Spanish Program

Spanish B.A. Mission

The Bachelor’s Degree Program in Spanish provides undergraduate students with a rigorous academic foundation in advanced oral and written communication, research methodologies, and critical analysis within the fields of Spanish language, literature, linguistics, and culture. This program cultivates intellectual curiosity, cultural literacy, and professional competence, empowering students to engage with diverse perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and professional domains. Through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum, the program fosters personal and professional growth, encourages scholarly collaboration, and promotes a nuanced understanding of both local and global issues, thereby enriching the academic community and society at large. The Program holds a significant position within General Education, particularly in Area C-2 Humanities, by providing foundational language courses that contribute to Breadth requirements, as well as advanced culture courses that support Integration.

Undergraduate

"Placement Test" for Spanish 1A, 1B, 2A and/or 2B: there are no "placement Tests" for Spanish 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. 

"Credit Allowances" are listed for Foreign Language classes. It is based on the student's experience in the language and most from the studies in high school. Find those allowances.

Credit by Examination: To "test out" of a course, you must be enrolled in the course for the same semester. There is two application procedure (1) the department request and (2) the university's Application for Credit by Examination". The same Department Credit Allowances pertain for students requesting to test out. Please note: Credit may not be awarded for a lower-division course if the student has received credit (credit or letter grade) for an uper-division course in that same foreign language. For example: if a student has received a letter grade for Spanish 119 (upper division course), the student cannot challenge Spanish 4A (lower division course).

The department application is available at the department office (Peters Business Bldg, Room 393). This form will required a copy of your unofficial transcript for the Chair's review and decision.

• Credit by examination (CBE) for Spanish courses

Graduate Program

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers the Master of Arts degree in Spanish.

The Master of Arts degree in Spanish language and literature serves several categories of students: those anticipating doctoral studies, those teaching or preparing to teach in high school and community college, and those interested in further study beyond the baccalaureate degree. For specific requirements, consult the department graduate program advisor and coordinator, Dr. Debbie Maria Ávila.
Catalog: Spanish, M.A.

Spanish M.A. Mission

The mission of the MA program in Spanish is consistent and well-aligned with the university’s missions of empowering students for success by expanding students’ intellectual horizons, preparing them for conducting research on critical issues, and becoming a diverse generation of leaders with a local focus and global impact. Through its course offerings and preparation in academic writing, the MA program provides students with the advanced knowledge and research skills required for professional academic study related to the Spanish language. The program thus aligns with the university’s mission of fostering curiosity and open-mindedness by encouraging personal and professional growth, supporting innovative research and pedagogy to address pressing issues, promoting diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives, and preparing students to engage with the world and experience different cultures and viewpoints.

Graduate Program Advisor and Coordinator

Contact Dr. Debbie Maria Ávila for initial and continuous advising in the Spanish MA Requirements.

Dr. Debbie Maria Ávila
deavila@csufresno.edu
PB 335
559.278.6616

Please send an email to Dr. Debbie Maria Ávila to make an appointment.

Spanish M.A. Handbook

All information concerning the M.A. in Spanish may be found in the Spanish M.A. Handbook, which may be downloaded as a PDF.

Master of Arts in Spanish

The Master of Arts degree in Spanish is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a 30-unit program of study. For the culminating experience, students may select either a thesis/project or a comprehensive exam.

Program Prerequisites

Admission to the M.A. degree program in Spanish requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and assumes an undergraduate major in Spanish but it is open to others with a bachelor's degree who show intellectual promise and ability to perform at a satisfactory level during their graduate studies. Students lacking the B.A. in Spanish will be required to make up deficiencies prior to acceptance into the M.A. program.

(See also Graduate Studies-Regulations regarding Admission to Graduate Standing, Advancement to Candidacy, Program Requirements, and Criteria for Thesis and Project in the General Catalogue.)

Admission Prerequisites

The MCLL Department's Spanish M.A. program requires applicants to have a 3.0 overall GPA.

Supplementary Admissions Materials

In addition to the materials required for application to Fresno State via Cal State Apply, the Spanish program requires the following supplementary materials to be submitted directly to the graduate advisor and coordinator, Dr. Debbie Ávila, deavila@mail.fresnostate.edu:

1. Three (3) original letters of recommendation.
2. A 500-word statement of purpose, written in Spanish or English.
3. A 10-12 page writing sample in Spanish.

M.A. Language Exam

Students are expected to take the Language Exam during their first semester as graduate students in the Program. See the M.A. Language SAMPLE Exam.

Teaching Associate (TA) Information

Teaching Associateships in Spanish

Translation and Interpreting

Spanish 114

Course description: Spanish 114 offers an introduction to both the theoretical and practical side of medical interpreting. In the course, students will become familiarized with the basics of interpreting—such as interpreting modes, roles, contexts and ethics—, medical interpreting and medical topics, including an overview of anatomy and bodily systems, and the settings and conditions of medical interpreting work. The class also addresses topics of interpreter qualifications, (note-taking, memory building skills), the importance of cultural competencies and cross-cultural understanding, professional responsibility, medical terminology, specialized vocabulary and certification. Learning exercises are based on authentic material and simulate common real-life interpreting events.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to perform basic interpreting tasks; apply critical thinking skills to navigate various interpreting situations; build on their knowledge of medical vocabulary in both English and Spanish; adhere to the medical interpreter code of ethics; have an understanding of general health topics; and define the role of the medical interpreter and the necessary professional skills needed to enter the workforce.

*After completing this course, students will be awarded with a 45-hour certificate of completion This certificate can be used as proof of required training by the CHIA and the NBCMI

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Define medical interpreting
2. Describe the role of the interpreter
3. Explain basic interpreting theory and how that theory is applied to medical interpreting
4. Apply basic interpreting skills in medical settings
5. Understand the professional standards of practice and the code of ethics
6. Apply the code of ethics to different ethical scenarios
7. Correctly use basic and some specialized medical terminology in two languages
8. Identify the roots, prefixes, suffixes, and affixes
9. Demonstrate knowledge of human anatomy and body systems in English and Spanish
10. Discuss cultural sensitivity issues and importance of cultural competence in medical interpreting
11. Render and/or interpret short speeches/dialogues into and out of English and Spanish

Spanish 115

Course description: Spanish 115 offers an introduction to both the theoretical and practical side of translation. By translating weekly assigned texts and revising them in class, students will learn how to identify and apply different translation approaches and techniques. The class applies project-based learning pedagogy and uses real-life source texts in English and Spanish to give students an overlook of the various materials professional translators encounter, as well as the technological tools and online resources employed in the field. The weekly revisions (workshops) focus on terminology and problem areas, with emphasis on the concept of equivalence and translation of idioms, slang, figurative language and grammatical aspects such as the subjunctive. The course contextualizes translation in a cultural framework and looks at cultural-bound texts. Although the textbook and required readings are in English, the class is primarily conducted in Spanish and students are expected to participate in class discussions and workshops using Spanish.

Examples of major topics and hands-on texts covered:

1. Introduction to translation theory
2. Translation as a profession, and practice
3. Approaches to translation
4. Terminology and terminology management
5. Purpose in translation: audience, text typologies, register, regionalisms
6. Translation strategies and techniques
7. Translating figurative speech: idioms, insults, gestures, humor, the untranslatable
8. Commercial and Financial Translation.
9. Translation of texts on or about the following fields: medical, legal, advertising, correspondence, journalistic, technical, instructional, business, manuals, hospitality industry.

Spanish 116

Course description: Spanish 116 offers an introduction to both the theoretical and practical side of legal interpreting. In the course, students will become familiarized with the basics of interpreting—such as interpreting modes, roles and ethics—, court interpreting and legal topics, including an overview of the U.S. legal system, laws and regulations. The class also addresses topics of interpreter qualifications, (note-taking, memory building skills), professional responsibility, developments in the field of legal interpreting, and conventions associated with various legal settings. Special emphasis will be given to legal terminology in English and Spanish and the description of procedures in criminal and civil hearings and trials.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to perform basic interpreting tasks using consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation modes; build on their knowledge of legal vocabulary in both English and Spanish; follow the legal interpreter code of ethics; have a general understanding of the U.S. legal system; and define the role of the legal interpreter.

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the laws and regulations of court interpreting
2. Describe the role of the court interpreter
3. Explain basic interpretation theory and how that theory is applied to legal interpreting
4. Use basic interpreting skills in legal settings (appropriate modes and strategies)
5. Adhere to the code of ethics
6. Apply the code of ethics
7. Correctly use basic and some specialized legal terminology in two languages
8. Talk about the legal traditions around the world
9. Discuss professional issues and the importance of continuing education
10. Render and/or interpret short speeches/dialogues into and out of English and Spanish

Phrase

This department has been granted free access to the Phrase Academic Edition, an academic program designed for universities with translation courses.

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