Modern Foreign Languages, B.A.
Program Description
Students can study world languages and cultures and earn a B.A. degree in Modern Foreign Languages with a major in Arabic, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. They can minor in any of these languages as well as Chinese and Russian; however, a student may not major and minor in the same language. The department also offers instruction in Japanese, Korean and Latin.
To complete a major, students should choose a combination of courses based on the language they are studying. Courses listed without a specific language prefix are offered in all languages. Up to two courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement. Course substitutions must be approved by the advisor.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 2 | 0-12 |
| Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) | 3 |
| Major requirements | 33 |
| University electives | 31-43 |
| Total | 120 |
- 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 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.
Major Requirements
All language sections share certain core requirements. Up to two courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| 300: Language for Living | 3 | |
| 301: Pop Culture Through Language | 3 | |
| 307 or 308: Culture and Civilization | 3 | |
| 320 (321): Culture and Communication in Context | 3 | |
| 322: Language Landscapes | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| 3 courses; choose one course from each group: | 9 | |
| Group 1: Culture and literature | ||
| Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures | ||
| Group 3: Professional language | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above core categories | ||
Elective classes in the language not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to the language studied | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Arabic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| ARAB 300 | Language for Living | 3 |
| ARAB 301 | Pop Culture through Language | 3 |
| ARAB 307 | A History of Islamicate Civilization 600-1600 A.D. | 3 |
| or ARAB 308 | Contemporary Islamicate Civilization | |
| ARAB 320 | Culture and Communication in Context | 3 |
| ARAB 322 | Language Landscapes | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| Choose one course from each of the three groups. | ||
| Group 1: Culture and Literature: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| A Journey through Literature | ||
| The Arabian Nights | ||
| Arabic Fables and Short Stories | ||
| The Arabic Novel | ||
| Media Arabic | ||
| Special Topics in Arabic Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Arabic Civilization and Culture | ||
| Arabic Cinema | ||
| Literatures of Islamic Spain and Italy | ||
| Group 2: Linguistic and Language Structures: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Arabic Writing and Conversation | ||
| Colloquial Egyptian Arabic I | ||
| Colloquial Egyptian Arabic II | ||
| Colloquial Levantine Arabic I (Jordanian/Palestinian) | ||
| Colloquial Levantine Arabic II (Syrian/Lebanese) | ||
| Special Topics in Arabic Linguistics | ||
| Study of Language Structures | ||
| Bilingualism in the United States | ||
| World Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Group 3: Professional Language: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business Arabic | ||
| Advanced Arabic Grammar and Translation | ||
| Business and Society in the Arab World | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses from the following list: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above categories | ||
Elective ARAB classes not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to Arabic | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
French
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| FR 300 | Language for Living | 3 |
| FR 301 | Pop Culture through Language | 3 |
| FR 307 | History of French Culture and Society | 3 |
| or FR 308 | Contemporary History and Culture in the Francophone World | |
| FR 320 | Culture and Communication in Context | 3 |
| FR 322 | Language Landscapes | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| Choose one course from each of the three groups. | ||
| Group 1: Culture and Literature: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| A Journey through Literature | ||
| French Short Stories | ||
| Stories and Histories in French Culture | ||
| Stories and Histories in Francophone Culture | ||
| Voices of Today | ||
| Transformative Texts | ||
| Special Topics in Francophone Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Francophone Culture | ||
| French and Francophone Theater | ||
| French and Francophone Cinema | ||
| Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Sounds of Speech | ||
| Special Topics in Francophone Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to Romance Linguistics | ||
| Study of Language Structures | ||
| Bilingualism in the United States | ||
| World Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Group 3: Professional Language: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business French | ||
| Business and Society in the Francophone World | ||
| Translation Strategies | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses from the following list: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above categories | ||
Elective FR classes not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to French | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
German
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| GER 300 | Language for Living | 3 |
| GER 301 | Pop Culture through Language | 3 |
| GER 307 | History of Germanic Cultures and Societies | 3 |
| or GER 308 | Modern German Culture and Society | |
| GER 320 | Culture and Communication in Context | 3 |
| GER 322 | Language Landscapes | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| Choose one course from each of the three groups. | ||
| Group 1: Culture and Literature: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| A Journey through Literature | ||
| German Short Stories | ||
| Voices of Today | ||
| Transformative Texts | ||
| Special Topics in German Literature | ||
| Special Topics in German Culture | ||
| German Theater | ||
| Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Sounds of Speech | ||
| Special Topics in German Linguistics | ||
| Study of Language Structures | ||
| Bilingualism in the United States | ||
| World Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Group 3: Professional Language: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business German | ||
| Business and Society in Germany | ||
| Translation Strategies | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses from the following list: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above categories | ||
Elective GER classes not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to German | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Italian
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| ITAL 300 | Language for Living | 3 |
| ITAL 301 | Pop Culture through Language | 3 |
| ITAL 307 | History of Italian Culture and Society | 3 |
| or ITAL 308 | Contemporary Italian Culture and Society | |
| ITAL 320 | Culture and Communication in Context | 3 |
| ITAL 322 | Language Landscapes | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| Choose one course from each of the three groups. | ||
| Group 1: Culture and Literature: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| A Journey through Literature | ||
| Italian Short Stories | ||
| Stories and Histories: Italian Theatre | ||
| Voices of Today | ||
| Special Topics in Italian Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Italian Culture | ||
| Italian Cinema | ||
| Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Sounds of Speech | ||
| Introduction to Romance Linguistics | ||
| Special Topics in Italian Linguistics | ||
| Study of Language Structures | ||
| Bilingualism in the United States | ||
| World Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Group 3: Professional Language: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business Italian | ||
| Business and Society in Italy | ||
| Translation Strategies | ||
| Translating Italian Literature | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses from the following list: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above categories | ||
Elective ITAL classes not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to Italian | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Spanish
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Language Foundations | ||
| SPAN 300 | Language for Living | 3 |
| SPAN 301 | Pop Culture through Language | 3 |
| SPAN 307 | History of Spanish Culture and Society | 3 |
| or SPAN 308 | Latin American Cultures | |
| SPAN 320 | Culture and Communication in Context | 3 |
| or SPAN 321 | Culture and Communication in Context (for Heritage Speakers) | |
| SPAN 322 | Language Landscapes | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Exploring Languages and Cultures | ||
| Choose one course from each of the three groups. | ||
| Group 1: Culture and Literature: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| A Journey through Literature | ||
| Latin American Short Story | ||
| Spanish Short Stories | ||
| Stories and Histories: The Generation of 1898 | ||
| Stories and Histories: Latin American Novel | ||
| Voices of Today: Wounds and Words in Post-War Spain | ||
| Voices of Today: Latin American Poetry | ||
| Transformative Texts | ||
| Voices of the Past: Works of the Golden Age | ||
| Special Topics in Spanish Literature | ||
| Special Topics in Spanish-Speaking Cultures | ||
| Spanish Theater | ||
| Spanish-Language Cinema | ||
| Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Study of Language Structures | ||
| Bilingualism in the United States | ||
| Introduction to Romance Linguistics | ||
| Forensic Linguistics: Language and the Law | ||
| World Language Teaching Methods | ||
| Contrastive Linguistics | ||
| Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Sounds of Speech | ||
| Spanish in the United States | ||
| Special Topics in Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Group 3: Professional Language: | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Spanish for Social Work | ||
| Translation Competencies | ||
| Business Spanish | ||
| Spanish for Public Safety | ||
| Spanish for Medical Professionals I | ||
| Advanced Business Spanish | ||
| Translation Strategies | ||
| Introduction to Interpretation | ||
| Spanish for Medical Professionals II | ||
| Culture and Medicine in Latin America | ||
| Culture and Medicine in Spain | ||
| Spanish in Healthcare: Policy and Practice in Latinx Health | ||
| Business and Society in Latin America | ||
| Business and Society in Spain | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses from the following list: | 9 | |
Any other courses from the above core categories | ||
Elective SPAN classes not included in the core | ||
WLC courses or other approved courses related to Spanish | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
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 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Language courses (101-232 or above) 1 | 6 | |
| General Education requirement and/or elective courses | 24 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Language courses (101-232 or above) 1 | 6 | |
| Philosophy course | 3 | |
| General Education requirement and/or elective courses | 21 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 300- and 400-level courses | 18 | |
| General Education requirement and/or other electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 300- and 400-level courses | 15 | |
| Other electives | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Other courses may be substituted if a student places into higher-level language courses.