Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Spanish Language Advanced-Level Proficiency CertificateSpanish & Portuguese Studies
College of Liberal Arts
This certificate is designed for students interested in achieving advanced-level proficiency in Spanish and having their skills formally recognized. People who have advanced-level proficiency in Spanish possess the speaking, reading, writing and listening skills sufficient to satisfy the requirements of everyday situations at home and at work. They also generally understand and are understood by native speakers of Spanish. For an extended definition of advanced-level proficiency, please visit the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages website: www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012_FINAL.pdf
The Certificate of Advanced-Level Proficiency is open to all University of Minnesota undergraduate students, especially those who seek higher levels of Spanish proficiency in order to become more competitive for graduate or professional programs, careers with domestic Spanish-speaking populations, or international careers.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
The Spanish Language Advanced Level Proficiency Certificate may be combined with any departmental degree program.
Spanish LPE
Pass the Spanish Language Proficiency Exam (LPE). This exam is typically taken after 4 semesters of college-level study, or the equivalent. For more information, please visit http://langtest.umn.edu/lpe.
Composition, Communication and Content-Based courses
Take SPAN 3015W/V or equivalent, and one pre-approved content-based course, or two content-based courses.
Take exactly 2 course(s) totaling 6 - 8 credit(s) from the following:
Spanish Composition and Communication
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
SPAN 3015W - Spanish Composition and Communication
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3015V - Honors: Spanish Composition and Communication
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARGN 3015W - Spanish Composition and Communication
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ECDR 3015W - Spanish Composition and Communication
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
TLDO 3231 - Spanish Composition and Communication
(3.0-4.0 cr)
·
Pre-approved content-based courses
A content-based course is defined as a course of at least 3 credits that is focused on academic discipline, and taught almost exclusively in Spanish, or for which the discussion section is delivered in Spanish. A minimum of 10 pages of written work in Spanish must be completed, including a single assignment of at least 5 pages. Contact the Spanish and Portuguese Studies advisors about counting a course towards this requirement that is not listed below.
Take 1 - 2 course(s) from the following:
·
SPAN 3104W - Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literatures
[LITR, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
SPAN 3104V - Honors: Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literatures
[LITR, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ARGN 3104W - Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Literatures
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
TLDO 3104W - Art of Reading Literary Texts
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3105W - Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Cultures
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
TLDO 3105W - Cultural Heritage of Spain
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
SPAN 3107W - Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
TLDO 3107W - Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Linguistics
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
other pre-approved content-based course
Spanish Language Immersion
Participate in an intensive university level Spanish-language immersion experience. There are two options for completing this requirement:
Option 1
Participate in an academic study abroad experience in a Spanish speaking country or territory that is at least 6 weeks in length and has at least one course taught in Spanish
or
Option 2
Completion of a pre-approved semester-long immersion experience. Non-semester-long versions of these courses do not count towards the Spanish Language Immersion requirement. Non-study abroad immersion options include:
SPAN 3401 - Latino Immigration and Community Engagement
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
or
SPAN 3404 - Medical Spanish and Community Health Learning
(3.0 cr)
or
Participation in the Community Engagement Scholars Program, with a focus on opportunities to engage with native Spanish speakers (requires 400 service hours)
or
Other option approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies
Self-assessment Instrument
Take the self-assessment and use this information to gauge your own proficiency level. It is strongly recommended that you do not attempt the ACTFL exam until the self-assessment results indicate that you may have achieved advanced-level proficiency.
Critical Reflection Essay
Upon completing all foregoing requirements, submit and pass a short essay (of 450-600 words) written in English that is both a self-assessment of your Spanish-language skills and also explains how you have used your language and cultural understanding skills at the university and beyond. Show that you have engaged in critical reflection on the learning process and developed the tools for continued language acquisition. Cite specific experiences to illustrate your linguistic growth.
Achieve Advanced-Low or Higher on the Spanish ACTFL
Pass the ACTFL advanced-level exam in Spanish by achieving a rating of Advanced-Low or higher in all four sections:
- Speaking
- Writing
- Listening
- Reading
Additional Recommended Experiences to Enhance Spanish-Language Proficiency
- Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least 1 semester
- Service learning in a Spanish-speaking community for at least 1 semester
- Participate in the Community Engagement Scholars Program and work with native Spanish speakers
- Participate in TandemPlus
- Take extra upper-division courses taught in Spanish
- Take the self-assessment test periodically
- Spend approximately 15-20 hours per week outside of class actively using Spanish (reading, writing, speaking, listening)
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3015/Ecdr 3015/Span 3015/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3015/Ecdr 3015/Span 3015/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 8.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3015/Ecdr 3015/Span 3015/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3015/Ecdr 3015/Span 3015/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 -4.0 [max 8.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3015/Ecdr 3015/Span 3015/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3104W/Span 3104W/Tldo3104 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3104W/Span 3104W/Tldo3104 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3104W/Span 3104W/Tldo3104 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3104W/Span 3104W/Tldo3104 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3105W/Span 3105V/Tldo 310 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3105W/Span 3105V/Tldo 310 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3107W/Tldo 3107W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Span 3107W/Tldo 3107W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |