Department of Foreign Languages

Chairperson: Professor Doyle; Associate Chairperson for Undergraduate Studies: Associate Professor Rose; Professors: Miller, Reimer, Suther; Professors Emeriti: Bush, Gabriel, Saman; Associate Professors: Gleaves, Hart, Hopper, Merrill, Noiset, Park, Sandarg, Stephenson, Vance; Associate Professor Emeritus: Cernyak-Spatz; Assistant Professors: Bissiere, Gartner, Gonzalez, Grote, McLeod, Rivera; Senior Lecturers: McDermott-Castro, Domoto

The Department of Foreign Languages has designed its programs to develop language skills and to provide insights into foreign cultures through the study of language, culture and literature. The Department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in French, German and Spanish. It also offers minors in the same languages, as well as a Certificate in Translating. Courses in Japanese, Chinese, Latin, Greek and Russian are offered regularly, and courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese and other languages are offered on an irregular basis, according to demand.

Students interested in foreign language study are encouraged to explore the following options: (1) a single major in French, German or Spanish, based on the standard liberal arts model, with or without teaching certification; (2) a double major in a foreign language and another discipline or in two languages; (3) a foreign language minor; (4) a concentration in one or more languages to complement a major in another academic area; and (5) a concentration of courses leading to a Certificate in Translating.

Foreign language students may become certified to teach French, German or Spanish. Career opportunities for students who gain proficiency in one or more languages exist in education, business, government, industry, the military, nursing and social work. Courses in Business French, German and Spanish and the foursemester concentration in Translating are especially helpful for those who want to use a foreign language in the world of business and commerce. Proficiency certification in German is available at three levels of fluency.

Scholarships, Study Abroad, Awards. Scholarships for summer study and employment abroad are available to UNC Charlotte students of French, German and Spanish. As a rule, applicants are required to major or minor in language to be eligible, and they must have completed at least two years of study in the language they propose to use abroad. The Department encourages all students to participate in a study abroad program and has exchange programs with universities in China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Japan and Spain. The Department regularly presents the following awards: the Mary Jim Whitlow Award for Service to the Department, the Pierre Macy Award for Excellence in French, the German American Award for Excellence in German, the Alemannia Award for Excellence in German, and the Karl Gabriel and Susan Cernyak-Spatz Scholarships for Excellence in German and Service to the German Program. For detailed information contact the Department of Foreign Languages.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

General Requirements for All Majors. All students are required to fulfill general education requirements described in the Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements section of this Catalog, in addition to coursework specified below. Note: Introductory language courses may not be taken on a pass/no credit basis if they are being used to fulfill the university foreign language requirement. Students majoring or minoring in language may not take required courses in the department on a pass/no credit basis.

Placement. The Department of Foreign Languages will recommend the placement of students on a level commensurate with their demonstrated proficiency at the time of enrollment and considering their previous language training or experience. Placement exams are usually given during summer advising and at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. For information on placement, contact the Department.

Laboratory and Practicum. In addition to meeting for three hours of class, students may be required to attend a laboratory or practicum session for one or more hours per week.

Teacher Certification. The student seeking certification to teach a foreign language must fulfill the general education requirements, the foreign language major, FORL 4200 and 4201, and all courses required for certification by the College of Education.

FRENCH. The French major offers two options:

Option A. Requires FREN 2201, 2202, 2207, 3201, 3202, 3203, 3209, 4201, 4202 and at least two additional courses at the 4000 level. Related work is to be approved by the Department. Students seeking teaching certification take this option.

Option B. For students with a double major, requires FREN 2201, 2202, 2207, 3201, 3202, 3203, 3209, 4201 and 4202 and all courses required for the second major.

GERMAN. A major in German leading to a B.A. degree consists of GERM 2201, 2202, 3201, 3202, 3030, 3050 (two courses under different topics), 4203 or 4204, 4010 or 4020, or an additional course on the 3000 or 4000 level. German majors must enroll concurrently for one hour of GERM 4050 for each GERM 3230 or 3050 course they take. In addition, 15 hours of related work (or a declared minor), approved by the German language staff, will be required. Candidates for teacher certification must also take FORL 4200 and 4201 and satisfy requirements specified by the College of Education.

Students majoring in German and seeking a Certificate in Translating in German must also take TRAN 3271, 3272, 3273 and 3274, but may eliminate one GERM 3000 and one GERM 4000 course from the requirements for the major listed above.

SPANISH. A major in Spanish leading to the B.A. degree consists of SPAN 2201, 2202, 3201, 3202, 3203, 3209 or 3210, and 3212, plus 12 hours of Spanish courses on the 4000 level.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE MINORS

FRENCH. A minor in French consists of 23 hours above the 1202 level, as follows: FREN 2201, 2202, 2207, 3201, 3202, 3203 and 3209. Students may substitute Commercial French (FREN 2205) for either FREN 2207 or 3203.

GERMAN. A minor in German consists of GERM 2201, 2202, 3201, 3202, and six additional hours of 3000 or 4000 level German courses, for a total of 20 hours. A student who waived GERM 2201 and/or 2202 must take the equivalent number of GERM 3000 or GERM 4000 level courses.

SPANISH. A minor in Spanish consists of SPAN 2201, 2202 or 2210, 3201 or 3202, 3203 or 3212, 3209 or 3210, and six additional hours at the SPAN 3000 or 4000 level, for a total of 23 hours. The student who is waived from SPAN 2201 must take at least one additional course at the SPAN 3000 or 4000 level.

MINOR IN WESTERN ANTIQUITY AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

The minor requires 15-24 semester hours depending upon student performance on the language proficiency exam. Successful completion of the minor requires:
  1. Languages: GREK 2201 or LATN 2101, or three semesters of Greek and Latin; and four courses selected from at least three of the following:
  2. Ancient Material Culture: ARTS 3111 Ancient Art, ARCH 2111 Ancient Architecture;
  3. Ancient History: HIST 1115 The Ancient World, HIST 3102 History of Rome, HIST 3101 History of Greece, ANTH 3152 Early Civilizations;
  4. Greek and Roman Literature: ENGL 4210 Greek and Roman Drama, RELS 3101 Greek Myths and Religion,
  5. Greek and Roman Thought: POLS 3171 History of Classical Political Philosophy, PHIL 3211 Ancient Philosophy, PHIL 3212 Medieval Philosophy. Other courses may be approved by the classics coordinator.

CERTIFICATE IN TRANSLATING

Successful completion of TRAN 3271, 3272, 3273 and 3274 entitles the student to a Certificate in Translating. This certificate is not equivalent to a major in a foreign language, but it represents a skill developed at the bachelor's degree level. The Certificate in Translating may be taken in conjunction with a major in any field. All courses in this sequence involve translating into English from the source language.
[COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES]