1998 - 2000 Catalog Archive

Department of Foreign Languages & Literature

Guessler Normand, Chairperson
Ruth A. Hottell, Undergraduate Adviser, French
Debra L. Stoudt, Undergraduate Adviser, German
Kathleen Thompson-Casado, Undergraduate Adviser, Spanish
Antonio Varela, Undergraduate Adviser, Spanish


Degrees Offered

The Department of Foreign Languages offers Bachelor of Arts degree.

Inaddition to courses in classical civilization taught in English, the Department of Foreign Languages offers instruction in the following foreign languages: French, German, Japanese, Latin and Spanish. A major can be earned in the areas of French, German and Spanish; Departmental Honors can be pursued in these same areas. A minor can be earned in any of the major fields as well as in Classics and Japanese. The requirements for these programs are set forth below.


Advanced Placement

Students in French and German with a score of 3 on the language test will receive credit for 3010; those with a score of 4 will receive credit for 3010 and 3020; those with a score of 5 will receive credit for 3010, 3020 and an elective at the 3000/4000 level.

Students in Spanish with a score of 3 on the language test will receive credit for 3010; those with a score of 4 will receive credit for 3000 and 3010; those with a score of 5 will receive credit for 3000, 3010 and 3020.

Students in Latin with a score of 3 will receive credit for 2140; those with a score of 4 will receive credit for 2140 and 2150; those with a score of 5 will receive credit for 2140, 2150 and 3050 (or equivalent).

Students in French, German and Spanish with a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the literature test will be awarded credit in consultation with the undergraduate adviser in each language section.


Requirements for the Major in French, German and Spanish

A minimum of 34 hours is required for the undergraduate major in any of these languages beginning in all cases at the 3000 language level. Required courses for French and German are: FREN or GERM 3010, 3020*, 3210, 3220, 3410, 3420, 4010, 4020* and additional 3000/4000 level courses with adviser's approval. Required courses for Spanish are: SPAN 3000, 3010, 3020*, 3210, 3220 (or 3270, 3280), 3410 (or 3420), 4010 and additional 3000/4000 level courses with adviser's approval.

Majors interested in becoming legal assistants may take a combined program in Spanish and Legal Assisting (offered at the University Community and Technical College.) The Spanish portion of this program consists of the following courses: SPAN 3000, 3010, 3020*, 3170, 3420, 4010, 4060, and additional 3000/4000 level courses with adviser's approval.

*Writing-intensive courses in French, German and Spanish.

Related Area Courses for the above concentrations: The 18 hours in related fields often are chosen from other humanities, including a second foreign language, from the social sciences, and from interdisciplinary programs. The related area requirement also may be satisfied by completing a minor or major in another discipline. Students should, in consultation with their adviser, develop a pattern of related area courses relevant to their career and intellectual interests.


Honors in Foreign Languages

Qualified students are invited to pursue Honors in a French, German, or Spanish major and thereby earn the degree designation of "Departmental Honors" in their specific field upon graduation. Formal application for Departmental Honors must be made in the Department Office (University Hall Room 5320-D). Normally, a petition for admission to the program should be made near the end of the sophomore year. Formal acceptance is based on the following: 1) junior or senior standing; 2) a GPA of 3.3 overall and in the major, and 3) approval by the language Honors adviser and the Chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.

Tograduate with the degree designation of "Departmental Honors," the student must: 1) satisfy the standard requirements listed above for the major; 2) maintain a GPA of 3.3 overall and in the major; 3) satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 hours of departmental honors course work at the 3000 or 4000 level; and 4) include among the 12 hours the Honors Research course (FREN, GERM, or SPAN 4960) that normally leads to the completion of an Honors thesis.

Minor in Foreign Languages

InClassics, a minimum of 21 hours is required for the minor. At least 9 hours must be in Latin above the intermediate level. The remaining hours must include classical civilization courses (excluding CLC 1010 Classical Humanities) or additional course work in Latin.

A minimum of 22 hours is required for the Minor in French, German, Japanese or Spanish. In the modern languages, all course work must be in the same language and at the 3000 level or higher. Required courses include the following: General and Applied French minor FREN 3010, 3020 6 hours FREN 4010, 4020 7 hours German minor GERM 3010, 3020 6 hours GERM 3210, 3220, 3410 or 3420 3 hours GERM 4010, 4020 7 hours Japanese minor JAPN 3010, 3020 6 hours JAPN 4010, 4020 7 hours Spanish minor SPAN 3010, 3020 6 hours SPAN 3210, 3220, 3270 or 3280 3 hours

Last Updated: 11/15/23