Major in Romance Studies

About the Major in Romance Studies

Students wishing to pursue a Major in Romance Studies must take courses in two of the Romance Languages offered at Dartmouth College (Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Italian), one serving as their primary language, the other as their secondary. This Major option will consist of a minimum of 10 (ten) courses beyond the prerequisites. Six of these courses will be selected among the course offerings of the primary language and four from the secondary. When Spanish is the primary language one course can be in English. Approval for this option will be granted only for a course offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and taken after a student has completed SPAN 20. Students will work closely with the Major/Minor advisor in coordinating their course of study.

For specifics on each of the requirements consult the ORC/Smartcatalog

Requirements for Spanish

Prerequisite: SPAN 9 or SPAN 15 (or equivalent)

The Major program in Romance Studies consists of ten courses, taken in two of the Romance Languages offered at Dartmouth College (Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Italian), one serving as their primary language, the other as their secondary. Six of these courses will be selected among the course offerings of the primary language and four from the secondary. Students will work closely with the Major Advisor in coordinating their course of study. Courses for the primary language are taught in Spanish and English (one). Approval for this option will be granted and only for a course in English taken after a student has completed SPAN 20.

When Spanish is the primary language, the six courses in this language must be distributed as follows:

1) SPAN 20

SPAN 20 is required for majors and minors and counts towards the major and minor. It can be taken concurrently with other 30-level courses. It is a prerequisite for upper-level courses (SPAN 40 and higher).

2) Survey Courses SPAN 30 - 32 and Foreign Study Programs SPAN 33 - 36

Students must take at least one of these courses. No more than two may count toward the major (except for students enrolled in a Foreign Study Program, who can count a maximum of three). The prerequisites for Foreign Study Programs also apply to majors in Romance Studies.

3) Upper Level Courses SPAN 40 - 77 and Independent Study (SPAN 83).

In consultation with the Major Advisor students choose the remaining courses from the upper-level course list.

One Independent Study (SPAN 83) may count as an upper-level course for the Major in Romance Studies. The Department projects its upper-level offerings up to two years in advance so that students can thoughtfully plan an individualized course of study in consultation with the Major Advisor. Students interested in pursuing an Independent Study must identify their topic and faculty advisor and present a proposal to their faculty advisor and to the Department for approval no later than the seventh week of the term preceding the term they wish to undertake the Independent Study.

4) Culminating Experience: Senior Seminar (SPAN 80)

Students pursuing a Major in Romance Studies whose primary language is Spanish must take the Senior Seminar (SPAN 80) as one of their six upper-level courses. This course also fulfills the Culminating Experience required of all seniors.

The four courses in the secondary language must be selected from among courses that count towards the Major or Minor in that respective language.

When Portuguese is the primary language, the six courses in this language must be distributed as follows:

Requirements for Portuguese

Prerequisite: Port 8 or PORT 9

When Portuguese is the primary language, the six courses in this language must be distributed as follows:

1) Survey Courses PORT 20

2) Upper level courses (PORT 60 - 63) Language Study Abroad Plus (PORT 10 and 12) Foreign Study Program (PORT 35 and 36, and Independent Study (PORT 83). Students must take four of the courses in this list.

One Independent Study (PORT 83) counts for the Major in Romance Studies. The Department projects its upper-level offerings two years in advance so that students can thoughtfully plan an individualized course of study in consultation with the Major Advisor. Students interested in pursuing an Independent Study must identify their topic and faculty advisor and present a proposal to their faculty advisor and to the Department for approval by the last week of the term prior to registration for PORT 83.

3) Culminating Experience: Senior Seminar (PORT 80)

Students pursuing a Major in Romance Studies whose primary language is Portuguese must take the Senior Seminar (Portuguese 80) as one of their six upper-level courses. This course fulfills the Culminating Experience required of all seniors.

The four courses in the secondary language must be selected from among courses that count towards the Major or Minor in that respective language.