The Rice Thresher

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February 8, 2008 > News > CSL proposes first language-only minor

CSL proposes first language-only minor

By Jocelyn Wright | Thresher Editorial Staff

Speaking Spanish is no doubt a major necessity for living in Texas, so it will be no surprise if it becomes Rice’s first minor. Proposed by The Center for the Study of Languages, the minor will differ from the Hispanic Studies major by giving students the opportunity to focus exclusively on improving their Spanish language skills without the literature and culture requirements of the Hispanic Studies major.

CSL Director Deborah Nelson-Campbell said she hopes the minor would give some of the 386 students who take Spanish classes in the CSL every year an opportunity to get credit for their work without completing a Hispanic Studies major.

A group of CSL Spanish lecturers proposed the Spanish Language minor as a response to multiple student requests and student enthusiasm for the program.

“I told one of my classes we were thinking of a Spanish language minor and asked who would be interested,” Spanish lecturer Victoria Arbizu-Sabater said. “All the students in the class raised their hands.”

The process for approval began in November when the proposal was sent to Nelson-Campbell. She forwarded her letter of support to Dean of Humanities Gary Wihl, who approved it and sent it to Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman. The proposal is currently at an Undergraduate Curriculum Committee subcommittee, which will review the proposal and present it to the Faculty Senate.

Spanish Lecturer Patricia Brogdon-Gomez said she hopes the minor will increase students’ proficiency in Spanish with a high level of participation in interactive classes. Brogdon-Gomez said she hoped it would give students in programs with heavy workloads, such as engineering, an opportunity to pursue Spanish language skills. She said she also hoped to the minor program would pique students’ interest in Hispanic Studies.

Patterson said the minor would also help students interested in medicine or law who wished to be more proficient in Spanish to interact with future clientele. Brogdon-Gomez said this goal fit in with President David Leebron’s Vision for the Second Century, which includes expanding and strengthening ties to Latin America.

The proposed Spanish Language minor will require six courses in Spanish at the 300 level or higher. Courses at the 100 and 200 level can count as prerequisites, but will not count towards the minor. Students can either take all six of these courses at the CSL, or they can take four of the six with the CSL and use two courses from the Hispanic Studies department, provided they are taught in Spanish. Students who study abroad will also have the opportunity to get up to half of the credits required for the minor if they follow an approved program.

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