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Department of Modern Languages- Spanish Language and Culture

Spanish Language and Culture Program Overview

Degrees Offered:

• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with secondary teaching certification
• Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with honors

Majors & Minors:

Students who major in Spanish are highly encouraged to undertake a second major; currently the Department has students majoring in both Spanish and one of the following:

• criminal justice
  
• nursing
  
• deaf education
  
• drama
  
• business
  
• elementary education
  
• secondary education

Programs of Study

Study Abroad

The best way to develop native-level proficiency is to study abroad. In odd-numbered years (2003, 2005, etc), the Department sponsors the MacMurray in Mexico Program, a six-week course at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (campuses in Mexico City and Taxco) where students develop their proficiency in Spanish and are able to enroll in other courses of study: business, history, archeology, art, music, dance, literature, etc. Students live with a family throughout their residence and can receive up to 6 hours of credit towards their major at MacMurray. Student also have many opportunities to travel abroad during the January Term in College-sponsored trips.

SOMOS (the Spanish Club)

SOMOS is dedicated to educating the college and surrounding community about Spanish-speaking culture. The Club sponsors an annual Cinco de Mayo celebration on campus, an annual exhibit for the Dia de los Muertos. Club members also have participated in after-school tutoring for bilingual students in the Beardstown school district and are planning mini-classes in Spanish language and culture for local elementary schools.

Graduates

Graduates of the Spanish Program are currently working in a wide variety of fields: education, law, medicine, business, criminal justice, and nursing. One recent graduate received the prestigious internship in the Lieutenant Governor's Office of the State of Illinois and another recent graduate was named a Student Laureate of the State of Illinois.

Internships    

All students are encouraged to enroll in meaningful internships. The Department will work with students to set up appropriate internships regionally, nationally, or internationally. MacMurray is affiliated with the internship programs offered by Central College in Mexico and Spain. Additionally, the Office of Career Planning and Placement will work with students to place them in challenging internships at sites such as the United Nations, the American Center, the World Health Organization, and a whole host of other sites where they can utilize fully their abilities to speak Spanish.

Faculty    

Joseph R. Hoff, Ph.D.
Professor of Spanish and Department Chair
Professor Hoff received his Ph.D. (specialization in contemporary Latin American Literature and minor specialization in medieval Spanish literature) from Saint Louis University. He is very interested in Latin American and Spanish film as well as postmodern theories of culture and literature. He has served as the editor of the Journal of Cultural Diversity.He has published numerous articles and editorials. Dr. Hoff currently serves as a reader of Advanced Placement Examinations in Spanish for the Educational Testing Service. He has led many January Term study tours for the College: France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. He has been listed in Who's Who in the Midwest and is the past recipient of MacMurray College's President's Award for Excellence. He has also served in the past as Chair of the Central Illinois Foreign Languages and International Studies Consortium. He very much enjoys traveling with students, hiking, reading, and meeting new people!
Phone: 217-479-7073
E-mail:joe.hoff@mac.edu

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