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Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics Undergraduate Information

Undergraduate Requirements for the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics

Welcome to the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics! If you are an entering undergraduate with an interest in a language major or minor, or a student who has transferred to the department from another college or school with Florida State , you will find the answers to all of your questions in this section. You can go directly to the section you are interested by clicking on the one of the links below.

 

 

Language Requirements | Exemption & Placement | Native Speakers | S/U Grading | Drop/Add | Need Major or Minor Checks ? | Who is your advisor? | Minor Requirements | Major Requirements | Co-Major | Concentration in Business | Language Tables | Tutors

Financial Aid & Scholarships
 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN MODERN LANGUAGES?


These are just a few of the areas open to you if you decide to pursue a language degree:
 

translation/interpretation
teaching
diplomacy
civil service
foreign service
Immigration/naturalization
Armed Forces
customs

advertising
journalism/broadcasting
publishing/editing
sales/customer services
manufacturing
market research
consulting
import/export

airline services
hospitality industry
computer science
engineering
law
medicine
library science
social work

 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

 

A. University requirement:

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree requires completion of a classical or modern foreign language through the 2000 level (2220 or equivalent).

B. College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

The College of Arts and Sciences requires that BA and BS students complete course work through the 2000 level (2220 or equivalent) of a classical or modern foreign language.

C. Other colleges and schools within the University may also have a foreign language requirement. Students should check with their program advisor to clarify any questions.

All students graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences, or who have elected to graduate with a BA degree, must complete the Intermediate level or equivalent, of a foreign language. For students who have no previous experience with the language selected, the course work required will included the 1120 or 1124, 1121 and 2211 or 2220. Experience in a language may mean course work may begin above the elementary level as indicated in the questions below.


 

EXEMPTION AND PLACEMENT

A student who has taken any college level language at another institution must continue the sequence at Florida State University at the nearest equivalent level. A student who has taken a language in high school but who has never enrolled in any college level language class may exempt the first levels of college language through the placement (without credit), or CLEP (College Level Placement Program) exams (with up to 12 hours credit earned). A student only has to complete the 2211/2220 level of a language to satisfy the language requirement. This means he may not necessarily need to complete all three courses in the beginning series.

CLEP EXAMS: These are nationwide exams in French, German and Spanish, offered at FSU as well as other colleges and universities throughout the country. Up to 12 hours may be earned. Contact 644-3017 for further information and to register.

PLACEMENT EXAMS: The placement exam is required for all students entering FSU after January 1, 2003 and who are taking their first French, German or Spanish language course in the Spring semester 2004 or later (unless they have no prior experience with the language). In that case, they just enroll in the first level of the language... more...

 

NATIVE SPEAKERS


Native speakers of the French, German or Spanish languages may not need to take any college level language course. They may be exempted through the placement exams. Note: Since the placement and CLEP exams test the written skills only, Spanish speakers who have limited ability in written skills have the option of taking SPN 3350 (Spanish for Heritage Speakers - 3cr).  This course assumes you are verbally fluent and teaches basic written skills). That one course will satisfy the total Arts and Sciences language requirement.

Native speakers of a language other than French, German or Spanish may have other options for satisfying the language requirement. Call 644-2606 for further information.

 

 

 

SATISFACTORY/UNSATISFACTORY GRADING OPTION


The last day of the seventh week of classes in each semester is the deadline to petition to take a class S/U (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory). In this case, the student may elect not to receive a letter grade for the course, but to receive instead an S or U, a grade for which a student will receive the credit hours for the course toward his graduation, but these hours will not be factored into his or her grade point average. Apply at the Office of the Registrar.
 

DROP/ADD


The students should be aware that high enrollment in many of our language sections may become difficult by the end of the registration period. Registration in these sections may become possible only during the drop/add period (the first four days of the semester). Additionally, departmental adds/drops may be approved without penalty until the last day of the seventh week of classes, both for new classes and for switches between sections of the same course. After the seventh week of classes, the student’s academic dean will also have to approve the drop/add slip. Apply in Room 364 Diffenbaugh.

 

 

NEED MAJOR OR MINOR CHECKS?

You will need to leave your name, social security number, major or minor and whether you are graduating with a BA or BS degree. The major/minor check may be mailed or faxed to you if you so desire.

Contact Mary J. Le Poer
644-2606

 

WHO IS YOUR ADVISOR?


Undergraduates have access to an advisor in each language for help in choosing courses, planning a schedule and working through problems in their major or minor program. Feel free to contact the following advisors, especially during scheduled office hours.

 

Area

Advisor

Tel.

Room

Office hrs

Arabic

Dr. Zenia Schlenoff

644-3012

342 DIF

hrs

Chinese

Dr. Feng Lan

644-8389

334 DIF

hrs

German

Dr. Winnifred Adolph

644-8191

316B DIF

hrs

French

Dr. Rainier Leushuis

644-8179

303 DIF

hrs

Hebrew

Melanie Annis

222-5454

371 DIF

hrs

Italian

Dr. Mark Pietralunga

644-8392

366 DIF

hrs

Japanese

Dr. Yoshihiro Yasuhara

644-8603

358 DIF

hrs

Linguistics

Dr. Gretchen Sunderman

644-8186

304A DIF

hrs

Slavic

Dr. Robert Romanchuk

644-8198

352 DIF

hrs

Spanish & Portuguese

Dr. Delia Poey

Dr. Brenda Cappucio

 

644-8394

644-8193

354 DIF

362 DIF

hrs

 

 

 

 

 

The Undergraduate Office in the Department is staffed by Mary J. LePoer, who will assist you with advice on administrative matters such as drops/adds, changes of grades, minor certificates, major and minor checks, etc. You will find her at 364 Diff, 644-2606, mlapoer@fsu.edu.

 

 

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

The Department offers a minor in Arabic Studies, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Linguistics, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Minors are also available in Medieval Studies and World Literature, World Film.  A minor in Middle Eastern Studies is offered jointly by the Departments of Modern Languages and Linguistics, Religion, History, and Classical Languages, Literature and Civilization.

The requirements in each language except for Arabic Studies, Medieval Studies, Spanish, World Literature, World Film, and Middle Eastern Studies is the same: twelve (12) semester hours in courses numbered above 1999. For each language, the student may register for any course of his choosing, provided he has met the prerequisites. However, please be aware that any course used to satisfy the language requirement for graduation may not be used in satisfying the minor.

A minor in Arabic Studies requires 18 semester hours, 15 of which should be in Arabic language.  The additional 3 hours may be selected from an approved list of interdepartmental courses related to the Middle East or North Africa .  At least 9 of the 18 hours must be earned at FSU.

The minor in Medieval Studies will consist of 15 semester hours in approved departmental fields.  Contact the undergraduate office at 644-2606 for a list of these courses.

The minor in Middle Eastern Studies requires 15 semester hours in approved departmental fields. Contact the undergraduate office at 644-2606 for a list of these courses.

For students whose catalog year falls before Fall 2002, the Spanish minor requires 12 hours beyond the language requirement (for their major) including at least one Spanish literature course. SPT 3130 will not count toward the minor. For students whose catalog year occurs from Fall 2002 to Summer 2005, the Spanish minor consists of one additional Spanish course for a total of 15 hours at the 3000-4000 level including one Spanish literature course.  If a student's catalog year occurs Fall 2005 or later, the minor also requires 15 credit hours including a Spanish literature course, but one of the 5 courses may be SPN 2240.

The World Literature/World Film minor consists of five courses for a total of 15 semester hours. The course list may be found in the FSU Bulletin.

Students with dual majors are not required to complete a minor. Dual DEGREES however, may need the completion of a minor in each degree program. A co-major in two languages, or a degree in a language with an emphasis in business do not require a minor.

All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade, not satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) except the internship (4942). A "C-" must be earned in all courses that are used to satisfy the minor.

After all courses have been completed for the minor, declare the minor in the Department of Modern Languages (Rm 364 Dif) – not in the Dean’s office.

A certificate suitable for framing is issued by the department upon completion of the minor requirements.
 

 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS


The department offers majors in Chinese Language and Culture, French ,
French and Francophone Studies, German, Italian, Japanese Language and Culture, Russian, and Spanish. Language areas may also be combined with concentrations in business. A booklet describing each major is available from the Modern Languages’ undergraduate office (Rm 364 Dif). Courses required are listed as follows:

 

CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ((30 hours numbered above 2220):  Requirements include 24 credit hours of Chinese coursework and six (6) credit hours from East Asian Studies courses including courses in Japanese literature and culture.  Of the twenty-four (24) hours of Chinese coursework, six (6) semester hours must derive from courses in Chinese literature and culture, and at least six (6) semester hours must be taken from Chinese language courses at the 4000 level.

FRENCH (30 hours numbered above 2999): FRE 3420, FRE 3421, FRE 4422, FRE 4780, FRW 3100, FRW 3101 and three additional 4000-level courses, at least two of which (6 hours) must be in literature. Majors are eligible for the Ada Belle Winthrop-King scholarship for study in Paris , France .

FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES (36 hours numbered above 2999):  This interdepartmental major with art and history requires (21) semester hours of French and (15) semester hours in either one or two fields related to French and Francophone culture to be determined by the French advisor.  The required French courses are FRE 3244, FRE 3420, FRE 4500, FRW 3100 and two additional 4000-level French courses. Majors are eligible for the Ada Belle Winthrop-King summer scholarships to Paris .

GERMAN Thirty (30) semester hours numbered above 2999 are required. Students must have a minimum of six (6) semester hours of skills courses (e.g. GER 3310, 3400) and six (6) semester hours of literature, film, and culture classes (e.g. GER 3500, GEW 3370). A minimum of six (6) semester hours must be taken at the 4000 level. Core required courses for the major are GER 3400 and GER 3500. Students should consult with an adviser to ensure that they have met the distribution requirements.

ITALIAN (30 hours numbered above 2220): Requirements include ITA 2240, ITA 3420, ITA 3421, at least one 3000-level literature course in Italian (e.g. ITW 3100 or ITW 3101), and a minimum of twelve semester hours at the 4000-level.  A maximum of six (6) semester hours from among the following coursework may count toward the thirty (30) semester hour requirement:  ITT 3430, ITT 3500, or ITT 3520.  ITW 3391r also may be counted toward the major or minor in Italian.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE (30 hours numbered above 2220):  The major requires twenty-four (24) semester hours of Japanese coursework numbered above 2220 and six (6) semester hours from East Asian Studies courses including courses in Chinese literature and culture.  Of the twenty-four (24) hours of Japanese coursework, six (6) semester hours must derive from courses in Japanese literature and culture, and at least six (6) semester hours must be taken from Japanese language courses at the 4000 level.

RUSSIAN Thirty (30) semester hours numbered above 2220 are required, including RUS 2330, 3420, 3421 and at least twelve (12) semester hours of RUS/RUW course work at the 4000 level or above. Three (3) semester hours at the 4000 level must be in Russian literature. A maximum of six (6) semester hours from among the following course work may count toward the thirty (30) semester hour requirement: RUT 3110, 3504; LIN 3041, 4040; SLL 3500 and 3510. FOL 3930r may also be counted toward the major and minor in Russian.

SPANISH Old requirements - still in effect for students whose catalog year officially falls before Fall 2002 - (30 hours numbered above 2220): Two literature (SPW) and one linguistics (LIN) courses are required as partial fulfillment of the 30 hours. The linguistics course must be taken through the Modern Language Department. Hispanic Cinema (SPW 3391) will not count toward the literature hours, but may count toward the major. SPT 3130 will not count toward the major.

SPANISH Requirements   - in effect for students whose catalog year falls Fall 2002 - Summer 2005:  (36 hours distributed in the following manner: eighteen (18) semester hours of 3000-level courses ncluding SPN 3332, SPN 3333, SPW 3030, either SPN 3510 or SPN 3520, a departmental linguistics course (usually LIN 3041) and one 3000-level literature course. Required at the 4000-level are eighteen (18) semester hours in SPN or SPW courses, including at least one senior seminar such as SPN 4540, SPN 4930 or SPW 4930.

SPANISH Requirements - in effect for students entering FSU Fall 2005 or later - (36 hours distributed in the following manner:  SPN 2240, 18 credit hours at the 3000-level including SPN 3332, SPN 3333, SPW 3030, LIN 3041, either SPN 3510 or SPN 3520 and one additional 3000-level literature course.  15 credit hours at the 4000-level - including one seminar in either SPN 4930 or SPW 4930 or SPN 4540.

The department also offers co-majors as well as language degrees concentrating in business.
 

 

CO-MAJOR


The Co-major is a single major with a choice of two languages chosen from among French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. Each of the languages is taken for 21 hours of credit above the 1999 level, courses to be selected in consultation with the languages advisor. The Co-major in Chinese and Japanese requires sixteen (16) semester hours of Japanese language coursework, and nine (9) semester hours of coursework in Chinese and/or Japanese literature and culture.  Of the combined thirty-two (32) Chinese and Japanese language coursework hours, at least three (3) semester hours must be taken from a 4000-level course in one language and six (6) semester hours from two 4000-level courses in the other language.  One second year course must be used to satisfy the Arts and Sciences’ language requirement and is therefore not used as part of the Co-major. No minor is required with the Co-major

 

CONCENTRATION IN BUSINESS


A major in French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish with a concentration in business may be selected, which will require twenty-one (21) semester hours in the language beyond the language requirement,  A major in Chinese or Japanese with a concentration in business will require eighteen (18) semester hours in the language beyond 2220.  The business component for all majors will also require twenty-seven (27) semester hours in a specialized business track as indicated below.

CORE (to be taken by all who choose this major):

ECO 2013
ECO 2023
ACG 2021
ACG 2071
MAN 3600

SPECIALIZED TRACKS: (Choose one)

Finance

FIN 3403
FIN 3244
FIN 4604

Plus MAN 4605, or one advanced finance course (3000-4000 level)

Marketing

MAR 3023
MAAR 4156

Plus two additional advanced marketing courses (3000-4000 level)

Management

MAN 3240 or MAN 3025
MAN 4605

Plus two additional advanced management courses (3000-4000 level).

Plan in advance! Some of these business courses are not offered every semester!


  TEACHER CERTIFICATION

For teacher certification the state of Florida, students are NOT required to complete any education courses before beginning to teach, just your degree in languages (plus minor if needed) through the College of Arts and Sciences.  You can then qualify for a Temporary Florida Educator's Certificate.  While teaching, you can learn the professional educational competencies to qualify for a Professional Florida Educator's Certificate.  This consist of five education courses at FSU taught through the School of Education .  See complete information at the Department of Education website: www.fldoe.org/edcert

           

LANGUAGE TABLES


Practice your language in a supportive atmosphere! Language Tables are small groups of students, instructors and any interested person from children to senior citizen who would like more in-depth experience with others desirous of the same opportunity. These free meetings are usually held once per week in a local restaurant, beginning a few weeks after the start of a new semester. Contact the undergraduate office at 644-2606 for time and place.

Arabic

Chinese

French

German

Italian

Japanese

Russian

Spanish


 

TUTORS


The department maintains an up-to-date list of tutors for each language. Call 644-2606 for further information, or visit Rm 364 Diffenbaugh to pick up a copy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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