The list below offers a representative sample of the courses you can expect in the study of Romance languages at DePauw. From theoretical foundations to practical experiences, these courses provide a full range of educational opportunities at various levels of mastery. For more information about current course offerings or registration details, please consult the Office of the Registrar.
Introduction to the French language with emphasis on development of proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The essentials of French grammar. Emphasis on communication and Francophone cultures. FREN 101 is open only to beginners in French or those with two years or less of high school French.
Language
1 course
A continuation of FREN 101. Prerequisite: FREN 101.
Language
FREN 101
1 course
Practice in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Review of French grammar and study of Francophone cultures. For those students who have prior experience in French.Open to students who are placed into this level by test results or departmental direction. Not open to those who have credit for FREN 101 or 102.
Language
1 course
An introductory program with a variety of learning approaches. Presentation and reinforcement of grammar, pronunciation and idiom through simple reading, guided writing and functional spoken German. An introduction to the German cultural tradition. GRMN 111 is open only to those without German language background or to those with two years or less of high school German.
Language
1 course
A continuation of GRMN 111.
Language
GRMN 111 or qualifying score on the placement test
1 course
Introduction to the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. HISP 131 is open only to beginners in Spanish or those with two years or less of high school Spanish.
Language
1 course
Continued introduction to the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts.
Language
1 course
Intensive study of the Spanish language with emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Emphasis on Spanish-speaking cultures and communication in authentic contexts. This course is designed for those students who seek more immediate entry into higher levels.
Language
1 course
Who gets to be "French"? Who belongs and who doesn't? Do 'differences' matter? This course will address these questions and more through French young-adult fiction and film that explore the migratory experience as well as distinct perspectives on sociocultural integration in today's France. This course will also serve as an introduction to literary and film analysis in French.
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
This course introduces students to non-normative expressions of gender, sexuality, and identity in contemporary France. Throughout the course, students explore (graphic) novels, films, shorts, as well as cultural and political content and campaigns with these three themes in mind. The course begins by interrogating the notion of identity through critical markers like gender, sexuality, race, class, ableism, and religion. Using these tools students scrutinize expressions of masculinity and homophobia in francophone high schools and the banlieue; critically analyze the representation of sexuality and gender in media; and are introduced to the concerns of French trans-identified citizens.
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
Through close study of novels and short stories by contemporary writers, students will gain familiarity with, and appreciation of, recent fiction published in France and across the francophone world, and they will develop skills for discussing and writing about literature in French.
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
This interdisciplinary course examines the complex concept of "borders" as a critical space of inquiry through a wide range of contemporary media resources including, but not limited to, films, documentaries, blogs, podcasts, radio, television, music, and print media. This course will also serve as an introduction to media text analysis in French.
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
Students will learn about issues and problems of high interest in contemporary France as they work with sources in the French press (including radio, television, and online newspapers) to explore current events and ideas from such fields as politics, business and the economy, energy and the environment, women's rights, religion, ethics, education, health, family, arts, entertainment, and sports. This course is designed to enrich vocabulary, strengthen students' grasp of the structures of the French language, and build oral and written proficiency.
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
An examination of a specific theme or issue in French and francophone literature and culture taught in English. No prerequisites. May be repeated for credit with a different topic.
Arts and Humanities
1 course
Second year Italian. First semester. The course focuses especially on developing proficiency in writing, reading and oral expression, and all work is contextualized in contemporary culture. The course is designed to widen knowledge of vocabulary, perfect structural use of the language, and prepare students who want to work or live in Italy for a semester or a longer time. Lessons will present a variety of authentic materials such as newspaper articles, listening-comprehension clips, and films to facilitate immersion in Italian culture and society. In this course students gain intercultural competence and grow to be global citizens by learning to be aware of cultural difference, developing skills to listen and observe, opening up to learning from other cultures, adopting new ways to learn, and adapting to new cultural environments. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director.
Language
ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
Second year Italian. Second semester. Continuation of ITAL 271. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally ITAL 271 & 272 are taken in sequence, but 271 is not necessarily a prerequisite of ITAL 272.
Language
ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
A critical appreciation of the construction of individual and/or collective identities in Francophone literatures and cultures. Students examine the complex dynamics between "national identity" and cultural diversity through a variety of contemporary texts, each of which engages with questions of, among others, race, privilege, space(s), displacement of colonial ideology, representation, and freedom of religion
Global Learning-or-Language
1 course
Emphasis on oral registers and speaking practice, including debates, tertulias, charlas,and the language of popular movements. Prerequisite: Successful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the Spanish placement test. Students with recent foreign residence in a Spanish-speaking country must consult with the director of the program before registering for HISP 330.
Global Learning-or-Language
Sucessful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the Spanish placement test
1 course
Advanced reading and writing strategies, including grammar review and composition, for entry into the advanced curriculum. Students read from a variety of representative texts of multiple registers from the Spanish-speaking world. Open to students from all language learning backgrounds.
NOTE: Students may not earn major/ minor credit for both HISP 332 and HISP 333. Prerequisite: Successful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test.
Language
Successful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test
1 course
Designed for students who grew up using Spanish with their families and/or communities, but who received the majority of K-12 education in English. Emphasis on advanced reading and writing strategies and differentiation between written and oral registers of Spanish through discussion of key issues affecting the Latinx community and civic engagement. A focus on Spanish as a national language in the U.S. and the deconstruction of myths based on power and privilege associated with being Latino in the U.S. Topics vary by semester, but may include immigration, identity construction, bilingualism, literature, or popular culture.
NOTE: Students may not earn major/ minor credit for both HISP 332 and HISP 333. Prerequisite: Successful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test.
Language
Successful completion of HISP 231 and HISP 232 or qualifying grade on the placement test
1 course
Significant authors and texts from throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Prerequisite: HISP 332 or HISP 333.
Language
HISP 332 or HISP 333
1 course
A study of the history, geography, art, intellectual currents and social developments of Latin America. Prerequisite: HISP 330, HISP 332, or HISP 333, or permission of instructor.
Arts and Humanities-or-Global Learning
HISP 330, HISP 332, or HISP 333, or permission of instructor
1 course
This course focuses on the study of contemporary Italian society and culture. Students explore a variety of themes in current events that are significant to today's world, and that present the complexity and diversity of contemporary Italy. The methodological approach is student-centered and favors interaction, while also promoting the development of critical thinking and growth toward linguistic autonomy and fluency. This course connects students' interest in Italian language and culture to their personal life-experience and stimulates intercultural exchange of ideas. Students learn to interpret and relate, to engage with ambiguity, while learning to respect and to value diversity in ways of thinking, understanding the impact of historical and social contexts. The method fosters skills to analyze, interpret, and evaluate. The course stimulates intellectual curiosity, tolerance of cultural difference, appropriate behavior in intercultural situations, and sensitivity toward other worldviews. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally students enroll in 200-level courses before enrolling in a 300-level course, but the sequence is not strict or mandatory.
Global Learning-or-Language
Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director.
1 course
Continuation of Italian 371. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally students enroll in 200-level courses before enrolling in a 300-level course, but the sequence is not strict or mandatory. ITAL 371 is not a pre-requisite of ITAL 372.
Global Learning-or-Language
Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
Italian 376 is an advanced level course that offers an in-depth look at Italian history and culture through the medium of film. This course on Italian Cinema presents a range of opportunities to discuss historical, literary, cinematic, sociological and cultural issues. While focusing on the Italian language and working on developing conversational fluency, students are encouraged to analyze the complexity of Italian society, investigating the Italian cultural heritage within both a national and international framework. Through films, students continue to work on refining writing skills, increasing vocabulary and perfecting listening-comprehension skills. As in a seminar, students will be asked to present on a variety of topics, lead discussion, debate, re-create dialogues, analyze scenes and interpret specific moments in the movies. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally students enroll in 200-level courses before enrolling in a 300-level course, but the sequence is not strict or mandatory.
Global Learning-or-Language
ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
This course is based on reading current events in an Italian newspaper day by day, as articles and essays are published. The newspaper will provide an updated reflection of Italian society. We will explore a variety of aspects of Italian culture, including economics, immigration, Black Italy, the justice system, organized crime, immigration, the question of the South, everyday Italian society, the European context, health care, experimentation in education and the school system.
Arts and Humanities-or-Global Learning
1 course
This course is an independent studies course for advanced students of Italian who wish to pursue an independently designed program of research or inquiry in Italian. Open to advanced students in Italian with permission of chair. May be repeated for credit with different topics.
Language
1/4-1/2-1 course
This course has a thematic approach, offering a portrait of Italy through a discussion of work, food, literature, art, theater, history, geography, the economy, and famous intellectual figures of Italy. The course instigates intellectual curiosity, and invites the students to analyze particular aspects of the language and different textual genres, focusing on a variety of language registers, idiomatic expressions, and cultural variations. Students also focus on developing communicative skills of argumentation and negotiation. The course is designed to provide options for interdisciplinary work. It introduces students to different aspects of contemporary Italy. Students will look at the changes happening in contemporary Italian society and culture. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally students enroll in 200-level courses before enrolling in a 400-level course, but the sequence is not strict or mandatory.
Language
ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
This course is a continuation of ITAL 471. Prerequisites: ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director. Normally students enroll in 200-level courses before enrolling in a 400-level course, but the sequence is not strict or mandatory. ITAL 471 is not a pre-requisite of ITAL 472.
Language
ITAL 171 & 172, or placement test, or approval of the Program Director
1 course
Leveraging the resources of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Romance languages major at DePauw is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the expertise of multiple departments to develop the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a rapidly changing world.
