Modern Language (BA)

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Affiliation: School of Arts & Letters

In accordance with its mission as the only public Liberal Arts and Sciences university in Missouri, Truman offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Language with areas of specialization in French, German, and Spanish. It also offers minors in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, Italian Studies, and Spanish for the Professions.

Language study is an essential component of a liberal arts education, but it is not the only component in Truman’s Modern Language B.A. degree. Courses are also offered in literature, culture, linguistics, and professional specialties. The Modern Language B.A. pairs well with the CML minors listed above, as well as with other Truman majors.

Having proficiency in a foreign language gives students a competitive advantage as job candidates for employers nationwide, the vast majority of whom rely on employees with language skills other than English. A degree in Modern Language not only opens professional opportunities across the country, but across the globe. Truman’s Modern Language majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad, with the full support of the department and university.

MODERN LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION

Modern Language majors will:

Engage in conversation and make formal presentations in the modern language
Write in a variety of personal and professional contexts
Read and understand texts written for a native speaker audience
Interpret between spoken languages in a variety of situations
Translate written messages and texts from one language to another
Mediate between two or more modern languages
Adapt to other cultures and navigate between them and their own
Understand diverse perspectives with empathy and openness
Reflect on one’s own culture in relation to others
Better comprehend and communicate in one’s own language
Examine “writing about research” in various classes, specific to the chosen language of specialization

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN MODERN LANGUAGE

3.5 overall GPA.
3.5 GPA in courses within the language specialization.
Demonstrate excellence in the capstone project.
One or more of the following:
1. Study Abroad (at least one summer); maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above in those courses.
2. Take one additional upper-division course in the language specialization (in addition to those required for the specialization).
3. Demonstrate excellence in undergraduate research outside of classwork.
4. Demonstrate significant activity/leadership in the language program of specialization (Pi Delta Phi, Delta Phi Alpha, Spanish Club Ñ, Sigma Delta Pi, Romance Language House, United Speakers, LinguaProfs, language play, etc.)

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Dialogues Requirements: 42-61 Credits

Missouri Statute: 0-4 credits

Bachelor of Arts Requirement: 0-8 Credits

Intermediate proficiency in ONE foreign language

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: 35-38 Credits

The Modern Language major consists of two parts: 1) core requirements and 2) a specialization in one language. Each student must complete both parts. Students may complete more than one specialization. Specializations will appear on the student transcript.

Part I:

Core Requirements: 5 Credits

LING 238 - Introduction to Linguistics Credit(s): 3
CML 470 - Modern Language Capstone Experience Credit(s): 2 OR CML 471 - Modern Language Capstone Experience I Credits: 1 AND CML 472 - Modern Language Capstone Experience II Credits: 1

Part II:

Language Specialization: 30-33 Credits

French Specialization: 30 Credits

Required courses: 18 Credits

Complete the following required courses:

FREN 320 - Issues in Contemporary France Credit(s): 3
FREN 321 - French Literature I Credit(s): 3
FREN 322 - French Literature II Credit(s): 3
FREN 323 - Monarchy & Religious Conflict Credit(s): 3
FREN 324 - French Revolutions and Wars Credit(s): 3
FREN 325 - French Cinema for Conversation Credit(s): 3

Area I: 6 Credits

Two of the following:

FREN 401 - Francophone Literature Credit(s): 3
FREN 402 - Modern French Literature Credit(s): 3
FREN 403 - Francophone Women Writers Credit(s): 3
FREN 404 - Pre-Revolutionary Literature Credit(s): 3

Area II: 6 Credits

Two of the following:

FREN 300 - French for Tourism Credit(s): 3
FREN 310 - French Grammar and Lexicon for Translation Credit(s): 3
FREN 326 - French for Business Credit(s): 3
FREN 331 - French for International Relations Credit(s): 3
FREN 425 - Phonology and Advanced Grammar Credit(s): 3
FREN 432 - Stylistics and Translation I Credit(s): 3
FREN 433 - Stylistics and Translation II Credit(s): 3

Notes for the French specialization:

Students who specialize in French and take one (or more) French for the Professions courses may take the corresponding Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris certification exam. If successful, they will receive the CCIP certificate for that content area.
Students who specialize in French and also earn a French Minor for the Professions or a French Minor in Translation may double-count a maximum of two courses for the major and the minor.
Students who specialize in French may not also earn a French Minor.
Students who specialize in French may earn the Digital Badge of Advanced Study in Romance Language. To achieve the badge, students must complete the specialization in both French and Spanish; or a specialization in French, plus at least one of the following minors: Italian Studies, Latin, Spanish, or Spanish for the Professions; and the Linguistics course LING 315 - Structure and History of Romance Languages with a grade of ‘C’ or better and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all coursework applied to the badge. None of the courses may be taken as Credit/No Credit. In order to be certified as having fulfilled the requirements of the badge, students must submit an application and current transcript (unofficial is fine) no later than the first semester of the senior year. The application is available on the CML department website.

German Specialization: 30 Credits

Required course: 3 Credits

Complete the following required courses:

GERM 300 - German Composition and Conversation Credit(s): 3

German Upper-Division courses: 27 Credits

Nine of the following:

GERM 332 - Introduction to German Literature I Credit(s): 3
GERM 333 - Introduction to German Literature II Credit(s): 3
GERM 335 - German in Contemporary Society: Applied Economic and Political Aspects Credit(s): 3
GERM 336 - German Civilization I Credit(s): 3
GERM 338 - German Civilization II Credit(s): 3
GERM 339 - German Culture in English Credit(s): 3
GERM 430 - Topics in German Credit(s): 3 May be taken more than once for credit under different topics.
GERM 432 - Grimms’ Maerchen and German Dialectology Credit(s): 3
GERM 433 - Independent Studies of German Credit(s): 3 to 6
GERM 435 - Translation: German-English/English-German Credit(s): 3
GERM 437 - Classic Masterpieces of German Literature Credit(s): 3
GERM 439 - Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature of the German Speaking Countries Credit(s): 3

Notes for the German specialization:

In lieu of GERM 339 - German Culture in English , a course relating to the culture or history of the German-speaking countries taught in another department may be selected with prior approval, but only one course taught in English may count toward the German specialization.
Students who specialize in German may not also earn a German Minor.

Spanish Specialization: 33 Credits

Required courses: 24 Credits

Complete the following required courses:

SPAN 330 - Spanish Grammar and Composition Credit(s): 3
SPAN 340 - Spanish Conversation Credit(s): 3
SPAN 353 - Introduction to Hispanic Literature Credit(s): 3
SPAN 362 - Civilization of Spain Credit(s): 3 OR SPAN 363 - Latin American Civilization Credits: 3 (If not used for the required area.)
SPAN 364 - Spanish Phonetics and Phonology Credit(s): 3
SPAN 450 - Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition Credit(s): 3
SPAN 460 - Survey of Spanish Peninsular Literature Credit(s): 3
SPAN 461 - Survey of Spanish American Literature Credit(s): 3

Spanish Upper-Division courses: 9 credits

Three of the following with at least two at the 400-level:

SPAN 360 - US Latino Culture in Historical Context Credit(s): 3
SPAN 362 - Civilization of Spain Credit(s): 3 OR SPAN 363 - Latin American Civilization Credits: 3 (If not used for the required area.)
SPAN 366 - Spanish for Business Credit(s): 3
SPAN 367 - Spanish for the Medical Professions Credit(s): 3
SPAN 440 - Advanced Spanish Conversation through Culture Credit(s): 3
SPAN 455 - Introduction to Translation Credit(s): 3
SPAN 456 - History of the Spanish Language Credit(s): 3
SPAN 462 - Topics in Literature Credit(s): 3
SPAN 463 - Topics in Culture Credit(s): 3

Notes for the Spanish specialization:

Students who specialize in Spanish may not also earn a Spanish Minor or a Spanish Minor for the Professions.
Students who specialize in Spanish may earn the Digital Badge of Advanced Study in Romance Language. To achieve the badge, students must complete the specialization in both Spanish and French; or a specialization in Spanish, plus at least one of the following minors: French, French for the Professions, French in Translation, Italian Studies, or Latin; and the Linguistics course LING 315 - Structure and History of Romance Languages with a grade of ‘C’ or better and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all coursework applied to the badge. None of the courses may be taken as Credit/No Credit. In order to be certified as having fulfilled the requirements of the badge, students must submit an application and current transcript (unofficial is fine) no later than the first semester of the senior year. The application is available on the CML department website.
Native Spanish speakers with sufficient prior college-level preparation may enroll in any upper-level course with the permission of the instructor.

Electives to Total: 120 Credits

Notes for the Modern Language Major:

Some of the above requirements may be satisfied by Study Abroad courses. It is required that all Modern Language majors planning to Study Abroad seek the advice of a faculty member in their specialization before going abroad. A Study Abroad Course Equivalency Request Form for the specific specialization, available on the CML website and the Study Abroad office, must be completed and approved by faculty in the specialization to facilitate course transfer. Failure to do so may result in some credits not being awarded for experience abroad.
A maximum of 15 credits of coursework may be applied to the Modern Language Major from study abroad programs and/or from other institutions. All such coursework must receive prior approval from faculty in the language specialization.
Students may apply to the Modern Language Major no more than 9 credits from any one full semester (fall or spring) study abroad program.
Students may apply to the Modern Language Major no more than 6 credits from any one summer study abroad program.
No grade of “D” in major courses is accepted toward the modern Language Major.