Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

George Shivers, Chair
Goldstein Hall 216, ext. 7776

International Literature and Culture

Freshman-Sophomore Courses

Required: A foreign language at least through the 202 level, and ANT 105

Major Requirements and Recommendations

Proficiency in foreign language, demonstrated by successful completion of 300 and 400 level courses.

Major Requirements: At least nine courses, including:

1. FLS 200
2. At least one of the following: ANT 215, 235, 320, 355
3. Four upper-level courses selected from offerings in a foreign language, literature, or culture in this department of which at least two must be 400 level (adjustments are possible to allow students pursuing a major with a Chinese or Japanese focus to take courses given in English)
4. Three additional courses chosen from among the ILC offerings of the department or from among upper-division courses in other departments which are appropriate to the student's major focus

Recommended: At least two years of a second language, as well as at least one study abroad experience in a country where the student's primary foreign language is spoken.

Minor Requirements: Students minoring in a foreign language must take at least five courses at the 300 and 400 level.

Senior Capstone Experience: The Senior Capstone Experience for ILC is a thesis or project closely related to the focus of the major. It may be presented in English or in the foreign language; however, the research on which it is based will involve use of the foreign language.

With the help of the adviser, students will design their major to focus on a language or culture, and in addition it may reflect a particular theme (such as gender or ethnicity), a historical period, or a particular literary genre or form of cultural expression (such as the novel, poetry, drama, film, art, or music). The department looks favorably upon the pursuit of a second major in another field.

French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies

Freshman-Sophomore Courses

Required: The foreign language at least through the 202 level

Major Requirements and Recommendations

Required: At least eight courses in language, literature, and culture (in the foreign language) at the 300 and 400 level. Students may count courses in International Literature and Culture (ILC) given in English toward the major if their written work is done in the foreign language. Completion of a semester of study abroad (or its summer equivalent) in the relevant language is required.

Recommended: A year-long study abroad experience is highly recommended. Students are also encouraged to take FLS 200 and at least two years of a second foreign language.

Senior Capstone Experience: The Senior Capstone Seminar is required for graduation and is devoted to the completion of a thesis or other project or to preparation for a comprehensive examination in the fields of French, German, or Hispanic studies. Senior majors register for this course in the last semester in which they have full-time status at the College. While much of the work is done by each student independently in consultation with a faculty adviser, there are occasional group meetings in which those students writing theses or developing other projects report on the progress of their work and in which students preparing for the comprehensive examination discuss the texts and other materials they are studying. All students will give a formal oral presentation in the target language before their peers and the faculty at the end of the seminar. Thesis students will present their research. Students who are taking the comprehensive examination will choose a topic for their presentation in consultation with the faculty adviser. The Senior Capstone Experience will be graded Pass, Fail, or Honors.

Alternative Language Study

Any student who wishes to begin study of a language not offered as part of the regular curriculum of the department should consult with the Department Chair. In cases in which expertise is available in the particular language, a special tutorial course (FLS 101, 102) may be arranged. Such courses may be used to fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement. Follow-up in the language through a study abroad program is strongly recommended.

Language Placement for Entering Students

Placement of new students in foreign language classes is made on the basis of the student's prior foreign language preparation and a mandatory placement test and/or interview taken prior to registration. Revision of initial placement decisions may be made during the Drop/Add period in the first week of classes, where appropriate.

The department strongly encourages students planning further study of a foreign language to enroll as early as possible in a course in that language in order to maintain continuing contact with it and thereby ensure that they make steady progress. It recommends that students plan their academic program so as to complete year-long distribution sequences without interruption.

Furthermore, all students should be made aware of the usefulness of a thorough command of a foreign language for many professional and business fields. The importance of a foreign language to those students who anticipate graduate work should also be emphasized. Students should be made aware of the possibility and the value of combining a major in other disciplines with a foreign language major.

Teacher Training

Students planning to earn certification for secondary school teaching in a foreign language should consult with the Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and with the Chair of the Education Program during their freshman or sophomore year.

Study Abroad

Foreign language majors are required to complete a semester of overseas study (or its summer equivalent) in the relevant language; a year-long course of study is strongly recommended. ILC majors are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program during their sophomore or junior years. All majors should consult the Department Chair to learn of the options available to them and most appropriate to their programs of study.