Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Latin American Women: Literature, Film, and Culture (Face-to-Face)

SPAN 4314-01

Course: SPAN 4314-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: FLPH
CRN: 12850

Course Description

This course introduces students to a wide range of cultural contributions made by women from Latin America and Latina/e/x communities in the United States. Through the study of literature, art, music, film, podcasts, current events, and popular culture, the course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine how women are represented and underrepresented across cultural production. Together, we will explore how socio-political, historical, economic, cultural, and personal factors have shaped women's lives and creative work. The course also invites students to consider the diversity and complexity of women's experiences in Latin America and the U.S.

(As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): SPAN 3300 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Materials will be provided in the course modules (Canvas). Students are also expected to have access to the following materials at home and in-class: 
  • A notebook for reading/viewing notes and writing activities.
  • In-class access to all of the readings and discussion materials in the Canvas modules. A laptop, tablet or print copies of the materials is essential for all of our meetings. If needed, the SUU Library has equipment available for check out. Visit the Circulation Desk for more information. 
  • In-class bilingual dictionary or online access: Word Reference
  • In-class Spanish-only dictionary or online access: Real Academia Española
  • MLA Formatting and Style Guide: Purdue OWL en español

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
  • Analyze cultural contributions by women from Latin America and U.S. Latine/x communities across literature, art, music, film, and popular media, considering the social, historical, and economic contexts that shape their work
  • Integrate interdisciplinary perspectives to articulate informed interpretations of the diversity and complexity of women’s experiences in Latin America and U.S. Latine/x communities.
  • Interpret representations of Latin American and U.S. Latine/x women, identifying patterns of visibility, underrepresentation, and agency.
In addition, this course supports the achievement of the following Southern Utah University (SUU) Essential Learning Outcomes. By the end of the course, successful students will:
  • Develop and express ideas by speaking and writing in the target language. (2.0 Communication)
  • Demonstrate knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world through engagement with the fine arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and related disciplines. (11.0 Knowledge of Human Cultures & the Physical & Natural World)

Course Requirements

Reading Responses (30%) 

The goal of this assignment is to help students slow down and actively engage with the materials. The prompts will aim to check comprehension, while also fostering critical and creative thinking skills in preparation for writing assignments, presentations, and class discussions.

Applied Activities (15%)

Through these activities, students will apply and connect course concepts to broader historical, cultural, artistic, and ethical contexts, demonstrating an understanding of how what we study reflects and engages with issues beyond the classroom. 
The majority of these activities will be completed in class. Students who are absent need to contact me in advance to arrange an accommodation. Applied activities will not be accepted beyond the 24-hour grace period unless a prior arrangement has been discussed.

Biography Project (20%)

For this project, students will select a woman from Latin America or a U.S. Latine/x community whose work spans literature, art, music, film, activism, or other cultural contributions. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will research her life, achievements, and the social, historical, and cultural contexts that shaped her experiences and creative output. A detailed rubric and assignment description will be available in the Canvas modules. Students may choose one of these options to present their research: 1) Written Essay (3-5 pages, MLA style) 2) Multimedia or Creative project (10-15 minute recorded presentation; visual essay; podcast episode; video or digital essay; interactive timeline or digital exhibit with annotations) 3) Alternative Project. Students may propose another project idea not mentioned above, with prior approval from the instructor. The project must clearly align with the learning outcomes provided in the assignment description and demonstrate integration of interdisciplinary perspectives. 

Class Discussion Leadership (10%)

Discussion leaders should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the topic by offering a clear, well-organized response to a specific question that is supported by examples from the text or other course materials. The goal is not only to present your perspective but also to actively facilitate participation by your classmates—posing questions, encouraging dialogue, and fostering critical reflection. This is a great opportunity to practice presentational speaking and leadership skills in Spanish while deepening your understanding of the course content.
Important Guidelines:
  • Reading directly and extensively from your notes or the PowerPoint is not allowed. You may use notes for reference, but your delivery should be natural and conversational.
  • If necessary, I reserve the right to step in during a presentation to help maintain the quality and inclusiveness of the discussion for all participants.
  • Opportunities to lead discussions will be announced weekly in-class. Please plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute to complete this assignment. 
  • If you are not attending class, you will miss the opportunity to sign-up for this assignment. 
  • Depending on the topic assigned, presentations should last between 10-15 minutes maximum. 
  • Students are encouraged to provide handouts and bring audiovisual materials that will enrich the presentation and engage your classmates more effectively.
  • A rubric will be posted on Canvas and feedback will be provided after the presentation. Students are encouraged to sign-up for additional presentations if they don't receive their desired outcome or for additional practice. 

Final Exam (15%)

The final exam will ask students to define key terms, identify materials/creators, and provide an understanding of the material studied during the semester. A study guide will be provided during the in class review session. The exam will take place on Monday, April 20th, 1-2:50 p.m. (BH 322).

Attendance and Class Participation (10%)

Attendance is taken during every class meeting and is considered an essential component of both this course and effective language learning. Punctual and regular attendance is expected of all students. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive to the learning environment and are strongly discouraged. Attendance and in-class participation points are updated regularly at the end of each module.

If you anticipate needing an excused absence—for reasons such as illness, jury duty, military or law enforcement obligations, or religious accommodations (see SUU Policy 6.30)—please contact me as early as possible to discuss an equitable plan for completing missed work. If you are feeling ill, please prioritize your health and the well-being of our classroom community. Stay home when necessary, and contact me to arrange accommodations.

Students participating in university-sponsored events (e.g., athletics, academic competitions, conferences) are granted excused absences with written documentation. It is the student’s responsibility to inform me in advance of the dates of their absence(s), make arrangements to complete any missed work, and review all materials covered during that time. The number of consecutive days missed for an excused absence may not exceed five (5) regularly scheduled school days.

Grade Scheme

The following grading standards will be used in this class:
A      94% to <100%
A-     90% to <94%
B+    87% to <90%
B      84% to <87%
B-     80% to <84%
C+    77% to <80%
C      74% to <77%
C-     70% to <74%
D+    67% to <70%
D      64% to <67%
D-     60% to <64%
F       0% to <60%

Course Outline

Tentative Course Schedule

Specific dates for each module and reading materials are available through Canvas. Each module will present case studies organized by theme and country/region. As the semester progresses, students will be encouraged to make connections between the materials studied in earlier modules. Students will also collaborate in making selections about the materials studied and the weekly thematic questions. 
 
Módulo 1
  • Introducción al curso
Módulo 2
  • Caso de estudio: México y los Estados Unidos 
Módulo 3
  • Caso de estudio: Centroamérica 
  • Aplicación interdisciplinaria con el módulo 1 y 2
Módulo 4
  • Caso de estudio: Perú, Ecuador, Bolivia
  • Aplicación interdisciplinaria con el módulo 1, 2 y 3
Módulo 5
  • Caso de estudio: El Cono Sur
  • Aplicación interdisciplinaria con el módulo 1, 2, 3, 4
Módulo 6
  • Caso de estudio: El Caribe
  • Aplicación interdisciplinaria con el módulo 1, 2, 3, 4, y 5
Módulo 7
  • Síntesis y repaso general

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Students are allowed a 24-hour grace period for submitting homework assignments—no questions asked. Work submitted during this window will be accepted without penalty or the need for an explanation. However, late work will not be accepted beyond the 24-hour grace period unless a prior arrangement has been discussed.
If you are experiencing any challenges—personal, academic, or technical—that may affect your ability to submit work on time, I strongly encourage you to reach out as early as possible so we can discuss the options.
Guidelines: 
  • In-class assignments connected to “Attendance and In-Class Participation” and "In-Class Writing Prompts and Quizzes" cannot be made up unless accommodations have been discussed before the absence.
  • Incomplete or low-quality homework submissions (e.g., work that does not meet basic assignment expectations or requires significant revision) will initially receive zero points. In these cases, I will ask you to revise and resubmit your work to receive credit. If points are deducted from a comprehension assignment, students are encouraged to revise and resubmit within seven (7) days.
  • While the grace period offers some flexibility, late work is strongly discouraged due to the fast-paced nature of the course. Homework assignments are closely integrated with the in-class activities, especially those focused on conversation and text comprehension/analysis.
Please do your best to maintain the flow of learning for yourself and your classmates by staying up to date and communicating proactively.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is taken during every class meeting and is considered an essential component of both this course and effective language learning. Punctual and regular attendance is expected of all students. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive to the learning environment and are strongly discouraged. Attendance and in-class participation points are updated regularly at the end of each module. 
If you anticipate needing an excused absence—for reasons such as illness, jury duty, military or law enforcement obligations, or religious accommodations (see SUU Policy 6.30)—please contact me as early as possible to discuss an equitable plan for completing missed work.
If you are feeling ill, please prioritize your health and the well-being of our classroom community. Stay home when necessary, and contact me to arrange accommodations.
Students participating in university-sponsored events (e.g., athletics, academic competitions, conferences) are granted excused absences with written documentation. It is the student’s responsibility to inform me in advance of the dates of their absence(s), make arrangements to complete any missed work, and review all materials covered during that time. 
The number of consecutive days missed for an excused absence may not exceed five (5) regularly scheduled school days. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.