Objectives

The aim of the Modern Languages Major is twofold: to build fundamental skills in two modern languages (Concentration A and Concentration B), additional to English and to develop transcultural and intercultural proficiency. Students may choose to concentrate on any two of the following languages offered in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (but not beyond): Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Students start Concentration A with the third course (i.e., CHIN 2103 Chinese 3, FREN 2103 French 3, GRMN 2103 German 3, ITAL 2103 Italian 3, SPAN 2103 Spanish 3) or higher and Concentration B with the first course (i.e., CHIN 1101 Chinese 1, FREN 2101 French 1, GRMN 2101 German 1, ITAL 2101 Italian 1, SPAN 2101 Spanish 1) or higher.

Through a structured sequence of courses and a strong recommendation to participate in semester or summer study abroad programs, the Modern Languages Major prepares students for a world in which transcultural and intercultural understanding provides the basis for mutual respect, social justice and global harmony.

The program encourages and advises students in undertaking research, extracurricular activities, and community-based learning that further cultivate their ability to speak, understand, and write two additional languages as well as linguistically analyze them, to know the principal aspects of the cultures where those languages are spoken, and to exercise transcultural and intercultural agency.

The Modern Languages Major is highly desirable to those interested in international communications, media, diplomacy, business, education, immigration, social work, law, theology, theatre, and the visual arts. Competence in multiple languages, ability to connect and act across cultures, and a sharply honed set of skills in logical reasoning, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving prepare the student well for employment in the globalized economy.

Modern Languages majors who have German in their choice of languages and a minimum GPA of 3.5 are eligible once per year for the Conrad Lester merit-based scholarship.

Students who are placed above the minimal required language levels (third course for Concentration A, first course for Concentration B) upon entering the Major must take additional upper division elective courses in relevant Concentration to meet the credit requirement in that Concentration. If no such courses are offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literature in a semester necessary for students to take them, they may fulfill up to four credits by taking appropriate cultural studies courses offered outside the Department. In such cases, however, students must have pre-approval from the Modern Languages Program Coordinator and the Department Chair prior to taking the courses.