Updated June 28, 2016
Information about Spanish Language Courses
Summer 2016
Dear incoming class and faculty advisors,
Welcome to the Hispanic Studies Department and the Spanish Language Program. Please read carefully the
information we have prepared to guide you in the selection of courses we offer in the language program and
the rules we follow to place students according to proficiency level. Detailed information and complete
course descriptions can be found in the Banner course catalog and Class schedule for the Fall 2015, and on our
Hispanic Studies Website under the heading “Undergraduate”
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Hispanic_Studies/
The Brown Placement Exam is a computer-­­administered test that students can take remotely. Students with
previous coursework in Spanish must take the exam unless they earned a score of at least 4 on the Spanish AP
exam or can present the appropriate recent SAT II score. Students who received an AP score of 3 or under and
have no SAT II score should take the Brown Placement Exam. Students with substantive non-­­academic contact
with Spanish (living abroad, speaking Spanish at home) should also take the exam before entering a Spanish
course. For more information about course placement, go to: https://www.brown.edu/academics/hispanicstudies/language-placement
After successfully completing an approved Spanish language course at Brown, students with a 4 or 5 AP score
in Spanish may opt to transcript an additional, unassigned credit in Spanish.
**Please note: All Spanish Language courses are independent courses and there are no requirements to take
subsequent courses in order to receive credit.
HISP 0100 is the introductory Spanish course appropriate for students with no prior exposure to Spanish.
HISP 0200 continues basic Spanish, focusing on acquisition of communicative skills as well as cultural
awareness.
HISP 0110, Intensive Basic Spanish. Students who wish to complete the HISP 0100-­­0200 sequence in one
semester may do so by enrolling in HISP 0110 for a two semester course credit. Students must have some
previous knowledge of Spanish from High School or elsewhere and have scored below 340 in the Brown
Placement Exam or below 450 in SAT II. Absolute true beginners with knowledge of Romance Languages or
Latin, consult with instructor. Instructor’s permission is required.
HISP 0300 and 0400 are intermediate courses; HISP 0500 and 0600 are advanced courses that help students
function at higher levels of proficiency in speaking and writing.
HISP 500: Advanced Spanish I: Offers comprehensive work in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with
targeted grammar review. Students work with a variety of readings (literature, newspaper articles, etc.) and
Updated June 28, 2016
with art forms such as film and music, in order to develop oral and written expression and to explore issues relevant to the
Hispanic world. Students explore topics of their own interest through student-led activities presentations and a final
group project that involves research in the community beyond the classroom. Prerequisite: HISP0400 or
placement: SAT II scores between 600 and 660, Brown Placement Exam scores between 491 and 570, or AP
score of 4 in language or literature. Please check Hispanic Studies website (Undergraduate Programs) for course
descriptions and placement information.
HISP 600: Advanced Spanish II: Offers continued, advanced-­­level work in speaking, listening, reading, and
writing skills, with focused review of challenging aspects of Spanish grammar. Course materials include films,
music, art works, and a variety of written texts (articles, stories, plays, a novella, etc.) chosen to promote class
discussion and in-­­depth written analysis. There will be individual and group activities, including in-­­class
presentations and creative writing projects. Prerequisite: HISP0500 or placement: SATII scores between 670
and 740, Brown Placement Exam scores between 571 and 650, or AP score of 5 in language. Please check
Hispanic Studies website (Undergraduate Programs) for course descriptions and placement information.
HISP 730, 740, and 750 are more customized courses, all of them approximately at the same level, but with
different emphases. HISP 730 and 740 serve as introductions to all periods of Latin American and Peninsular
literature, and they are especially helpful to potential concentrators in Hispanic Studies. All students, including
concentrators, are required to take either 730 or 740 before proceeding to 1000-­­level courses. HISP 750
courses offer various more specialized topics in Hispanic culture and civilization.
Descriptions of all Spanish language courses may be found in the Course Announcement Bulletin and online in
the Banner course catalog under “Hispanic Studies.”
Placement scores and corresponding course levels
Spanish Course
SAT II Score
AP Score
Brown Placement Exam Score
HISP 710-730, 740, 750- 760
750 & above
5 (literature)
651 & above
HISP 600
670-740
5 (language)
571- 650
HISP490*** -HISP 500
600-660
4 (language or literature)
491- 570
HISP 400
520-590
411- 490
HISP 300
460-510
341 – 410
HISP 200
400-450
241 - 340
HISP 110**
300-450
Below 340
HISP 100
300-390
Below 240
3 or below: take Brown Placement
Exam
** If interested in HISP 110, contact Prof. Nidia Schuhmacher, nidia_schuhmacher@borwn.edu or Mrs. Mary Oliver,
mary_oliver@brown.edu
*** HISP 490 is Medical Spanish course that has the same pre-reqs/placement requirements as HISP500, but does NOT
qualify as a pre-req for study abroad or for HISP 600. Students who complete 490 successfully can continue in our program,
with HISP500 as the next level. If interested in HISP 490, contact Prof. Jill Kuhnheim, jill_kuhnheim@brown.edu
Updated June 28, 2016
HISP100 and HISP200, that is, below 340 in the Brown Placement Exam or below 450 in the SATII, may be
eligible to enroll in this 2 semester in one course. If interested, contact Prof. Nidia Schuhmacher,
nidia_schuhmacher@brown.edu or Mrs. Mary Oliver, mary_oliver@brown.edu
**Students who have knowledge of Latin or other Romance languages but never took Spanish, should also
take a Spanish Placement Test before registering for any Spanish language course.
Note: A student who has a 4 or 5 AP score will also receive one unassigned credit in Spanish in addition to the
credit received after successfully completing one of the courses listed.
What do I do if I feel I am placed too high or low?
There is no perfect placement tool. If you feel that the Spanish course in which you placed is not appropriate,
talk to your instructor or the supervisor of the course. More information about the different levels of Spanish
language courses is available on our course preview pages at http://courses.brown.edu/.
Students who are unable to register for a course online because the section was already closed are
encouraged to attend the first days of class in the section of their choice and follow the instructions provided
by the instructor. Enrollment will shift during the first week or two while students work out their course
schedules. We strive to help students find their level and place in the language courses.
For more information
If after visiting the Hispanic Studies website you have questions, you can speak with departmental
representative at the Academic Expo on Monday, September 5th, from 3:00-­­4:30 p.m., in Sayles Hall (Main
Green). You can also contact the Hispanic Studies Language Faculty: Eva_Gomez_Garcia@brown.edu;
Nidia_Schuhmacher@brown.edu; Victoria_Smith@brown.edu; or Silvia_Sobral@brown.edu.