EVALUATION
Students must take a written and oral placement exam on the first day of classes to assess his/her level. Attendance is mandatory and students are only allowed to have one EXCUSED absence. If the student is absent more than one day he/she will automatically fail the class and loose the academic credits.
*Spanish Classes are 4 credit hours unless otherwise noted
SPN-101 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION
BASIC 1 4 weeks x 20 hours / week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. No previous knowledge of Spanish is required. The main focus of this level is the development of oral expression. The student should develop the ability to be comfortable in simple daily situations. The students that are at this level shall be exposed in a progressive manner to units of basic vocabulary and at the same time learn the appropriate grammatical structures.
SPN-102 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION:
BASIC 2: 4 weeks x 20 hours / week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. This course is designed for groups that have taken at least 60 hours of Spanish and have very basic knowledge of the language. During the four weeks of the course the content is progressively extended, integrating the development of the four skills with techniques and specific procedures that promote the student’s interaction with the Costa Rican surroundings. At the same time the knowledge that is acquired in the previous module is strengthened. When the four weeks of study are over the student will be able to face every day situations easily.
SPN-201 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION:
INTERMEDIATE 1 4 weeks x 20 hours / week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. This module was designed for those that have a basic knowledge and proficiency of the language. Dynamic participation is promoted among the students. It is based on the conversation, reading and discussion of simple texts. Aside from the use of more complex vocabulary, the history and use of personal pronoun “vos” are introduced.
SPN-202 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION:
INTERMEDIATE 2 4 weeks x 20 hours / week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. Social and cultural activities are used widely as study material. Much emphasis is placed on the enrichment of vocabulary and the management of the language is intensified. The student, once this module is completed, shall be able to take part of a simple dialogue and be able to understand the majority of what is read.
SPN-210 INTERMEDIATE CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH:
4 weeks x 20 hours /week = 80 hours expression and culture. Pre-requisite: SPN 202
This course is for those students who have achieved an intermediate command of grammar structures and wish to better their oral communication. Students will develop skill in written expression and will also work with reading and auditory activities to motivate oral communication. Grammar aspects that have a direct relationship with oral and written expression also will be reviewed.
SPN-301 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION:
ADVANCED 1 4 weeks x 20 hours/ week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. Oriented towards students that are already able to communicate in Spanish. The goal is to polish the language through: grammatical analysis, vocabulary, mannerisms and colloquial expressions. The reading and composition of complex texts is also included.
SPN 302 GRAMMAR AND CONVERSATION:
ADVANCED 2 4 weeks x 20 hours / week = 80 hours of LANGUAGE. Always using the practical and communicational method, this module deals with more complicated syntactical and morphological aspects. It is an introductory course to morph linguistics. Emphasis is placed on the correct use of written and spoken Spanish. When this level is completed satisfactorily, the student shall be able to express his/her ideas fluently in Spanish, written as well as spoken. In the same way, the student shall have a notion of the adequate use of nomenclature and the structure of advanced syntax.
SPN 304/3440 SPANISH FOR BUSINESS
(Only offered in March, July, December) 4 weeks x 15 hours / week = 60 hours
Created for students that are already at an advanced level of Spanish, this course will familiarize a foreign student with the Spanish used in the Latin American business world. The technical language and vocabulary used in the areas of financing, marketing, production and general administration are studied here. This course has been structured into thematic units that are developed through activities such as reading and analysis of articles and experts’ opinions that are published in specialized magazines. Each specific area is covered with situations or “mini – cases” that need to be solved, thus promoting the development of written and oral skills, applied to Business Administration. The students carry out case studies and visit different national companies.
SPN-310 ADVANCED CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH:
4 weeks x 20 hours /week = 80 hours. Pre-requisite: SPN 301
This course is for students with superior command of grammatical structures who wish to become more fluent. At this level essential focus is to develop reading and auditory skills that will develop oral expression. The course promotes oral expression through reading, discussion and analysis activities.
SPN-320 INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL HERITAGE IN LATIN AMERICA
4 weeks x 20 hours = 80 hours. Pre-requisite: SPN 301
This course studies relevant topics and issues in the development of cultural heritage in Latin America with emphasis on Costa Rica.
SPN-340 ORAL EXPRESSION TECHNIQUES
4 weeks x 20 hours = 80 hours. Pre-requisite: SPN 301
This course is for advanced level students who wish to learn and practice oral techniques in conversation in order to increase fluency.
SPN-410 ADVANCED COMPOSITION
4 weeks x 20 hours = 80 hours. Pre-requisite: SPN 302
This course is for advanced level students who wish to obtain solid written skills. The objective of this course is to introduce and develop elements of rhetoric and composition in order to improve student’s written expression. This course focuses on analyzing aspects of communication and the use of written expression in order to obtain enough knowledge and skills necessary to elaborate texts.
SPN-141 BASIC SPANISH FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
4 weeks x 25 hours / week = 100 hours of LANGUAGE. This course is designed for the purpose of giving health personnel, who do not have any previous Spanish experience, the tools necessary for interacting with and interviewing simulated Spanish speaking patients. During the four weeks of the course the students will acquire the linguistic knowledge and skills that will permit them to communicate at a basic level with simulated Spanish speaking patients.
SPN-241 INTERMEDIATE SPANISH FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
4 weeks x 25 hours / week = 100 hours of LANGUAGE. This course is designed for health personnel that have taken a minimum of 100 elective hours of Spanish as a second language. The goal of this course is to deepen the knowledge of medical related Spanish and increase the competency of communications in specifically simulated situations with Spanish speaking patients.
SPN-341 ADVANCED SPANISH FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
4 weeks x 25 hours / week = 100 hours of LANGUAGE. This course is designed for health personnel that have an advanced background in Spanish and who need to improve their linguistic competency in order to interact with their Spanish speaking patients and their families.
SPN-151 BASIC SPANISH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER PATROL
This course is designed for the purpose of giving general law enforcement professionals, who do not have any previous Spanish experience, the tools necessary for interacting with and interviewing simulated Spanish native speakers. During the four weeks of the course the students will acquire the linguistic knowledge and skills that will permit them to communicate at a basic level in simulated situations with Spanish native speakers.
SPN-251 INTERMEDIATE SPANISH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER PATROL
This course is designed for law enforcement professionals that have taken a minimum of 100 elective hours of Spanish as a second language. The goal of this course is to deepen the knowledge of law related Spanish and increase the competency of communications in specifically simulated situations with Spanish native speakers.
SPN-351 ADVANCED SPANISH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER PATROL
This course is designed for law enforcement professionals that have an advanced background in Spanish and who need to improve their linguistic and communicative competency in order to interact with Spanish native speakers and their families. The goal at the end of this course is to have the student capable of communicating in an effective and fluent form with Spanish native speakers.
*Elective Classes are 3 credit hours (plus 1 additional lab credit for science courses)
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
ENV 3005: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT- 4 credits (60 hrs)
An introduction to the study of major environmental problems and issues confronting modern society. Students will examine Ecosystems, population patterns and dynamics; use and misuse of resources; population and environmental quality; environmental citizenship and economic incentives and Costa Rican initiatives in eco-tourism.
ENV 3044: TROPICAL ECOLOGY- 4 credits (60 hrs)
Students will learn about the interactions between earth and land and how this interactions or processes affect our life and the stability of the planet. Emphasis will be given to the study of the most relevant tropical ecosystems such as: tropical rain forest, cloud forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Field trips to selected environments will provide on site examples of some of the issues learned through class work and readings. All field trips are mandatory.
ENV 3120 Land Vertebrates of Costa Rica (60 contact hours)
This course is an introduction to the zoology of terrestrial vertebrates in Costa Rica. Students will gain insight about various biological characteristics of the groups of land chordates in the country. Costa Rica has an immensely rich animal biodiversity, with an influence of both North American and South American fauna and is a world-renowned hot spot for animal research and conservation. Emphasis will be given to the study of Costa Rican species, but others will be discussed as well.
ENV 3190 TROPICAL MARINE BIOLOGY - 4 credits (60 hours)
The course studies the balance between ecosystems and human’ stress and demands on the constant changing marine environment. All field trips are mandatory.
ENV 3740: RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN COSTA RICA - 4 credits (60 hours)
This course is an introduction to renewable energies and their impact on development and future needs of the planet Earth. Mankind is facing serious natural disasters and events caused by global warming and climate change. These phenomena are related to the population growth and the increase in fossil fuels burning, particularly after the industrial revolution. There is a general concern and interest of societies to change gradually toward the implementation of renewable energies to meet human needs in the future. This course will be focused on Costa Rica’s potential for renewable energies.
ENV 4040: ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT- 4 credits (60 hours)
An introduction to the actual world problems in natural resources management and conservation, and its effects on sustainable development efforts in tropical countries. Current issues that condition the possibility for development such as poverty, global warming, deforestation and potable water will be analysed.
ART AND HUMANITIES
ARCH 3112: History of Latin American Architecture and Art- 3 credits (48 hours)
A chronological overview of main invents and influences that contributed to the making of past and present architecture in Latin America analysing the artistic manifestations.
ARCH 3200: Tropical Architecture and Design- 4 credits (60 hours)
The objective is to learn about climatic design in the tropics and develop the skills to analyse a particular geographical situation. Students will become familiarized with restricted resource usage; the knowledge of land and climate and the rural tradition where domestic construction is passed on from one generation to another.
ART 2100 Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice - 3 credits (48 hours)
This is course is designed for the beginner to help the student find personal meaning in works of art and develop a better understanding of the nature and validity of art as visual and space language (line, shape, volume, light, space, time, motion, color, and texture). This means that you will learn about the essentials of art through experience and experimentation. Through determination and an open mind, you will increase your creativity and discover more interesting ways to understand and judge the visual arts. Emphasis is on the diversity of form and content in artwork. With willingness to work and an open mind, your experiences in this class will be memorable in a positive way. Upon completion, students should understand the basics of art materials used and have a basic overview of the history of art and how art represents its society, especially, Latin American culture.
ART 1301 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DRAWING - 3 credits (48 hours)
This studio art course introduces basic principles of drawing. The course includes model drawings, landscape drawings and experimental (abstract) drawings. The focus of this course is on the development of expression and observational drawing from still life, a model and landscapes.
CTV-3400 Documentary Production Process (60 contact hours)
The class will focus on the logistical and creative responsibilities of producing a short documentary. Students will work closely with each other, assuming the roles of producers, writers, directors and editors in the process of development and execution of documentaries. Students will learn the primary elements to creating a short documentary and exploit the cultural and environmental elements that filming locations can offer. The final project involves working collaboratively on producing an engaging documentary that may not exceed 6 minutes screen time.
DNCE 2500: INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN TROPICAL DANCE - 3 credits (48 hours)
An introduction to technique, rhythm and movement style of Latin American Tropical Dance. History, anthropology, folklore and songs are part of this experiential course.
HUM 3500- LATIN AMERICAN ART- 3 credits (48 hours)
A survey of Latin American visual arts covering twenty centuries of aesthetic and cultural production: Pre-Columbian, Conquest, Colonial, Baroque, Independence, Modern and Contemporary. We will examine the ways sculpture, painting, and architecture has functioned across a broad spectrum of art history, region, and culture in what are now the Latin American countries.
HUM 3513- ARTS AND HUMANITIES: COSTA RICA COLLOQUIUM- 3 credits (48 hours)
A general survey of the complex heritage and social evolution of Costa Rica, examined through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary view focusing on the historical development and present day dynamics of economy, society, polity, natural resources and culture. Emphases will be placed upon different topics during the course, according to students' backgrounds and expectations.
ETH-3100 SELECTED TOPICS IN AFRO-CARIBBEAN STUDIES- 3 credits (48 hrs) (Can also count for ETHN 3100 Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies)
This course examines a particular topic, theme, issue, or problem concerning the Black presence in Costa Rica and Central America. Sample offerings could include Central America and ethnic politics, history and Culture, Blacks in Central American governments, Contemporary Black literature, History of the Black experience in Costa Rica.
PHIL 3100 COMPARATIVE CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY- 3 credits (48 hours)
An overview of the history and selected concepts in major eastern and western philosophical movements and systems from ancient to the middle age periods. Students will reflect on certain topics such as mind-body, Concept of God, knowledge of self and others, predestination and free will, cause and effect and other fundamental ideas in classical knowledge.
PHOT- 2100 Ecological Photography- 4 credits (60 hours)
A general knowledge in the reaches and the stages of digital photography. By applying these principles in photographing wildlife, students will develop skills to create clearer images on a given subject. Students will undertake the task of observing and photographing flora and fauna in its natural environment. The course also studies how to manipulate and arrange images digitally in order to create an effective visual presentation
PHOT- 2130 Cultural Photography- 3 credits (48 hours)
Practical exercises and field trips students will apply the theoretical information provided in lectures to consciously explore Costa Rican culture. The focus of the projects is the creation of photographic images in black and white.
PHOT- 2600 Digital Photography- 3 credits (48 hours)
The course offers a general knowledge in the reaches and the stages of digital photography. Through practice exercises aiming to apply the information provided through lectures, students will be able to consciously create and manipulate digital photographic images.
BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND COMMUNICATION
COMM 3200- INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION- 3 credits (48 hours)
This course provides an introduction to the field of intercultural communication, enhances the development of intercultural competence (in the course participants and indirectly in their work and intercultural relationships), and explores implications and applications towards shaping one’s world view. The course examines theoretical aspects of culture and world view; communicative and intercultural competence; intercultural contact and entry processes; issues of diversity and commonalities among human beings; and implications and applications for work settings and for oneself as a member of multicultural groups.
ECON 3403- INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS & LATIN AMERICA- 3 credits (48 hours)
Examines Latin American policies that affect the international economy, with attention to trade barriers, economic nationalism and regionalism, international political economy, exchange market intervention and international transmission of economic perturbations. Pre- Requisit. ECON 1000, or ECON 2010 and 2020.
GEB 3350- INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS- 3 credits (48 hours)
An overview of cultural environment of international business and the institutions which affect business today. The Latin American perspective with regard to the U.S., Asia and Europe is examined: NAFTA, Merco sur, the EC and other common market areas and agreements.
GEB 3500- ECOTOURISM. THE COSTA RICA CASE- 4 credits (60 hours)
It will offer the chance to analyze this dynamic process from different socio-economic perspectives. It will discuss the economic importance of ecotourism for the Costa Rican national economy, the stimulation of grassroots, community ecotourism projects, and the role of ecotourism in securing environmental protection. The advances and limitations of ecotourism will be explored.
MGMT 3021- LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT- 3 credits (48 hrs)
An overview of logistics management areas within the domestic and international contexts. Examines logistics objectives such as warehousing, inventory control, transportation, import-export logistics, etc. Emphasis is given on the importance of legal aspects in certain logistics areas.
MGMT 3030- CREATIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS- 3 credits (48 hrs)
Provides the opportunity to learn about and practice the skills required for managerial excellence. These skills include leadership, negotiation, conducting performance appraisals, delegation, effective communication, interviewing and making hiring decisions and effective human resource management.
HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HHD-1020 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY- 4 credits (60 hours)
This course will introduce basic concepts of human anatomy, an overview of the most common injuries and illnesses that require physical therapy, and an introduction to the different tools and methods used to treat them. The course will consist of lectures about the theoretical concepts, and also laboratory practice, which will allow the student a hands-on experience of the different techniques given during the lectures. At the end of the course the student will have general knowledge on various areas of expertise, and on techniques such as massage therapy, electrotherapy, and therapeutic exercises, among others.
HIS-3293 COSTA RICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 4 credits (60 hours)
Costa Rica’s health care system is unique due to the fact that it’s socialized and has achieved excellent health indicators. The course focuses on the history and development of the public health care system within the context of the Costa Rican sociopolitical and economical situation. It also gives a strong emphasis on how the system actually works and points out not only the strongholds of the systems, but also it’s weak points. A third objective, of fundamental importance in order to understand this system, is the study of Costa Rica as a tropical country. Students will learn about the prevention and transmission of relevant tropical diseases.
PSY-2200 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY - 3 credits (48hours)
The World Health Organization defines health as being "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Based on this definition, the concepts of health and illness have changed. Nowadays, health care professionals have to tackle the health from a bio-psycho-social concept. For this reason, it is extremely important for health care professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, just to mention some) to have general information about Health Psychology, which studies how biology, behavior, and social context influence health and illness. In this way, health care professionals can have an integral approach to the patients under their treatment. This will discuss some of the most common topics related with Health Psychology and pertinent to practice in the health care professions.
HISTORY, POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HIS 2302 CONTEMPORARY LATINAMERICAN HISTORY- 3 credits (48 hours)
A survey of the main events in Latin American History after its independence. Topics include the historical causes and effects of the independence, some of the main issues on social, economic and political problems and the main historical leaders in modern Latin America.
HIS 3290 Costa Rican Economic Development- 3 credits (48 hours)
This course introduces the outstanding socio-economic and political features that have shaped and defined the history and development path of Costa Rica.
POL 2500 Human Rights in Latin America- 3 credits (48 hours)
A particular emphasis will be given to the case of Costa Rica, giving the students an opportunity to explore the development of human rights in the following areas: women’s rights, children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, the CAFTA agreement and labour rights, indigenous groups and human rights, disability and age issues, and the prison environment..
POL 3100 Costa Rican Tradition: Peace and Democracy- 3 credits (48 hours)
The general objective of this course is to discuss, with students, the social, economic and political issues of the process of construction of peace and democracy in Costa Rica and Central America (1948-2005).
POL 3220 Migration Issues: The Costa Rica Case (48 hours)
This class studies the construction of migrants as others, the management of their image by media and elements pertaining human rights and citizenship in the cases immigrants in Costa Rica and opening the possibility to compare the United States as a host country. The objective is to visualize the construction of cultural identities, its effects on the intergroup encounters and societal perspectives on migration.
POL 3400 World Politics and Terrorism- 3 credits (48 hours)
This course examines the historical and actual events related to international terrorism. The focus is to understand the background of global, regional and local conflicts between various groups and governments. Various topics will be closely followed, like Jihadism, Al Qaeda in 2008 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The objective of the course is to promote the interaction of ideas and arguments based on a balanced analysis of the themes. Students participate in various ways: writing essays, internet research assignments, documentary movies, socio-dramas and debating actual topics.
POL 3450 International Relations in Latin America- 3 credits (48 hrs)
The course will analyze the aspects of the Economic Integration, globalization and conditions for a successful integration between economies and the effects of free trade in the region as well as the effects of protectionism. There will be a special treatment on foreign investments and joint ventures in the Latin America.
POL 3560 International Politics in the Middle East- 3 credit (48 hours)
This course examines the historical and actual events in The Middle East. The focus is to understand the background of conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon and The Palestinian Territories. The aftermath of the Middle East Peace conference of December 2007 will be closely followed. The objective of the course is to promote the interaction of ideas and arguments based on a balanced analysis of the themes. Students participate in various ways: writing essays, internet research assignments, documentary movies, socio-dramas and debating actual topics.
POL 3740 Economic Integration in Latin America- 3 credits (48 hrs)
This course will analyze the beginning of the International Relations in Latin America and the most important historical facts that marked the politics in the region in the current era. The focus of this course is on the historic background of the region before independence and post independence that helped to consolidate the American hegemony and the insertion of foreign investment, the North American imperialism and the Latin-American resistance.
LITERATURA Y LINGÜÍSTIC.
SPN 1002- COMUNICACIóN ORAL BáSICA- 3 credits (48 hours)
Este curso está diseñado para estudiantes de español como segunda lengua que cuentan con un dominio elemental del idioma en los aspectos morfosintácticos, léxico-semántico y fonético-fonológicos, por lo que deben haber aprobado el nivel básico 1. A lo largo del curso, desarrollará su competencia comunicativa oral, que le permitirá desenvolverse de manera efectiva y eficaz en situaciones cotidianas. Prereq: SPN 101
SPN 3020- LECTURAS SELECTAS DE LA LITERATURA LATINOAMERICANA- 3 credits (48 hours)
Estudio panorámico de autores, corrientes literarias o particularidades de género e. la literatura Latinoamericana.
SPN 305. Fonética y Fonología 3 credits (48 hours)
En este curso se aprenden métodos y herramientas de la lingüística descriptiva aplicada a la fonética y articulación.
SPN 352. Dialectología Latinoamericana- 3 credits (48 hours)
Este curso explora una perspectiva socio-histórica de la lengua como un aspecto de estudio importante, para comprender el mecanismo lingüístico actual dentro de diferentes contextos sociales de habla. El enfoque de este curso es analizar la variedad dialectal que se refleja en los diferentes países latinoamericanos mediante rasgos: fonológicos, morfológicos y léxicos que toman en cuenta elementos culturales. Además, el curso pretende como objetivo primordial conocer y poner en práctica estrategias dialectales para fomentar elementos comunicativos auténticos que enriquezcan el uso del idioma español.
SPN 3560- TOPICOS SELECTOS EN LITERATURA COMPARADA- 3 credits (48 hours)
El curso plantea los fundamentos de poesía, narrativa (cuento corto y noveleta) y drama, que servirá como marco teórico de discusión de textos representativos de esos mismos géneros. Los textos han sido seleccionados con base en sus recursos para establecer comparaciones, y en el grado de interés que pueden despertar no sólo a estudiantes de literatura, sino a estudiantes de español como lengua extranjera..
SPN 4110- ESCRITORAS CONTEMPORANEAS COSTARRICENSES- 3 credits (48 hours)
El curso aborda la principal producción literaria femenina en Costa Rica. Se enfoca en el análisis de temáticas presentes en los diferentes textos y su relación con la realidad nacional. Prereq.. SPN 301
SPN 4330- TOPICOS SELECTOS EN LA LITERATURA ESPAÑOLA- 3 credits (48 hours)
Estudio de autores, corrientes literarias o particularidades de género e. la literatura española.
SPN 4390 El CINE Y LA LITERATURA LATINOAMERICANA- 3 credits (48 hours)
Estudio de la producción cinematográfica en relación con la literatura en Latino América. Prereq.. SPN 301
