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Spanish and Latin American Studies

Study Spanish as part of your Combined Honours degree. Explore Latin American culture and a combination of practical language study and communication skills.

About the programme

UCAS Code: BA Combined Honours (Y001) 

You'll learn Spanish to a high level of expertise to prepare you for your intercalating year abroad and for subsequent employment.

Language courses are taught in Spanish using a communicative approach, but you will also get a thorough, interactive grammar course in Stage 1 and 2, and learn liaison interpreting in your final year.

Combined Honours students are expected to spend one third of their time on Spanish language study.

As well as Spanish language modules, optional modules cover aspects of language, culture and society in modern and contemporary Spain and in Latin American countries.

You can also choose from a wide range of subjects including:

  • film
  • history
  • society
  • linguistics and language acquisition
  • modern literature
  • popular culture

All Combined Honours students studying a language, go abroad for an intercalating year between Stages 2 and 3. You'll be based in a Spanish-speaking country, to develop your language knowledge and expertise.

When you return in Stage 3 you continue to study Spanish and optional non-language modules taught in Spanish.

You can also choose to write a dissertation on an approved topic focusing on Spain or Latin America or the use of Spanish in the contemporary world.

This is offered by the School of Modern Languages

Pre-requisites

You can study Spanish either from scratch, post-GCSE or post-A level (or equivalent) standards.

maximum of two language subjects can be taken together in Combined Honours - and only one of these can be at beginners’ level.

Modules

Find out about our typical modules. Modules are subject to change and could differ on an annual basis.

Stage 1

You will follow either Level A (if you are a beginner) or Level B (if you have an A Level in Spanish).

Students study either 40 or 60 credits from the list below in Stage 1.

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

Level A

Compulsory modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester 
SPA1065 Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish I 20 1
SPA1066 Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish II (Pre-requisite SPA1065) 20 2

Optional Modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Vaule Semester 
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20  1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20  1&2

 

Level B

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SPA1071 Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish 20  1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
LAS1010 Introducción a América Latina 20 1&2
SML1018 Introduction to Literature 20  1&2
SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics 20  1&2
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20  1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20  1&2
SPA1019 Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula 20  1&2
Stage 2

Students study 40, 60 or 80 credits from the lists below at Stage 2.

You follow either Level B or Level C, depending on what Level you studied at Stage 1.

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

Level B

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SPA1070 Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish (Ex-Level A) (Pre-requisite SPA1065 and SPA1066)  20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit ValueSemester
LAS1010 Introducción a América Latina 20 1&2
SML1018 Introduction to Literature 20 1&2
SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics 20 1&2
SML1021 Introduction to International Film 20 1&2
SML1022 Introduction to Cultural Studies 20 1&2
SPA1019 Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula 20 1&2

Level C

Compulsory module

Module CodeModule TitleCredit Value Semester
SPA2061 Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish (Pre-requisite SPA1071) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SPA2019 World Spanish (pre-requisit SML1019) 20 1
SPA2021 Catalan I 20 1&2
SPA2025 Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina  20 1&2
SPA2027 Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity 20 1&2
LAS2030 Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: from Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917) 20 1
SML2014 Italian language and Culture I (Capped at 60)  20 1&2
SML2016 Reading in Translation 20 2
Intercalating Year

Students taking a language as a subject must spend an entire academic year abroad, between Stages 2 and 3, in a country where their chosen language is spoken. This will be your Intercalating Stage.

While abroad they shall take the following modules: SML3004 Year Abroad Tutor Posts (100 credits) and SML3006 Study Abroad (20 credits) or SML3007SML3008 Year Abroad Placement (20 credits).

Find further information about your Intercalating Year Abroad.

Stage 3

You follow either Level C or Level D.

Select the module code for specific module information including the module summary and aims, knowledge and skills you'll gain, and the module leader.

Level C

Compulsory module

Module Code Module Title Credit Vaule Semester 
SPA2061 Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish (Pre-requisite SPA1071) 20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
SPA2019 World Spanish (pre-requisite SML2019)  20 1
SPA2025 Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina  20 1&2
SPA2027 Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity 20 1&2
SML2016 Reading in Translation 20 2
LAS2030 Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: from Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917) 20 1

Additional Optional Modules:

Students studying Level C Spanish are allowed, with DPD permission, to study one of the following Level D optional modules listed below on the condition that they achieved a Stage 2 average of 60 and a mark of 60 or above in SPA1071:

Module CodeModule TitleCredit ValueSemester
LAS4005 Language Endangerment and Revitalisation 20 2
LAS4007 Latin American Art: Indigenous Contemporary Art and Activism 20 2

 

Level D

Compulsory module

All other students must choose either SPA4086 Language for Professional & Academic Purposes or SPA4087 Translation & Interpreting. Students must not select more than 20 credits for a single language (Pre-requisite SPA2061).

Module Code Module Title Credit ValueSemester
SPA4086

Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish for Professional and Academic Purposes

(FHEQ Level 6)
20 1&2
SPA4087

Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish Translation & Interpreting

(FHEQ Level 6)
20 1&2

Optional modules

Module CodeModule Title Credit Value Semester
LAS4005 Language Endangerment and Revitalisation in Latin America 20 2
LAS4007 Latin American Art: Indigenous Contemporary Art and Activism 20 2
LAS4010 Cultura y Política en Colombia 20 2
SPA4002 Catalan II (Pre-requisite SPA2021) 20 1&2
SPA4005 Cultura Popular en España y Cuba  20 1
SPA4007 Spanish and Romance word analysis (Pre-requisite SML1019) 20 2
SPA4008 Youth Cultures in Spain, Portugal and Latin America 20 1
SML4003 Advocaating and Teaching Languages in Schools (Capped at 15) (Pre-requisite: Students must have achieved a minimum of 60% in the language in Level C at Stage 2) 20 1&2
SML4004 Italian Language and Culture II (Pre-requisite SML2014) (Capped at 40) 20 1&2
SML4099 Dissertation 20 1&2

Get in touch

If you have any questions about choosing this subject as part of your Combined Honours degree, contact us and we'll be more than happy to help. 

Subject adviser

Patricia Oliart, School of Modern Languages

Our address

Combined Honours Centre
9th Level, Henry Daysh Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU

Tel: +44 (0)191 208 7479