Dec 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Modern Foreign Languages, B.A.


Program Description


Bachelor of Arts in Modern Foreign Languages

Students can earn both a B.A. in Modern Foreign Languages and a minor in a specific language. Currently the department provides:

  • Four years of instruction in Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
  • Three years of instruction in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian.
  • Two Years of instruction in Latin.

The minimum requirement for a major in languages is 33 upper-division credit hours in a specific language.

Additional Language

Students majoring in modern foreign languages must complete the intermediate level of a second language unless they are:

  • Completing a second major.
  • Completing a teaching licensure or an education minor.
  • Completing two degrees.
  • Completing a pre-professional health program.

If the student has a previous background in a second language, the second language requirement may also be satisfied by placing out of it through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ placement test. However, in this case, the student must proportionally increase the number of university electives as indicated in the B.A. degree requirements.

Minimum Grades


A student must receive a minimum grade of “C-” for course credits to count toward any major or minor in the WLC department .

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements Credit Hours
General Education  1 41
Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 2 0-14
Second Foreign Language (intermediate level required) 2 0-14
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education  courses) 3
University electives 3 15-43
Major requirements (listed below)

Total

33

120

Footnotes


1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
2 The foreign language requirement and the second language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ placement test. The second language is not required of double majors or education minors or of those seeking teaching licensure.
3 The number of university electives varies depending on the number of actual credits earned with the first and second language requirements. These language requirements may be fully or partly satisfied through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ placement tests, but these tests do not confer actual credits and subsequently, the number of university electives students take will vary.

Major Requirements


All language sections share certain core requirements.

Courses


  • Two language courses (300 and 320 or 321) 6 Credit Hours 1
  • Two civilization courses (307 and 308) 6 Credit Hours
  • Literature courses in the target language 6-12 Credit Hours
  • Other courses as specified by the section 9-15 Credit Hours 2

Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 These courses fulfill the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.
2 The courses required for Spanish majors are different, as shown in the Spanish listing.

Arabic


Courses


Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

French


Courses


Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

German


Courses


Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

2 Up to two courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement, with the approval of your advisor.

Italian


Courses


Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

2 Up to three courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement, with the approval of your academic unit head.
 

Spanish


Courses


Total: 33 Credit Hours


Footnote


1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Recommended Schedule for Majors


Students are encouraged to begin their WLC course work as soon as possible in their degree plans. The following outline is a sample four-year program. The actual courses a student takes may vary.

First Year


  • Foreign language courses1, 2 Credits: 6.00-8.00
  • General Education Madison Foundations  Credits: 9.00
  • General Education  courses and/or elective courses Credits: 15.00 

First Year Total: 30-32 Credit Hours


Second Year


  • Foreign language courses Credits: 6.00-12.00 3
  • First year of second foreign language courses (if required) or other program courses Credits: 6.00-8.00 4
  • Philosophy course Credits: 3.00
  • General Education  courses and/or elective courses Credits: 6.00-15.00

Second Year Total: 29-30 Credit Hours


Third Year


  • Foreign language 300- and 400-level courses Credits: 12.00-15.00
  • Second year of second foreign language courses (if needed) Credits: 6.00
  • General Education  courses and/or other electives Credits: 12.00-15.00

Third Year Total: 30 Credit Hours


Fourth Year


  • Foreign language 300- and 400-level courses Credits: 9.00-15.00
  • Other electives Credits: 15.00-20.00

Fourth Year Total: 29-30 Credit Hours


Footnotes


Depending on the level of the student and course availability, courses could be 101-102, 231-232, 300-320 or other appropriate sequence (e.g., 102-231). Majors starting with the 101-102 sequence in a language are strongly encouraged to take the 212 course of the language during the summer.

2 Upper-level courses in the language or university electives may be substituted if a student places in higher-level language courses.

3 Depending on the level of the student and course availability, courses could be 231-232, 300-320, or other appropriate sequence or combination of upper-level course.

4 Completion of a second foreign language at the intermediate level is required unless the student is completing a second major, an education minor, two degrees or a pre-professional health program.

 

Program Total: 120 Credit Hours