Program Codes:
BASPAN
Bachelor of Arts
Introduction:
The Department of World Languages and Cultures sees its role in the life of the University as a vehicle for the development of the whole person in a multicultural context through the most basic activities of human life: personal expression and social interaction.
We offer majors in French, Spanish, Russian Studies and International Business, as well as French and Spanish Education. Students may also pursue minors in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Asian Studies, Chinese, French, Russian Studies, Spanish and Teaching English-Language Learners. Through these programs the Department prepares students for a future that demands a high level of linguistic proficiency and cultural competency.
Mission Statement
The Department of World Languages and Cultures supports the mission of the University by fostering meaningful language acquisition and cultural study that will enable our students to “exercise leadership in service toward a just world.”
The department promotes the acquisition of indispensable skills in intercultural communication for our students’ future careers and personal development. Understanding that we cannot truly understand a people without understanding their language, the department’s focus is on quality, student-centered instruction in the reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension skills necessary to function in our target languages. Courses in world cultures and literatures are a vital complement to language study and support the University core value of global responsibility, which “challenges us to learn how to steward the resources of the Earth wisely and to act in solidarity with its diverse peoples.”
In order to foster awareness of world cultures, the department supports study abroad experiences, sponsors speakers and other events on campus, and serves as a language and cultural resource to the greater Erie community. The department of World Languages and Cultures works to foster respect for others, an openness to difference, and productive relationships facilitated through intercultural communication.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Major Requirements
All majors must maintain an overall 2.5 GPA and at least a 2.75 GPA in major courses. French or Spanish Education majors must also meet all the requirements of the Education Department, including their GPA minimums. All majors and those students seeking teaching certification, are expected to maintain a portfolio which will be important for assessment at Sophomore Review.
An outline of requirements for the portfolio, which includes written and oral work, can be obtained from the student’s language advisor or from the Department Chair. Students with previous experience in a language offered by the department (including native speakers) must consult with the department faculty to be placed into an appropriate level course. The Department reserves the right to reassign students whose level of experience is not appropriate for the course.
Sophomore Review
During spring semester of the sophomore year, the Department reviews the student’s academic record, the language portfolio, and recommendations from professors to determine academic progress. At this time, qualified students are formally invited into the major and are informed in writing of the Department’s decision.
Senior Review
Spring semester of the senior year, students will meet with department faculty to conduct an exit review. Seniors will also participate in an oral proficiency interview in the spring of their senior year. Additional details can be found on the departmental website.
Chinese, French, or Spanish Minor
Students who wish to earn a minor in Chinese, French, or Spanish may do so by completing any eight courses in their language/culture area. However, students who begin their language study at the level of Intermediate I or higher may complete the minor with seven classes instead of eight. Minors may only satisfy two requirements with a literature or culture course taught in English (for example: SPAN 125, FREN 125/126, ASIA 125). Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the minor.
Arabic and Islamic Studies Minor
Students will take seven courses, a minimum of four of which must be in Arabic language. The remaining three classes may include any of those listed below, or other relevant courses as offered. Students who are unsure as to whether a course can be counted toward the minor should consult the program director.
ARAB 210 Conversation/Composition I - 3 credits
FREN 126 Francophone Cultures - 3 credits
HIST 291 History of Modern Middle East - 3 credits
POLI 240 Comparative Politics: Africa - 3 credits
RLST 208 Islam - 3 credits
Asian Studies Minor
Students will take eight courses, with a minimum of four in an Asian language. The remaining four courses may include any culture or literature courses as offered by the Asian Studies or Chinese programs and./or relevant courses as offered by other departments such as those listed below. Students who are unsure as to whether a course can be counted toward the minor should consult the program director.
ASIA 125 Asian Cultures - 3 credits
ASIA 135 Topics in Asian Studies - 3 credits
CHNS 110 Far Eastern Ideographs - 3 credits
HIST 275 History of Central Asia - 3 credits
POLI 241 Comparative Politics: Asia - 3 credits
RLST 206 Hinduism - 3 credits
RLST 207 Buddhism - 3 credits
Teaching English-Language Learners Minor
Students in any major may earn a minor in Teaching English-Language Learners. Minor requires completion of the 18-credit hour (6 course) program and one additional elective approved by the program director detailed below.
Required Courses
WL 101/501 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners - 3 Credits
WL 312/512 Second Language Acquisition* - 3 Credits
WL 314/514 Introduction to Sociolinguistics - 3 Credits
ELL 301/515 Supporting Literacy for English Language Learners* - 3 Credits
ELL 400/500 Teaching English as a Second Language: Issues in Theory and Practice* - 3 Credits
ELL 405/505 Professional and Program Development for English Language Learners - 3 Credits
*Includes a 20-hour practicum
Students choose a major program in Spanish. Entrance into the major program is determined by the successful completion of the Introduction and Intermediate sequence or by the demonstration of equivalent skills on the CLEP, A.P., or International Baccalaureate examinations. As stated above, students must also successfully pass through the Sophomore Review process before formal admittance to the major is granted.
Historical and cultural development of Latin America. Lectures, class discussions, and readings examine the most significant aspects and trends of political, literary, economic, social and artistic life. The course is conducted in English.
An intensive study of the subjunctive mood, as well as some of the more sophisticated grammatical patterns and idiomatic structures of Spanish, designed to increase proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking the language. For students with 4 or more years of prior study.
Using short stories, poems, and novels, students will enhance their reading comprehension while discussing literay concepts such as plot, theme, metaphor and symbol.
SPAN 204
This course presents an introduction to the culture and history of Spain. Literature, lecture, film, and art introduce the student to geography, history, and politics of Spain as well as contemporary issues such as regionalism, immigration, and the European Union which are shaping modern Spain.
SPAN 204
Students will develop their communicative skills, while building vocabulary and a greater understanding of structure and idioms, through composition and guided as well as spontaneous conversations.
Content determined by preference of students/professor. Focus may be on a literary movement, a century, or a genre. Group will then examine the relationships between cultural patterns and literary tendencies.
SPAN 204
This upper level course focuses on the mastery of the International Phonetic System, the phonemes and allophones of Spanish/French, phonetic and phonemic transcription, dialectical variation, etc.
SPAN 204
Student will hone their skills in compositoin, writing descriptive, narrative, expository and argumentative essays. Students wll examine several basic differences in the structure of the Spanish and English languages before addressing problems of translation.
SPAN 204
This course does not assume prior language or linguistics study but rather introduces students to the social aspects of language, in general, and to the relationship between language and social factors that affect its usage, such as geography, gender, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic class.
Majors must choose at least two (2) electives in their major language
Using Spanish as the language of instruction, this course examines business practices in Latin America and Spain in an era of globalization. Students will acquire the vocabulary and cultural skills needed to interact in a business setting. Memo, resume and business letter writing, as well as the interview and telephone skills, will be practiced.
SPAN 204
Using Spanish as the main language of instruction, this course will introduce you the structural and social aspects of language in general, and to the ways these aspects manifest in the Spanish-speaking world. We will analyze English and Spanish contact in the United States, as well as other language contact situations around the globe, such as communities where Spanish intertwines with indigenous languages. Topics discussed will include dialects, types of bilingualism, code-switching, issues of language and power, and the socio-political ramifications of bilingual/bicultural education. The course does NOT assume prior linguistics/sociolinguistics study, although students possessing such knowledge will have an opportunity to share experiences with the class.
SPAN 204
With instructor approval, students may use this course to develop an independent study program based on their experiences abroad. Students must have spent at least four weeks in a Spanish-speaking country and must arrange, prior to the trip, to complete a research or creative project and present it during the semester following their return.
SPAN 204