Welcome to Spanish Undergraduate Advising!
Current News
A MESSAGE FROM PROFESSOR SILVINA MONTRUL, DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES:
w Spanish curriculum!
Starting in spring 09, the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese will implement its new curriculum, which will impact majors and minors.
Over the last three years, Spanish faculty in the department worked to evaluate, reconceptualize, and reorganize the courses leading to the Spanish major and minor. Like the old curriculum, the new curriculum will continue to provide students with the linguistic and cultural competence needed to understand and engage with issues relevant to the Spanish-speaking world. It will also promote critical and analytical skills crucial for a successful professional life, whatever the student’s final educational goals might be.
We have completely reorganized our offerings, changed many courses and added a number of options for students. Overall, you will see that the new curriculum offers more flexibility and choices, without losing its academic rigor.
The new curriculum delivers a sequence of basic core courses in language skills and three content areas: literature, linguistics and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. At the advanced level, the curriculum offers a variety of courses in Literature, Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Spanish for the Professions, and the Teaching of Spanish at the Elementary and High School level. These choices give students opportunities to explore different topics and disciplines or to focus on the particular area that best matches their interests or future professional needs. Finally, our curriculum also offers several study abroad programs in Spain and Latin America, which provide both local immersion and global perspective.
PROFESSOR SILVINA MONTRUL
OTHER NEWS FROM ADVISOR:
NEW ADVISING OFFICE LOCATION: I have moved around the corner to office number 4004. When coming from the elevators take a right instead of the left and you will see the office just past the exit stairs. A helpful update is a new student computer station so that you will be able to change your schedule or look up your own records if needed during our advising session. My phone number has not changed.
DECEMBER 2008 GRADUATES: Make sure you have filled out a Plan of Study with me, signed by you and sent to your LAS records officer. Most have done this but it is one final reminder in order to complete your paperwork for your diploma..
MAY 2009 GRADUATES: if you plan to graduate in May, it is recommended that you fill out your plan of study THIS semester to avoid complications that may derail your May graduation plans.
Bienvenidos to Spanish! As a student of Spanish, please consider why you wish to study Spanish. Do you wish to be 'proficient' in Spanish? Do you wish to have knowledge of Spanish culture, literatures, lingusitics? The answers to these questions will guide the way in which you pursue your Spanish studies. If your goal is strong proficiency in Spanish, you need to be immersed in language and culture for an extended amount of time. Plan to study abroad--the longer, the better! Our LAS-SIP Year in Barcelona program allows you to complete the major in one year. Check out this program and others under Studying Abroad for Spanish.
Students of Spanish may go on to graduate school for Spanish literature, cultural studies, or linguistics. They may teach in public schools, or they may combine language skills and cultural knowledge with another discipline, such as International Studies, Business, Political Science, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Law, etc. More and more, companies and organizations look for university graduates who have excelled in--and out--of the classroom. Plan to volunteer in organizations where you can utilize your Spanish skills. Use volunteering as the exposure and experience needed to choose and pursue internships. Both are an integral part of your university training and provide the work experience necessary to land a satisfying job after graduation. Get to know your professors so that through them and through volunteer and internship relationships, you will have people who can write letters of recommendation or serve as references for you. More information can be found in the upper right hand box under Areas of Study to Complement a Spanish Major, Volunteering and Internships, International Opportunities, and Careers.
Questions? Contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor for Spanish below.
Spanish Advisor |
Ms. Beth Chasco |
Walk-in hours |
FALL 2008 AUGUST 25- AUGUST 29 Walk-In hours Monday, August 25: 3:30-5:00 Tuesday, August 26: 9:00-12:00 Wednesday, August 27: 9:00-12:00 & 3:30-5:00 Thursday, August 28: 9:00-12:00 Friday, August 29: 9:00-12:00 |
Advising Office |
4004 A FLB |
Phone |
217 244 3233 |
E-mail |
bchasco@illinois.edu |