UPPER-LEVEL COURSES (SPANISH)
Advanced literature and culture courses focus on the complex study of literary periods, movements, and authors, as well as other forms of popular production (mass and folk culture, film and visual media, etc.) in the Hispanic world. Many of these are organized around issues and problems rather than geography or chronological period. More or less attention may be overtly dedicated to language skills depending on topic and instructor, but all work is done in Spanish, ideally preparing students for the type of work on specific subjects they may undertake while studying in colleges and universities abroad, or in graduate school. The highest upper-level course is the Senior Seminar, which should be taken in the fall of the senior year; in addition to exploring a topic, this seminar focuses on research methods and resources, and requires the production of a significant research paper (satisfying thesis requirements at Barnard). Unless a specific arrangement is made with the major advisor or instructor (a highly unusual circumstance), students should have completed at least three of the bridge/introductory courses before registering for an upper-level course. Sections of upper-level courses are also kept to a maximum of 15 students, and may be taken at either Barnard or Columbia.