Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for SPA 260A Winter 2025


Course Number:
SPA 260A
Course Title:
Hispanic Culture
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces Hispanic culture though reading, discussion, and writing. Explores specific regions and topics (e.g. Latin American film and culture, Mexican food and culture, Pre-Columbian cultures of Latin America). Conducted in Spanish or English. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Interpret cultural and social perspectives and contributions as related to the region or topic of focus, based on a deepened understanding of themes such as Hispanic history, ecology, society and politics.
  2. Use critical thinking skills to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products, practices, and perspectives of the culture(s) studied.
  3. Identify culturally-grounded assumptions of one’s own and apply a basic understanding of the Hispanic culture(s) of focus.
  4. Analyze historical and cultural works as related to the region or topic of focus (works include but are not limited to literature, film, art, dance, music, language, philosophy, religion).

Integrative Learning

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to reflect on one’s work or competencies to make connections between course content and lived experience.

General education philosophy statement

This course requires students to focus on Hispanic culture(s) and consider the ways in which the experiences of Hispanic people have been shaped by factors like history, gender, society, ecology, language and politics. Students must also evaluate relationships between different Hispanic cultural products, practices and perspectives. One of the key goals of this course is for students to reflect on their own attitudes, values, and beliefs, and how these affect their perception of products, practices and perspectives in Hispanic culture(s).

Aspirational Goals

  1. Apply cultural understandings learned in class effectively in authentic interactions with the Hispanic community.
  2. Enhance intercultural skills through the practice of self-appraisal and examination of one’s personal beliefs in comparison to the beliefs of others.

Course Activities and Design

 

  • Regular attendance
  • Assigned readings
  • Research of specific themes individually and/or in groups
  • Discussion in class
  • Presentations individually and/or in groups
  • Written essays assigned outside of class or in-class
  • Written quizzes in-class and/or oral evaluations
  • Optional: Student portfolio
  • Optional: Service Learning activities

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will be assessed by any combination of the following:

  • Regular attendance 
  • Active participation in small groups and class discussions
  • Presentations individually and/or in groups
  • Written essays assigned outside of class or in-class
  • Written quizzes in-class and/or oral evaluations
  • Optional: Student portfolio

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

General overview of the following:

  • Concept of culture
  • Cultural identity (contrast of the cultures of the specific region and the United States of America)
  • Cultural diversity in the specific region and social hierarchy
  • Motivations, values, and beliefs
  • Geography, ecological environments, History, Society and Politics of specific region
  • Relationship between the specific region and the United States
  • Choice of crafts, folkloric festivities and music
  • Choice of key figures in history, visual art, music and specific region’s literature