Mission Statement

Language is essential to existence. All cultures use language to communicate ideas, solve problems, and develop a sense of community and world view. The ability to understand and use a second language, beyond one’s native language, enables a student to experience the richness of human existence, and to better function in a global society. The process of learning the foreign language is a comparative and contrastive experience which enables the student to better consider culturally diverse viewpoints while exploring options in processing information and making judgements. As our world continues to become culturally and economically more interconnected and technical, basic comprehension and expressive skills in multiple world languages become increasingly necessary and important.

Objective

The objective of the Department of Modern Languages is to teach communicative competency in modern foreign languages. Since learning a language is a dynamic and interactive process, the department emphasizes oral proficiency in the vast majority of its courses. In support of developing language proficiency, the department sponsors travel/study programs to countries in which one of the department's traditionally taught languages is spoken. The department also strives to introduce students to the peoples, cultures, and artistic and literary expressions of other countries. Basic texts are supplemented by audiovisual sources and printed media. Individual interests in non-structured learning are encouraged through directed readings and independent study in the language of choice.

The department offers majors and minors in French, German, and Spanish. A major in any language requires 24 semester hours above the 101 level. A minor in any language requires 18 hours above the 101 level.

The department also offers teaching majors and minors in French and Spanish, and a teaching minor in German. A teaching major requires 36 hours above the first six semester hours of the 100 level. A teaching minor requires 24 hours above the first six semester hours of the 100 level.

Students may fulfill part or all of the modern language requirements of the general education core, the Arts and Sciences core, or the Bachelor of Arts degree by completing the Modern Language Placement and Proficiency Test, administered by the department, and testing out of the appropriate course(s).

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