Hispanic Studies

Some information in this department has changed since the publication of the St. Olaf College 1996-1997 Academic Catalog. Current information can be found in print or online in The Catalog Supplement for 1997-98.

The Catalog Supplement for 1997-1998: Hispanic Studies

Overview

The Hispanic Studies Program offers students at St. Olaf an academic structure for the systematic study of Latin America and Spain. These two areas, unified by elements of a common heritage, are nevertheless markedly different. Even within the Latin American region, profound geographic variations, the meeting of Hispanic and Indian cultures, and differing economic resources have contributed to the development of individual countries with highly distinctive characteristics. Such diverse and complex societies afford challenging opportunities for interdisciplinary study.

The need for increased understanding of Latin America by the United States is a long-standing one. As a report from the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies notes, "The North American public, and even its foreign policy elite, remain remarkably uninformed about Latin America." Social and economic realities, such as the tensions in Central America and the debt crisis that continues to burden many of the Latin American countries, only serve to underscore the need for expanding our knowledge of the region. Equally important, the study of countries such as Spain and those in Latin America provides U.S. students with valuable opportunities for critically reflecting on their own culture and society.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Hispanic Studies major, rather than preparing students for a particular discipline, enables them to pursue a specific area focus (the Spanish-speaking world) within a number of disciplines.

Requirements for the Major

The requirements for the completion of a Hispanic Studies major consist of eight courses:

1). Language courses = Spanish 251, Spanish 254 (or another course above that level.)

2). Intercultural 333, The United States and the People of Latin America (see Latin America/Latino Studies)

3). Five approved courses dealing with Latin America, Spain, or U.S. Latinos. These courses may be chosen from among history, economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, religion, and art with no more than two courses in any one discipline.

Some options students may consider towards the major:

Students may count one Independent Research Study towards the major.
Students may also count up to three study-abroad courses taken in Latin America or Spain.
With the approval of the Hispanic Studies Director, students may have any course with a substantial Hispanic content counted toward their major.

The Latino Studies Concentration

Students majoring in any discipline who have an interest in Latin America and U.S. Latinos can pursue an interdisciplinary concentration, "Latin American/Latino Studies," an Intercultural Concentration which enables students to enhance their understanding of the Latin American countries and peoples, U.S. Latinos, and the interconnectedness of Latin America and the United States. The concentration, an individual contract negotiated between the student and the Director of Hispanic Studies, consists of a minimum of five approved courses. For more information, refer to the Latin American/Latino Studies Concentration in the Index. Note: Because of the course duplication, the Latino Studies Concentration is not open to Hispanic Studies majors.

Special Programs

Hispanic Studies majors are encouraged to take advantage of the many off-campus study programs available to them. Foreign study opportunities in the Hispanic area currently offered to St. Olaf students include: Interims in San José, Costa Rica, Quito, Ecuador, and Madrid, Spain; the CIEE Program in Seville, Spain; the ACM Programs in Costa Rica; the HECUA Programs in Guatemala, Colombia and/or Ecuador; and SPAN Programs in Latin America. Students must secure prior approval for foreign study from the Director of Hispanic Studies. To find further information about all these programs, consult the Index.

Courses

Interim

The following Interim courses, which were approved for Hispanic Studies credit, were offered in January 1996:

History 258 Revolutionary Cuba
Sociology/Anthropology 233
The Indigenous Experience of the Central Andes (off-campus)
Spanish 379 Oral and Written Expression

Faculty

The faculty of interdisciplinary programs are drawn from a variety of departments. Please see the individual departments for full degree information.

David Schodt (Director)
Professor of Economics, 1977-
Economics

Gwendolyn Barnes-Karol
Associate Professor of Romance Languages, 1988-
Hispanic culture and literature

Linda Burdell
Assistant Professor of Romance Languages, 1992-
Hispanic culture and literature

Sylvia G. Carullo
Associate Professor of Romance Languages, 1990-
Hispanic culture and literature

John F. Day
Assistant Professor of Romance Languages, 1995-
Hispanic culture and literature

Jeane DeLaney
Assistant Professor of History, 1989-
Latin American history

James Dunlop
Professor of Romance Languages, 1968-
Hispanic culture and literature

Michael Hasbrouck
Instructor in Romance Languages, 1994-
Hispanic culture and literature

Walter (Terry) Hoops
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, 1990-
Sociology/anthropology

León Narváez
Professor of Romance Languages, 1970-
Hispanic culture and literature, migration studies

Bruce Nordstrom
Associate Professor of Sociology, Paracollege Tutor, 1982-
Sociology/anthropology

Frank Odd
Associate Professor of Romance Languages, 1972-
Hispanic culture and literature

Nancy Paddleford
Associate Professor of Music, 1974-75, 1976-
Music

Kathleen Shea
Associate Professor of Biology, 1985-
Tropical biology

Kris Thalhammer
Assistant Professor of Political Science, 1995-
Political science