Specific topics vary. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 and two of the following courses: FREN 4379, 4380, 4381.
5334, 5335. Genre Studies. The examination of the works of several authors as a means of understanding the nature and evolution of a particular genre. Specific topics vary. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 and two of the following courses: FREN 4379, 4380, 4381.
5344, 5345. Literary Movements. The exploration of the conventions that shape a specific movement through a reading of representative texts by various authors. Specific topics vary. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 and two of the following courses: FREN 4379, 4380, 4381.
5350, 5351. Problems in French Literature. The definition of a particular theme as elaborated by a group of writers, usually covering different time periods and genres. Specific topics vary. Prerequisites: FREN 4370 and two of the following courses: FREN 4379, 4380, 4381.
5380, 5381. Tutorial for Juniors and Seniors. By invitation of the entire area only. Special project set up with the help of the area chair.
Foreign Literature Courses in English
(See course descriptions at end of Foreign Languages and Literatures section. These courses do not count toward the French major. They are electives.)
FL 3359 Masculinities: Literary Images and Perspectives.
FL 3361 Special Topics: French Literature in Translation. (SMU-in-Paris only)
FL 3363 (CF 3347). Figuring the Feminine.
FL 3365, 3366 Special Topics: French Literature in Translation.
All courses are conducted in German.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree: Thirty term hours, including GERM 2311 and 2312 (second-year German) and 24 term hours of advanced courses. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser and must include the following:
Study in the SMU-in-Weimar summer program or in an approved term or junior-year program in a German-speaking country is highly recommended. Suggested electives outside the German Area: a second foreign language; extra-departmental courses listed under the German Area Studies major; literary criticism; other foreign literature in translation; English and American literature; courses in linguistics, semiotics, or philology; courses in German art history, philosophy, or history.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree in German Area Studies: Thirty term hours, eighteen in German and twelve in area studies. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser and must contain the following:
18 hours in German:
12 hours in area courses:
One of the following:
FL 3367, 3368, or 3369
HIST 4363 or 4369
Six hours from the following list of courses or from other German Area Studies courses approved by the German Area:
HIST 5373, 5374
PHIL 3370
RELI 3321, 3322
FL 3376
ARHS 2351, 3382, 4359, 5353
CAPS 3318, 3352
Requirements for the Minor in German: Eighteen term hours of German as follows:
Requirements for the Minor in German Area Studies: Eighteen term hours, twelve in German and six in area studies to be selected as follows:
1101. Conversational Practice in German. An introduction to the German sound system and systematic practice of simple speech patterns.
1303. Basic Conversation. Systematic description of speech patterns and of carefully designed discussion models for students with no prior knowledge of German.
1401, 1402. Beginning German. Stresses acquisition of basic skills: Speaking, aural comprehension, reading, and writing. Classes meet five hours a week. Computer assignments required. Four credits per term. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of area chair.
2101. Conversational Practice in German. Systematic practice of speech patterns and simple discussion models as well as rapidity drills and free delivery practice. Prerequisite: GERM 1402 or the equivalent, or permission of instructor.
2311, 2312. Culture, Grammar, Literature. Second-year German. Discussions and compositions based on literary and cultural texts. Review of grammar. Language laboratory. Prerequisite for 2311: C- or better in GERM 1402 or permission of area chair. Prerequisite for 2312: C- or better in 2311 or permission of area chair.
3311. Talking and Writing about Modern Germany. An advanced course intended to increase active command of the language. Utilizes a variety of short modern texts. Prerequisite: GERM 2312 or the equivalent.
3313. Germany Today: People, Culture, Society. The course explores current German culture; readings in newspapers and magazines to acquaint students with today's German cultural and political scene; conversations, oral presentations, and compositions. Prerequisite: GERM 3311 or permission of instructor.
3350. Business German. An advanced course in German for international trade and communication. Prerequisites: GERM 3311 or permission of instructor.
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in German. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of German and the cultures of German-speaking countries is relevant: Corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in German of 3.3. or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
3320. Contemporary German Culture. An exploration of the German culture scene through magazine and newspaper articles, short stories, television and films from the post-war era to the present. Prerequisite: GERM 3311 or permission of instructor.
3330. Great German Stories: Kafka, Mann, Wolf and Others. Short narrative forms from the beginning of the 20th century to the present: Mann, Kafka, Brecht, Böll, Seghers, Bachmann, Wolf, and others. Includes consideration of two post-war German literatures (the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic). Prerequisite: GERM 3311 or permission of instructor.
4310. Middle Ages to Present: German Poetry. Historical survey of poetic forms from medieval Minnesang through the Baroque and Sturm und Drang to Classicism, Romanticism, and 20th-century styles. Prerequisite: GERM 3320, 3313 or permission of instructor.
4320. Modern Drama. Critical reading of dramatic works by major German, Austrian and Swiss authors, with some attention to critical theory: Büchner, Schnitzler, Brecht, Dürrenmatt, Aichinger, Bachmann, Müller, Jelinek, and others. Prerequisite: GERM 3320, 3313 or permission of instructor.
4330. 19th-Century Stories, Fairy Tales, and Novellas. Short narrative forms from Romanticism through Realism to fin-de-siècle Vienna: Grimm, Eichendorff, Kleist, Storm, Schnitzler, and others. Prerequisite: GERM 3320, 3313 or permission of instructor.
4340. Great Plays for Listening. Selections from conventional to experimental post-war plays by Böll, Dürrenmatt, Aichinger, Mayröcker, and others. Prerequisite: GERM 3320, 3313, or permission of instructor.
5310. Reading the Classics. Narrative, poetry and drama representing the German Enlightenment, Sturm und Drang, Classicism and Romanticism: Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Kleist, Novalis, and others. Prerequisite: Any 4000-level course, or permission of instructor.
5320. Laughter and Comedy. Laughter and its relation to humor, wit, and satire in comic German literature. Keller, Kleist, Lessing, Busch, Tucholsky, Kästner, and others. Prerequisite: Any 4000-level course, or permission of instructor.
5330. Problems with the Self. Poems, essays, and novellas dealing with the perception of self in various periods of German literature. Goethe, Bettina von Arnim, Büchner, Mann, and others. Prerequisite: Any 4000-level course, or permission of instructor.
5380. Directed Studies. Permission of department.
(See course descriptions at end of Foreign Languages and Literatures section.)
FL 3369 Perspectives on Modern Germany
FL 3376 Representations of Women in Modern Literature
1401, 1402. Beginning Hebrew. A two-semester sequence presenting the fundamentals of modern Hebrew. Students will develop oral and written language skills and will be introduced to the cultural and historical context of the language. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of the area adviser.
1401, 1402. Beginning Hindi. Introduction to standard Hindi. Course emphasizes intensive drills on speaking and listening with special attention to individual pronunciation and intonation. Reading and writing in the Hindi writing system (Devanagari) will be introduced and studied. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of the area adviser.
2401, 2402. Intermediate Hindi. This course emphasizes intensive drills on speaking and listening with special attention to individuals, along with reading and writing in the Devanagari system. Hindi grammar and syntax will be reviewed and reinforced. Prerequisite for 2401: At least a C- in Hindi 1402. Prerequisite for 2402: At least a C- in Hindi 2401.
All courses are conducted in Italian unless otherwise noted.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree in Italian Area Studies. 34 term hours, of which 21 must be in courses taught in Italian. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser and must include the following:
Study with an SMU-approved program in Italy is strongly recommended. A second modern foreign language and/or Latin is also recommended.
Requirements for the Minor in Italian. Sixteen term hours, including ITAL 2401, and 12 advanced hours as follows:
ITAL 3357
ITAL 3373
Two additional advanced Italian courses (4000-level) selected in consultation with the adviser.
Requirements for the Minor in Italian Area Studies. 16 term hours, including ITAL 2401 and the following advanced or supporting courses:
FL 2395, 3390, 3391, 3392, 3395
ARHS 2325, 3309, 3312, 3314, 3326, 3331, 3339, 4345, 5311, 5330, 5334
HIST 3351, 3358, 3359, 3361, 3365, 3366, 3376, 5374
1401, 1402. Beginning Italian. Stresses acquisition of basic skills, speaking, aural comprehension, reading, and writing. Students attend three weekly foundations classes plus two hours of applications classes for practice in small groups. Computer, video, and audio assignments in the Foreign Language Learning Center are required. Four credits per term. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of area chair.
2401. Intermediate Italian. Continues to strengthen the four language skills with added emphasis on reading and writing. Students attend three weekly foundations classes plus two hours of applications classes for practice in small groups. Computer, video, and audio assignments in the Foreign Language Learning Center are required. Four credits per term. All courses are conducted in Italian. Prerequisite: C- or better in ITAL 1402 or permission of area chair.
3357. Italian Grammar and Composition. Analysis and imitation of short contemporary texts: letters, film reviews, articles, criticism, narratives. Development of oral and written proficiency. Selective study of grammar. Prerequisite: ITAL 2401.
3373. Italian Culture. The evolution of Italian society with emphasis on cultural, artistic, and intellectual trends. Prerequisite: ITAL 2401.
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in Italian. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of Italian and the cultures of Italian-speaking countries is relevant: corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Italian of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
4323. Modern Italian Literature II. From the latter half of the 19th Century to World War I. Realism, Decadentism, and the Grotesque. Authors studied are Verga, D'Annunzio, Pirandello. Prerequisite: ITAL 2401.
4324. Contemporary Italian Literature. The Fascist Period and World War II. Introspection, society and the problem of evil: Moravia, Pavese, Bassani, Buzzati, and Ginzburg. Prerequisite: ITAL 2401.
4368. Italian Authors: Contemporary. Prerequisite: ITAL 2401.
4381, 4382. Tutorial for Juniors and Seniors: Directed Readings and Research. Directed reading and research in specific literary topics or writers. Prerequisite: ITAL 3357 or permission of instructor.
(See course descriptions at end of Foreign Languages and Literatures section.)
FL 2395 Italian Culture.
FL 3390 (CCCN 3390) Italian Cinema.
FL 3391 Special Topics: Italian Literature in Translation.
FL 3392 Special Topics: Italian Literature in Translation.
Requirements for the Minor In Japanese: 17 term hours as follows:
1401, 1402. Beginning Japanese. This course focuses on oral and aural proficiency for daily communication situations, mastery of Japanese writing systems (Hiragana, Katakana, basic Kanji) and foundational grammar.. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401 or permission of area chair.
2401, 2402. Intermediate Japanese. This course focuses on developing and enriching literacy experience in Japanese through reading and writing narrative and descriptive texts, as well as conversing on personal topics in more complicated situations. Prerequisite for 2402: C- or better in JAPN 2401 or permission of area chair.
3311, 3312. Advanced Japanese. Emphasis on enhancing abilities in advanced reading and writing skills, communicating with accuracy and grammatical complexity. Students also acquire the ability to use refined honorific forms in appropriate cultural contexts. Prerequisite for 3312: C- or better in JAPN 3311 or permission of area chair. .
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in Japanese. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of Japanese and the cultures of Japanese-speaking countries is relevant: corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Japanese of 3.30 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
4381. Readings In Japanese Culture And Business. Upper-level language course designed for students who have finished third-year Japanese. Students will enhance their speaking, reading, and writing skills through a wide range of primary materials. Prerequisite: 3312 or permission of area chair.
1401, 1402. Beginning Latin. Structures of the Latin language vocabulary, grammar, syntax. Introduction to Roman history and culture. Simple readings from Latin authors. Prerequisite for 1402: C- or better in 1401.
2311, 2312. Second-Year Latin. Readings from Cicero, Livy, Ovid, and Pliny. Passages from the Vulgate, excerpts from medieval authors. Prerequisite for 2311: C- or better in LATN 1402. Prerequisite for 2312: C- or better in 2311.
3185,3285, 3385. Internship in Latin. This course offers students experience in organizations or institutions where knowledge of Latin is relevant: museums, libraries, historical archives, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Latin of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or institution.
Requirements for the Minor in Russian Area Studies: 15 term hours, including RUSS 2341, 2351; and three advanced area courses, one each in the areas of Literature (FL 3323 or 3331), History (HIST 3340, 3341, 5367, or 5368), and Political Science (PLSC 3358, 3359, or 3384).
1401, 1402. Beginning Russian. Introductory Russian meets daily and gives a basic overview of all structures of the language, providing rudimentary competence in Russian. This course will take students through all aspects of beginning Russian study, including the language, life, and culture of today's Russian people. The curriculum used targets all four skills of speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
2341. Russian Reading and Conversation. Russian language work beyond the first-year level is done in multilevel workshops, organized by target skills, each including students with varying levels of experience and background with the Russian language. Small classes permit an individualized approach, so that students completing varying assignments work together in the same classroom. Each workshop is completed twice, once at the second-year level, and once at the third-year level. Progress to higher levels will be measured by proficiency tests. The reading/conversation workshop targets skills of oral and textural comprehension and active conversational skill. Prerequisite: C- or better in RUSS 1402 or permission of area chair.
2351. Russian Syntax and Composition. This workshop undertakes a review of grammatical and syntactic structures and seeks to employ them in writing, using a text and materials from everyday life in today's Russia. (See RUSS 2341 for a description of the multilevel workshop system). Prerequisite: C- or better in RUSS 1402 or permission of area chair.
3302. Practicum in Russian Conversation and Phonetics. (Russia, summer)
3304. Russian Grammar Practicum. (Russia, summer)
3323. Practicum in Russian Culture. (St. Petersburg, summer)
3341. Russian Reading and Conversation. Continuation of RUSS 2341.
3351. Russian Syntax and Composition. Continuation of RUSS 2351.
3361, 3362. Comparative Grammar of Russian and English. For students who are fully bilingual in Russian and English, these courses provide a practical analysis of the similarities and differences between the two languages. Special problems of native speakers of Russian speaking English. Translation in both directions. Weekly compositions and translations, essay exams. Prerequisite (3361): 16 hours of Russian by examination. Prerequisite (3362): RUSS 3361 or permission of area chair.
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in Russian. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of Russian and the cultures of Russian-speaking countries is relevant: corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Russian of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
After completion of 8 credit hours in Russian, study abroad in St. Petersburg State University in summer and semester programs is recommended.
4380, 4381. Directed Studies.
(See course descriptions at end of Foreign Languages and Literatures section.)
FL 2343 After Communism.
FL 3323 (HIST 2323). Russian Culture.
Requirements for the B.A. Degree in Spanish. Twenty-eight term hours, including SPAN 2401 or equivalent, and 24 term hours of advanced courses. Courses are to be selected in consultation with the major adviser and must include the following:
Study with SMU-in-Spain, SMU-in-Xalapa, or another Hispanic program abroad is strongly recommended. Suggested electives outside the Spanish area are a second foreign language, courses listed under the Latin American Studies major, literary criticism, other foreign literature in translation, English and American literature.
Requirements for the Minor in Spanish. SPAN 2401 or the equivalent; 3355 or 4352 or 4355 (only one conversation course will count toward the minor); 3358; and two additional advanced courses.
Prerequisite for 3000-level courses: SPAN 2312 or 2401, or as stated in individual course descriptions.
Prerequisite for 4000-level courses: see individual course descriptions.
Prerequisite for 5000-level courses in literature: SPAN 4395.
1401. Beginning Spanish. Stresses acquisition of basic skills: speaking, aural comprehension, reading, and writing. Students attend three one-hour fundamentals classes plus two one-hour practice sessions per week. Computer, video, and audio assignments are required. Four credits per term.
1402. Beginning Spanish (second term). Continuing focus on the four basic language skills. Students attend three one-hour fundamentals classes plus two one-hour practice sessions per week. Computer, video, and audio assignments are required. Four credits per term. Prerequisite: C- or better in SPAN 1401.
2311, 2312. Second-Year Spanish. Review of grammar. Discussions and compositions based on literary and journalistic texts. Language laboratory. (Offered abroad; replaced on campus by SPAN 2401.) Prerequisite: C- or better in SPAN 1402.
2401. Intermediate Spanish. The third term or intermediate level will continue to strengthen the four language skills with added emphasis on reading and writing. Students attend two one-hour fundamentals classes plus three one-hour practice sessions per week. Computer, video and audio assignments in the FLLC are required. Four credits per term. All classes are conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: C- or better in SPAN 1402.
3310. Readings in Spanish and Spanish American Literature. Refinement of oral and written proficiency based on extensive reading and discussion of literary texts.
3311. Conversation and Composition: Peninsular Culture. Focus on improving linguistic proficiency within the context of studying Spanish Peninsular cultures. Course content varies; may include Peninsular film, music, art, etc. Prerequisites: SPAN 2401 or equivalent.
3312. Conversation and Composition: Mexican Culture. Focus on improving linguistic proficiency within the context of studying Latin American culture. Course content varies; may include Mexican film, music, art, food, etc. Prerequisites: SPAN 2401 or equivalent.
3313. Conversation and Composition: Latin American Culture. Focus on improving linguistic proficiency within the context of studying Latin American culture. Course content varies; may include Latin American film, music, art. Prerequisites: SPAN 2401 or equivalent.
3355. Spanish Conversation. An advanced course for majors and non-majors intended to increase active command of the language. Limited enrollment. Prerequisite: SPAN 2401 or equivalent. Not for students who score "Advanced" on Oral Proficiency exam. (See SPAN 4355.)
3357. Spanish Phonetics. A detailed analysis both in theory and practice of Spanish speech patterns, vowels, consonants, and intonation.
3358. Advanced Spanish Grammar. A thorough study of Spanish grammar. Practice in writing short compositions. Limited enrollment.
3373. Spanish Civilization. A survey of Spanish culture and societies with particular emphasis on artistic and sociological aspects. Prerequisite: One 3000-level Spanish course.
3374. Spanish-American Civilization. A survey of Spanish-American culture and societies with particular emphasis on artistic and sociological aspects. Prerequisite: One 3000-level Spanish course.
4185, 4285, 4385. Internship in Spanish. This course offers students experience in organizations where knowledge of Spanish and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries is relevant: corporations involved in international business, government agencies, health clinics, etc. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; an overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher; G.P.A. in Spanish of 3.3 or higher; sponsorship of a professor and of the organization, agency, or corporation.
4352 (ETST 4352). Conversations and Community. Advanced Spanish course which brings oral and written language to the center of students' learning by bringing them in contact with native Spanish speakers from a variety of Dallas communities. Field work, away from campus, will include a maximum of two hours per week in addition to the required three contact hours in the classroom. Prerequisites: SPAN 2401 and approval of instructor for language majors. Approval of instructor for all other candidates.
4355. Advanced Spoken Spanish. An advanced course in spoken Spanish for those students who score advanced to superior on a departmentally administered oral exam based on ACTFL Oral Proficiency levels. (Students who score below "Advanced" level on the departmental exam may enroll in SPAN 3355.) Prerequisite: SPAN 2401 and advanced oral proficiency in Spanish. Not open to students who have taken SPAN3355. Limited enrollment.
4361. Translation: Theory and Practice. Through readings and exercises in literary texts and an individual term project, students explore the multiple disciplinary aspects of the process of translation. Prerequisite: SPAN 3358.
4391. Commercial Spanish for International Trade. An advanced course in Spanish for international trade and communication. Prerequisites: SPAN 3355 and 3358, or permission of instructor.
4395. Introduction to Hispanic Literature. Study of the tools necessary for analysis and understanding of literature. Application of these tools through reading of Hispanic texts. Prerequisite: SPAN 3358 or permission of the department. Limited enrollment. Meets Perspectives requirement for Literature and Human Diversity corequirement.
5310. Spanish Literature Before 1700. An introduction to Spanish prose, drama, lyric, and narrative poetry through the Golden Age.
5311. Spanish Literature Since 1700. Major writers and movements from 1700 to the present.
5315. Spanish American Literature to 1888. Literary figures and trends from the Conquest to Modernism. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5316. Spanish American Literature Since 1888. Literary figures and trends from Modernism to the present. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5317. The Literature of Mexico. Readings and discussions of the works of major Mexican writers. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5320. The Renaissance and Golden Age: Drama. A study of the early development of Spanish drama and of the flourishing of the theater with Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca, and their contemporaries.
5321. The Renaissance and Golden Age: Prose Fiction. An exploration of the development of Spanish narrative through various modes of idealism, realism, and self-reflection. Readings include works from Cervantes, Zayas, their contemporaries, and their literary predecessors.
5323. Nineteenth-Century Prose Fiction of Spain. Major prose writers of the Realistic
and Naturalistic movements in the context of 19th-century political, social, and economic development.
5334. The Novel of the Post Civil War Period. The development of the novel and short story in Spain from 1940 to the present. Readings from Cela, Delibes, Sánchez Ferlosio, Goytisolo, etc.
5335. Genre Studies in Spain.
5336. The Spanish American Novel. The evolution of the Spanish American novel and analysis of master works of the 19th and 20th centuries. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5337. The Spanish American Essay. Students explore the intellectual climate of Spanish America in the last two centuries as revealed in the works of famous essayists such as José Martí and Octavio Paz. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5338. The Spanish American Short Story. Evolution of the short story in Spanish America: Palma, Quiroga, Borges, Carpentier, Asturias. Cortázar, Rulfo, García Márquez, and others. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5339. Spanish American Poetry. Major Spanish American poets, with emphasis on the 20th century: Octavio Paz, Nicolás Guillén, Gabriela Mistral, Pablo Neruda, and others. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5360. The Concept of Honor in Spanish Literature. An exploration of the Spanish concept of Honor, especially the way it shapes Hispanic identity over time and distance and across social and gender boundaries. Lecture,3 hours. Prerequisite: SPAN 4395.
5361. Don Quixote: The Idea, the Character, The Book. An exploration of Cervantes's masterpiece, Don Quixote, and its influence on art and society. Prerequisite: SPAN 4395.
5365. Contemporary Spanish Women Writers. This course explores constructions of gender and identity in contemporary Spanish literature by women. Written texts, music, film and documentary will combine to offer multiple perspectives on the subject. Lecture, 3 hours. Prerequisite: SPAN 4395. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
5370. Rewriting Discovery and Exploration in the Spanish Borderlands. An examination of shifts in the articulation of discovery and exploration in writings treating the northern frontier of New Spain during the mid to late 16th century. Prerequisite: SPAN 4395.
5380, 5381. Tutorial for Juniors and Seniors. Special project arranged by the student with the help of a faculty adviser and the approval of the chair of the department.
(See Course Descriptions following.)
FL 3303 Spanish Civilization.
FL 3305 Special Topics: Latin American Literature in Translation.
FL 3306 The Heart of Aztlán: Chicano Literature of the Southwest.
FL 2321. Surrealism and the State in Eastern Europe. Statehood in 20th-century Eastern Europe is an institution susceptible to collective "madness," especially with regard to its bureaucratic machinery. The course explores the intellectual response to "insane" bureaucracy and the unique body of literature it has produced, including its very high proportion of surrealist, absurdist art and unique types of fantasy and science fiction literature. Departmental writing-intensive seminar.
FL 2343. After Communism. Examines changes in Russian and East European culture since the mid-1980s, when openness and restructuring prepared the ground for the fall of the Soviet Union.
FL 2395. Italian Culture. Significant aspects of Italian culture and thought, beginning with the age of Dante, are presented from poetry, prose, drama, journalism, architecture, the fine arts, music, and film.
FL 3303. Spanish Civilization. Significant aspects of Spanish culture are presented and illustrated by examples from Spain's history, music, art, architecture, literature, folklore, and contemporary life. Course may be taken as SPAN 3373 if the student does his or her work in Spanish. (Offered at SMU-in-Spain.)
FL 3305. Special Topics: Latin American Literature in Translation. Reading of masterworks of Latin American authors. Readings will vary from term to term and will be selected for their relevance to a particular period, genre, or theme. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3306. The Heart of Aztlán: Chicano Literature of the Southwest. A study of the Chicano/mestizo cultural identity in the Southwest, the course includes readings from selected contemporary authors as well as from the early recorded contacts between Native Americans and their European conquerors. Meets Perspectives requirement for Literature and Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3307 (CF 3329). The Belle Époque and the Birth of Modernity. Through a series of lectures, readings, and visits, the course will present an in-depth study of society, culture, art and literature in Paris and in the provinces. (Offered at SMU-in-Paris.)
FL 3310 (CF 3390). Transnational Chinese Cinema. Introduces students to films produced in the People's Republic, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In considering cinema as a sign system for the construction of sociocultural and aesthetic meanings, this course examines different national identities and film genres. Students will learn to understand non-Western cultural texts and to analyze cinematic representations. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3312. Women In Modern China. Critical examination of major 20th-century Chinese women writers and their texts from literary and gender perspectives. Meets Human Diversity corequirement and Perspectives requirement for literature.
FL 3323 (CF 2320, HIST 2323). Russian Culture. Significant aspects of Russian thought and culture at its various stages of development are presented and illustrated by examples from literature, folklore, prose, drama, journalism, architecture, the fine arts, and music. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3325 (CF 3365). Perspectives on Modern China. Survey of China in the 20th century in terms of cultural trends, literature, and cinema. The course stresses the interactions between reality and representation, between author and reader/audience, and between text and interpretation. Close reading of texts or viewing of films, followed by critical analysis, is emphasized. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3331. Survey of Russian Literature in Translation. Russian literature from the 18th century to the present. Works by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Solzhenitsyn, others. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.
FL 3332. Special Topics: Russian Literature in Translation. Texts, periods, and thematic and critical approaches will vary from term to term.
FL 3335 (CF 3335, HIST 3335). One King, One Law: France 1500-1789. This course examines the culture of France through its history and literature. It emphasizes historical developments, ideas and literary texts that define and illuminate French Classicism and absolutism. The course focuses on the early modern period, when France set the cultural tone and made significant contributions to the transformation of Western civilization. The course also provides a foundation for understanding subsequent European history and literary movements.
FL 3340. Semiotics and Interpretation. Semiotics is the study of how meaning is produced and communicated. This course explores semiotic approaches to the interpretation of the most complex of all human communications: literary texts. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.
FL 3349 (CF 3349, HIST 3392). Literatures of Negritude and Histories of the Struggle for Black Liberation. Black literature played an important role in bringing on the collapse of the European colonial order, and it remains a major force in the struggle against neocolonialism today. This course explores links between literature and politics, literature and history, and thought and action in 20th-century Africa and the Caribbean. Readings and lectures will be supplemented by class discussion, films, and videotapes about the Caribbean and Africa. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3359. Masculinities: Literary Images and Perspectives. The representation of male sex roles in Western literature, from Achilles to James Bond. Open to juniors and seniors; sophomores by permission of instructor. Meets Perspectives requirement for Literature.
FL 3360 (CF 3360). The Ethics of Colonization in Latin America. Through a study of literary, philosophical, historical, and religious texts, this course considers how the humanist ethics of the Renaissance were debated and carried out in the colonization of Latin America.
FL 3361. Special Topics: French Literature in Translation. Texts, periods, and thematic and critical approaches will vary from term to term. (SMU-in-Paris only)
FL 3363 (CF 3347, WS 3347). Figuring the Feminine. The feminist inquiry in France from the Middle Ages to the present. Texts by women that bear witness to women's struggles for civil, social, and political adulthood. Meets Human Diversity corequirement.
FL 3364 (ENGL 3364). Philosophical and Literary Ideas of "The Other." An important question in Western intellectual tradition is "who is the Other?" This course explores both dialectical and linguistic structures of the "I" and "the Other" in philosophy, literature, and politics.
FL 3365, 3366. Special Topics: French Literature in Translation. Texts, periods, and thematic and critical approaches will vary each term.
FL 3369 (CF 3369). Perspectives on Modern Germany. A multidisciplinary survey of the German heritage, with emphasis on Germany's quest for identity and unity. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor.
FL 3376. Representations of Women in Modern Literature. An investigation of the changing image of modern woman in literature from the late 19th century to the present day. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature and Diversity corequirement.
FL 3390. (CCCN 3390). Italian Cinema. A chronological survey of Italian cinema from its beginnings to the present. Themes and cinematic styles of several internationally noted directors such as Rossellini, DeSica, Fellini, Antonioni, and Bertolucci, with attention to the Italian cinema as a reflection of sociopolitical trends.
FL 3391, 3392. Special Topics: Italian Literature in Translation. Texts, periods, and thematic and critical approaches will vary from term to term. Meets Perspectives requirement for literature.