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Academic Year in Spain

Course Offerings


Students are required to sign up for four courses during the fall and spring terms. With permission of the director-in-residence and of the student?s home college advisor, one may add a fifth course. A fourth or fifth course may be dropped without academic penalty prior to mid-term. No course (including a fifth course) may be dropped after mid-semester without incurring an F. As of this printing, courses for 2007-08 have not been firmly established. In all probability, they will resemble those previously offered which are as follows:


First Semester

LANGUAGE
Advanced Spanish Language - I. Review and refinement of grammatical structure, practical vocabulary and syntax. Regular written compositions will be required. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of conversational skills. (Two sections.) Section 2 will include a fourth weekly hour of conversation and reading practice. Prof. Vivian Samudio or Prof. Mars Compelo.

Advanced Spanish Language - II. Study and analysis of the structure of the Spanish language in both written (formal) and oral (colloquial) contexts, in order that the students acquire maximum competence in the recognition and use of the subtleties of the language. Prof. Cristina González.

Comparative Syntax. Study of the syntactical properties of the Spanish language and comparative analysis of English and Spanish structures. Open only to the most advanced students. Prof. Teresa Bordon.

Spanish Phonetics.  Study of the principles of Spanish phonology and phonetics, with special emphasis on the native English speaker.  Prof. Mars Compelo.

LITERATURE
Women's Writing in Contemporary Spanish Literature. Close analysis of representative examples of narrative, essay, poetry and theater of contemporary Spanish women writers.  The works will be studied in the context of current feminist, hermeneutic and psychocritical theories.  The course will include writings by Ana Maria Matute, Josefina Aldecoa, Carmen Martin Gaite, Gloria Fuertes, Esther Tusquets, Marina Mayoral, Mercedes Abad, Rosa Montero, Cristina Fernandez Cubas, Paloma Pedrero and Elena Santiago. Prof. Marcos Roca.

Contemporary Latin American Narrative. Study of the origins of the so-called "boom" in the Latin American narrative oft he second half of the 20th century. Clarification of the evolution of contemporary literary trends, the mixing of generations, crticismo barroquismo and vanguardia. Analysis of novels by Miguel Angel Asturias, Alejo Carpentier, Onetti, Sábato, Cortázar, Rulfo, García Márquez, Mario Vargas, Llosa, Carlos Fuentes, and Epígonos. Prof. Eugenio Suárez Galbán.

SOCIAL SCIENCES
History of Contemporary Spain (1936-Present). Study of the evolution of major events that constitute the three periods preceding Spain?s present-day constitutional monarchy: the Civil War, the Franco Era and the Transition to Democracy. These periods will be considered from a political, sociological and economic perspective and will be discussed in terms of both their domestic and international dimensions. Prof. Tomás Rodríguez Cano.

The Modern Social Conscience of Spain. Study of and active participation in Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) and other social institutions in order to comprehend how the Spanish people, and Spanish youth in particular, are responding to the needs of contemporary life. The course includes weekly hands-on involvement in Spanish life and customs outside the classroom (through a project chosen by the student from an extensive list of possibilities), regular class meetings, and guest lectures from experts in different fields. A project prospectus, ample field notes, and lengthy research paper are required. Prof. Sheila Klaiber.

Social and Economic Realities of Contemporary Spain. Systemic analysis of (1) major factors contributing to Spain's position as an international partner, (2) the socioeconomic transformation of Spain in the last few decades (including the study of the Welfare State, the autonomous communities and the European Union), and (3) challenges for the near future: population decrease and aging, unemployment, the effects of immigration, and the redefinition of Spain as a world power. This is to be considered 200-level (no prerequesites) for those who have had no experience in economics.  Those with work in this area will follow a more advanced level of readings and discussion, for which the course is to be considered 300-level.  Prof. to be announced.

Politics of Present-day Spain. Study of the last 80 years of the political history of Spain, with emphasis on the democratic transition period. The possibility of estbalishing a theory of transition to democracy will be addressed. Prof. Francisco Bobillo.

Social Anthropology of Spain: Gender and Culture. Introduction to the nature and methods of cultural anthropology and study of aspects of Spanish life from an anthropological perspective: ethnic groups, family relationships, "fiestas," religion, values and beliefs, giving special emphasis to the matter of gender. Students will learn to observe, define and interpret the anthropological differences of a foreign culture and thus better understand the "culture shock" that results from contact with Spanish life. Prof. Aída Bueno

ART AND DANCE
History of Spanish Art - I. Study of Medieval and Renaissance masterpieces in architecture, sculpture and painting, with an emphasis on El Greco and the 17th-century realists, notably Velásquez, Ribera, and Zurbarán. Reference to the architecture and sculpture as a basis for the students' appreciation of the museums and monuments visited during group and individual excursions throughout Spain. Prof. Alfredo Ramón and Prof. Linda Hament.

Painting in Spain: Art and Communication. An introduction, from a critical and aesthetic perspective, to the work of Spain?s most notable painters, past and present. Emphasis on the appreciation and analytical study of paintings in the Museo del Prado, the Museo del Siglo XIX and the Central Nacional Reina Sofía. Prof. Carmen Padilla.

Introduction to Flamenco Dance - I. Overview of flamenco dance as a performing art. Emphasis on sevillanas, tangos, flamencos and alegrías. Special attention to body awareness, partner communication and movement efficiency. Performance presentation required at the end of the course. Prof. Laura Murcia Cánovas (practical instruction), Alfonso Eduardo Pérez Orozco (theory instruction).

 

Drawing and Painting with Spanish Artists.  Studio art course, arranged especially for members of the HCAYS, with one of the finest professors of the Estudio L'Atelier, and with the participation of various artists of this academy.  Study of elements of drawing and painting (pastel, acrylic, oil, watercolor), prgressing from still life to classic statue, live models and landscape, with emphasis on expression and creativity and including instruction online, texture, mass and composition.  A theoretical component will include reference to historical and bibliographic material as well as to contempory commercial and artistic phenomena. This is to be considered 200-level (no prerequisite) for those who have had no experience in art. Those with past work in this area will follow a more advanced level of readings and discussion, for which the course is to be considered 300-level is required. Prof. Oscar Sánchez Fuster.
Minimum enrollment of five students required.

Second Semester

LANGUAGE
Advanced Spanish Language - I, Part II, and
Advanced Spanish Language - II, Part II. See fall semester listing.

Comparative Syntax, Part II. Study of the structure of the language on the most advanced level, with particular emphasis on comparing the syntactical properties of Spanish and English. Written and spoken exercises. Prof. Teresa Bordon.

The Art of Translation. Study of the origins of the art of translation, analysis of theoretical factors and practical application of translation techniques from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Readings include works of Jorge Luis Borges, Walter Benjamin, Octavio Paz, José Ortega y Gasset and George Steiner. Prof. Vivian Samudio.

LITERATURE
Cervantes. The Quijote. Chapter by chapter study of Cervantes? masterpiece, with emphasis on its unique contribution to the birth of the modern novel and its reflection of Golden-Age Spain. Prof. Eugenio Suárez-Galbán.

 

The Generation of 1898. Study of the most characteristic, stylistic and thematic concerns of this generation through an analysis of representative essays, novels, poetry and drama. Readings include works by Unamuno, Ortega, Baroja, Azorín, Machado and Valle Inclán. Prof. Marcos Roca.

Contemporary Spanish Theatre. Study of the modern Spanish theater, including frequent attendance at plays, and occasional discussions with the dramatists themselves. Prof. Ricardo Doménech.

SOCIAL SCIENCES
History of Contemporary Latin America. Study of the history of Latin America, from the independence movement until the mid-twentieth century, with reference to geographical factors and pertinent sociological conditions. Professor to be announced.

Spain and the Process of European Unity. Study of post-World War II and contemporary Europe, with an emphasis on the relationship between European political and economic developments and Spain?s evolution from the isolation of franquismo to present-day democracy. Prof. Tomás Rodríguez Cano.

Sociology of Spain. Study of contemporary social structures, including population shifts, political affiliation, education, generation conflict, marriage, sexual mores, family life, problems of sexual inequality, communication, moral codes and social deviance. Prof. Antonio Munoz Carrion.

The Modern Social Conscience of Spain. See fall semester listing.

ART AND SCIENCE
History of Spanish Art - II. Study of modern Spanish painting from Goya to the present, with special attention to its traditions as manifested in the works of such twentieth-century masters as Miró, Juan Gris and Picasso. The course will include regular visits to the Prado Museum and close examination of its ample holdings in the works of these painters. Prof. Alfredo Ramón and Prof. Linda Hament.

Women in Art: the Paintings of the Prado Museum. Interdisciplinary study of paintings of women by women from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, as related to contemporary literary texts. Analysis of works by Bosch, Rafael, Murillo, Rubens, Poussin, Antonio Moro, Claudio Coello, Titian, Velázquez, Goya, Madrazo, Sofonisba Anguísola and Angelica Kauffman, among others. Prof. Julia Doménech.

Introduction to Flamenco Dance - II. An overview of flamenco dance as a performing art. Emphasis on tanguillos, fandangos and bulerías. Special attention to body awareness, partner communication and movement efficiency. Performance presentation required at the end of the course. May be taken independently of the Fall Flamenco Dance course. Prof. Laura Murcia Cánovas.

Drawing and Painting with Spanish artists.  See fall semester listing.

 

Affiliation with the Universidad San Pablo  

The HCAYS maintains a special affiliation with the Universidad San Pablo (CEU), one of the Spain's small, private, academically pretigious universities. All students are encouraged to replace of their HCAYS courses with an offering in the humanities or social sciences at the USP as a further means of immersion in the cultural and social life of young Spaniards. In addition, the excellent library, sporting venues and other facilities of the USP are located just a few meters from the HCAYS Centro, and are open to all Hamilton program students.

Independent Study

Under special circumstances, students may petition to work on individual projects in lieu of one of their regular courses. This type of study will consist of steady work under the regular supervision of a qualified advisor. To undertake an independent study, the student must secure the permission of both the director-in-residence and of a faculty member of the home college department which most closely relates to the material of the study. Any student contemplating such a project is advised to discuss this in general terms with the faculty member prior to departure for Spain. Final permission from the home professor will be sought by fax or e-mail during the first week of HCAYS classes.