Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Culture and History of Latin America (Face-to-Face)

SPAN 3512-01

Course: SPAN 3512-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Languages and Philosophy
CRN: 33368

Course Description

This course gives an overview of the historical and cultural development of the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America. It serves as enrichment for the survey courses on Spanish literature through a study of the political, social, and intellectual movements reflected in the literature. (Fall, Spring, Summer [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): SPAN 2020 or SPAN 3000 or SPAN 3210 or SPAN 3212 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

  • All course content 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 notes and writing activities.
    • Access to all of the readings and discussion materials in the Canvas modules. A laptop, tablet, or print copies of the materials are essential for all of our in-class meetings. If needed, the SUU Library has equipment available to check out. Visit the Circulation Desk for more information. 
    • In-class bilingual dictionary or access to Word Reference.
    • In-class Spanish-only dictionary or online access to Real Academia Española.
    • MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue OWL en español)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, successful students will:
  • Understand major historical and cultural events that shaped pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Latin America.
  • Recognize Latin America's immense diversity and how it has shaped the region. 
  • Improve their ability to comprehend, analyze, and discuss cultural materials using grammatical and lexical characteristics reflective of an intermediate/advanced proficiency level in Spanish.

Course Requirements

Weekly Reflections (30%)

Weekly reflections will be posted in the course modules and need to be submitted through Canvas, unless otherwise stated. The reflection assignments will include comprehension checks. In general, they prepare you for in-class work. The assignment settings (unless otherwise specified) will allow for multiple attempts and corrections. Use this setup to improve and learn from your mistakes. I strongly believe daily preparation matters more than exam results at the end of the module. Learning a new language is a skill that requires showing up and practicing daily.

Cultural Materials Review (25%)

For the final project, students will listen to and review 3 podcast episodes of their choice from Radio Ambulante or El Hilo. The selection process may be the most challenging part of this project. Students will need to decide whether they want to center their selections on a single country, a region, or a specific theme. As part of the requirements, the selected podcasts must have a connecting thread ("un hilo"). Formatting and submission instructions will be provided in the modules. 
This final project has three components: 
  • Individual summaries for each episode. What is the episode about? What do we learn about the historical/cultural context? I will provide a template in class and in the course modules. 
  • Guided Reflection. For each episode, reflect on the following: How does the episode connect to a course theme or module? How did the episode expand or change your knowledge of Latin America? Your focus for this question could be thematic, linguistic, or both. Would you recommend them? Why? 
  • Professional Development: What skill(s) did this project help you build (time management, project management, analysis, cross-cultural communication, listening comprehension, etc.), and how might that skill be valuable in a future career or opportunity of interest? A template will be provided in class and in the course modules. Your response should be treated as a potential professional artifact that can later be used, edited, or modified for your future objectives. 

Professional Development (10%)

Throughout the semester, we will complete micro-assignments that connect the course materials and outcomes to career readiness. The objective is to help you translate coursework and skills gained in this course into practical self-marketing tools, such as resume language, professional bios, cover letter content, and interview responses that you can use in your own professional development. By the end of the semester, you should have a collection of artifacts that showcase your bilingual and cross-cultural competencies. 

Class Discussion Leadership (10%)

Discussion leaders should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with the topic by offering a clear, well-organized response to a specific question, 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:
  • You may not read directly and extensively from your notes or the PowerPoint. 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.
  • I will announce opportunities to lead discussions 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 7 - 10 minutes maximum. 
  • Students are encouraged to provide handouts and bring audiovisual materials that will enrich the presentation and engage your classmates more effectively.
  • A detailed rubric will be posted on Canvas. Feedback will be provided after the presentation. Students are encouraged to sign up for additional presentations if they don't achieve their desired outcome or for additional practice. 

Midterm (10%)

We will have a midterm exam covering key terms, texts, themes, and concepts. The format may include a combination of the following: identifications, short-answer responses, and a reflection. I will provide a study guide in advance. Students may not use outside materials or electronic devices during the exam.

Attendance and In-Class Participation (15%)

Attendance is taken during every class meeting and is considered an essential component of both this course and effective language learning. All students are expected to attend punctually and regularly. Late arrivals and early departures disrupt 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

Módulo 1 
  • Semanas 1 y 2: Geografía, ¿Qué es "Latinoamérica"? 
  • Semanas 3 y 4: Similitudes y diferencias entre países y regiones; términos esenciales
Módulo 2
  • Semanas 5 y 6: Cono Sur 
  • Semana 7: Repaso y Examen Parcial 
  • Semana 8 y 9: Andes y Amazonas
Módulo 3
  • Semana 10 y 11: Centroamérica
  • Semana 12 y 13: México 
  • Semana 14: El Caribe

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

Students have a 24-hour grace period to submit 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 personal, academic, or technical challenges 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 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 because of the course's fast pace. 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 classmates by staying up to date and communicating proactively.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is taken at every class meeting and is essential to both this course and effective language learning. All students are expected to attend punctually and regularly. Late arrivals and early departures disrupt 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.

Course Fees

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.