World Languages and Cultures

World Languages and Cultures

Chair: Julia Riordan Goncalves, Department of World Languages and Cultures

Student Honor Societies: Hispanic Honor Society: Sigma Delta Pi, Eta Pi Chapter; Italian Honor Society: Alpha Gamma Kappa

The World Language curriculum provides the opportunity to concentrate in Spanish, to minor in Italian, and to study in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Irish, and Latin.

World Language Placement Policy1

  • 101 – No more than two years of the language in high school2
  • 102 – Three years of that language in high school or having completed 1012
  • 201 – Four years of that language in high school or having completed 102, or AP with a score of “2” or lower2
  • 202 – Having completed 201, or AP with a score of “3”2
  • 300+ – Five or more years of that language, or AP with a score of “4” or higher
  • Native speakers (students who speak Spanish, Italian, etc. as their first language) may not register in a class below the 201 level and should consult with the chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures or the department advising coordinator for placement.
  • Heritage speakers (students who verbally interacted with at least one parent in Spanish, Italian, etc.) may register in any course from 101 on upon consultation with the chair of the Department of World Languages or Cultures or the Department Advising Coordinator.
1

Any student who registers for a language class and does not follow the policies will be administratively dropped and placed into the appropriate level.

2

Foreign Language courses 101, 102, 201, 202 are sequential and may not be taken out of order.

For any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please call the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Dr. Mirta Barrea-Marlys, at extension 5390 or the Department Advising Coordinator, Dr. Alison Maginn, extension 3612.

Note: FS-300A Advanced Spanish Conversation and Oral Discourse (3 cr.) is intended for non-native speakers of Spanish1 and is a co-requisite for FS-300B Advanced Spanish: Composition and Conversation II (3 cr.), and a prerequisite for all other 300- and 400-level courses in Spanish. FS-300A Advanced Spanish Conversation and Oral Discourse (3 cr.) is designed to bridge the gap between lower- and upper-division courses by providing students with optimal opportunities to practice their oral language skills at the high intermediate/low advanced level. The course provides practice in all four language skills while placing special emphasis on conversation, listening, and oral presentation skills.

1

Prerequisite: permission of instructor

Note:  FS-300B Advanced Spanish: Composition and Conversation II (3 cr.) is a prerequisite for all 400-level courses in Spanish and should ideally be taken in the fifth or sixth semester of Spanish studies. The course is intended for both native and non-native speakers of Spanish and should be taken before or simultaneously with other 300-level courses in literature and culture. Non-native speakers of Spanish are required to take FS-300A Advanced Spanish Conversation and Oral Discourse (3 cr.) in the same semester as FS-300B Advanced Spanish: Composition and Conversation II (3 cr.).

Language Study Abroad

Students who wish to take language courses abroad are referred to the pertinent information appearing under Study Abroad in this catalog. Those who wish to participate in a Study Abroad program should begin making plans before their sophomore year and consult with their advisors in the department, where the necessary information is available.

Note: In courses numbered above 300, it is presumed that the student has taken 201-202 (Intermediate) or equivalent to assure adequate reading facility in the foreign language. These courses are conducted wholly in the foreign language, so that FS-300B Advanced Spanish: Composition and Conversation II (3 cr.) is regularly scheduled as a prerequisite or co-requisite to these courses. For courses numbered above 400, permission of the instructor may also be required. Please consult the departmental office.

Note: All Spanish majors must complete the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) coordinated by the department. For any questions concerning the OPI, please contact the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Dr. Barrea-Marlys, extension 5390 or the Oral Proficiency Coordinator, Dr. Gac-Artigas, extension 3406.

Departmental Honors will be earned based on the following criteria being met:

  • Overall GPA of at least 3.3.
  • Major GPA of at least 3.5.
  • Fulfillment of the intermediate level language requirement for Spanish majors.
  • Two courses beyond those required for Spanish majors
    • One course chosen from a list of Spanish 300-400 level per thesis advisor.
    • One independent study (FS-499 Independent Study in Spanish (3 cr.)) to include writing of a thesis in consultation with a full-time World Languages and Cultures Department faculty member. Thesis will be orally presented and defended to a committee of at least three faculty members (two from the World Languages and Cultures Department full-time faculty).
  • Thesis
    • Thesis will be orally presented and defended to a committee of at least three faculty members (two from the World Languages and Cultures full-time faculty).
    • Length: for students of the BA in Spanish, thesis must be fifteen pages in Spanish; and for students with Honor in Spanish and Honor School, thesis must be twenty-five pages in Spanish.
    • Thesis must earn a “B” or better.