Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Bachelor of Arts

Michael Richardson, Associate Professor and Chair

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (DMLL) offers curricula in French, German area studies, Italian studies, and Spanish leading to a bachelor of arts degree, as well as courses in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, and Latin. DMLL serves the interests of students in their desire to communicate with and understand other peoples through the study of language, literature, culture, and civilization, and seeks to develop students' knowledge of the structure, use, and history of the languages. The department supports cross-cultural exploration and interdisciplinary study, and facilitates and encourages study abroad. The department prepares students for teaching language in middle and secondary schools, for graduate or professional school, and for the workplace. Our recent graduates who combined language study with coursework in other fields have entered professions such as law, medicine, business, government, social work, journalism, advertising, and banking.

French and Francophone Studies, B.A.
French, B.A. with Teaching Option
German Area Studies, B.A.
German, B.A. with Teaching Option
Italian Studies, B.A.
Spanish, B.A.
Spanish, B.A. with Teaching Option
Minors in French, German Area Studies, Italian, or Spanish

Requirements for Honors in French, German, Italian, and Spanish

Students may apply as candidates for honors in French, German, Italian, or Spanish at the end of the junior year but no later than the second week of the first semester of the senior year. To qualify, students must have a cumulative average of 3.50 in their major language and propose a topic to the chair and the language committee. Upon approval of the proposal, the student will write an honors paper as a 3-credit independent study project, under the supervision of an assigned adviser, and subsequently undertake the defense of the honors paper at an oral examination conducted by three members of the department. If the project is judged by the honors committee to earn at least the grade of B, the student is awarded departmental honors.

Departmental Policies on Placement Examinations

1. Students with no previous training in a foreign language may begin by taking a 10100 course.

2. Students who have studied a foreign language in high school are required to take the appropriate placement test and register for courses as per placement by DMLL.

3. Transfer students who have earned college credit in a foreign language may register for a course at the appropriate level indicated by their college transcripts.

To be formally accepted into a language major, students must demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate level in the chosen language. Proficiency can be demonstrated by language placement test scores or by completing the intermediate I and II (20100, 20200) courses.

A student may major in more than one language if his or her curriculum permits.

Study Abroad

General academic regulations concerning occasional credit from external sources apply to study abroad. In addition, DMLL allows a maximum of 12 major credits and 6 minor credits for a semester, or 15 major credits and 9 minor credits comparable to courses taught within the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (16 when earned in 4-credit courses) for an academic year of study abroad.

Certificate Program in International Business

In conjunction with the School of Business, DMLL offers a certificate in international business. See the section under the School of Business for details.
Certificate in International Business

Requirements for the Major in French and Francophone Studies -- B.A.

Credits in the major

Electives

Requirements for the Major in German Area Studies -- B.A.

Credits in the major

Electives

Requirements for the Major in Italian Studies -- B.A.

Credits in the major

Electives

Requirements for the Major in Spanish -- B.A.

Credits in the major

Electives

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all courses are for 3 credits.

Requirements for the B.A. in French with Teaching Option

Credits in the major

Core education requirements

Note: EDUC 22900 Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators will not be required of French with teaching option majors because material covered in that course duplicates that covered in EDUC 41310 Pedagogy and Practice for the Teacher of Languages Other Than English.

Additional core requirements

• All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
• All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second-year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the next review is complete.
• Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41310 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
• EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education and EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
• All candidates for initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
• The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

Requirements for the B.A. in German with Teaching Option

Credits in the major

Core education requirements

Note: EDUC 22900 Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators will not be required of German with teaching option majors because the material covered in that course duplicates that covered in EDUC 41310 Pedagogy and Practice for the Teacher of Languages Other Than English.

Additional core requirements

• All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
• All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second-year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review, or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the next review is complete.
• Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41310 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
• EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education and EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
• All candidates for provisional or initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
• The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

Requirements for the B.A. in Spanish with Teaching Option

Credits in the major

Core education requirements

Note: EDUC 22900 Second Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators will not be required of Spanish with teaching option majors because the material covered in that course duplicates that covered in EDUC 41310 Pedagogy and Practice for the Teacher of Languages Other Than English.

Additional core requirements

• All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
• All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the next review is complete.
• Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41310 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
• EDUC 499810 Professional Semester in Education and EDUC 41210 Seminar on the Practical Issues of Teaching constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
• All candidates for provisional or initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
• The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.

Policy on Prerequisites

A grade of C- or better is required for a 10100, 10200, 20100, and 20200 course in any language to fulfill a prerequisite for another course in the same language.

Minors in Modern Languages and Literatures

Requirements for the Minor in French

Requirements for the minor in French are a minimum of 18 credits beyond level 1 FREN 10200. French courses at level 1 will earn credit toward graduation but not toward the minor. (See statement on placement tests, above.)

Requirements for the Minor in German Area Studies

Requirements for the minor in German area studies are a minimum of 18 credits beyond GERM 10100, with at least 6 credits at level 3. The student who begins with GERM 10100 will receive credit toward graduation but not toward the minor. Students may count up to 6 credits of German area studies courses toward the minor. (See statement on placement tests, above.)

Requirements for the Minor in Italian

Requirements for the minor in Italian are a minimum of 18 credits beyond ITAL 10100, with at least 6 credits at level 3. The student who begins with ITAL 10100 will receive credit toward graduation but not toward the minor. (See statement on placement tests, above.)

Requirements for the Minor in Spanish

Requirements for the minor in Spanish are a minimum of 18 credits beyond SPAN 20200, with at least 6 credits at level 3. Spanish courses at level 1 will receive credit toward graduation but not toward the minor. (See statement on placement tests, above.)