Undergraduate Catalog

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Languages and Cultures (FORL) Undergraduate Programs

113 LAWRENCE HALL/(320) 308-4141
www.stcloudstate.edu/forl

Also see College of Liberal Arts description and requirements.

Chairperson: Michael Hasbrouck
Faculty: A. Boyer, Hasbrouck, S. Jarvis, Kurinski, Langen, Melgarejo, Mikolchak, I. Mueller, Specht-Jarvis, Splittgerber, Triana-Echeverria, VanBuren

Mission Statement
We live in a multilingual world. There are opportunities in business and professional life for educated people with a command of one or more foreign languages. The study of another language enhances multicultural awareness.

Placement of Students within the FORL Sequence:
The general guidelines for students with previous formal study of a language are:

• Students should enroll in 101 if: only junior high language study or one year in senior high or 3 or more years since most recent completion of a class in that language.
• Students should enroll in 102 if: 2 years of senior high language study and less than 3 years since the last enrollment in that language.
• Students should enroll in 102 or 201 if: 3 years of senior high language study.
• Students should enroll in 201, 202 or 301 if: 4 or more years of senior high language study.

Students who have doubts about their placement should consult with foreign language faculty prior to registration.

Entering freshmen who begin study of a language below the 200-level should not expect to complete a major program in four (4) years. FORL courses at the 100- and 200-level are designed for non-native speakers of the language.

100-level courses are intended for students who are beginning their study of a language, and who have no (or minimal) prior formal experience with that language; heritage speakers or individuals who have previous study of a language will receive credits for the initial course in the 100-level series (101) ONLY by permission of the FORL Department. Those with prior study, heritage speakers, and those in doubt should consult a FORL Department adviser prior to registration. Native speakers of a language may take 100- or 200-level courses in the same language ONLY by permission of the FORL Department faculty and may NOT earn credits by examination for any course below 301.

Retro-credits guidelines and policy

Non-native speakers of a language who begin their college-level study of that language at SCSU in a course numbered above 101 and earn a grade of "B" or higher in that course, may be granted retroactive credits for one or more prior courses upon payment of a "credit-by-examination" fee. Students will be allowed to apply for retro-credits according to the guidelines at any time before graduation. Post-secondary option and senior-to-sophomore students through SCSU's programs will be eligible to purchase retro-credits. This option is not available to students with prior college-level study of the language such as college in the schools, transfers, etc.

Students entering 102 and earning a grade of "B" or higher could request credits for 101; those entering at 201 could request credits for 102 and 101; those entering in 202 could request credits for 201 and 102; students entering in 301 could request credits for 202 and 201; and students entering in 302 could request credits for 301 and 202. Students may request up to a maximum of two classes, but they do not have to request that many.

Students with an AP score of 3, 4 or 5 who begin their college-level study of that language at 301, and who earn at least a "B," should consult FORL faculty about automatic retro-credits.

Major/minor programs

All major and minor credits must be earned at the 200-level or above. Some courses must be taken sequentially (see course descriptions).

Prerequisites for registration for courses numbered above 301 and for admission to major/minor include demonstration of oral language proficiency at a level corresponding to Intermediate or higher, as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines.

All students must demonstrate oral and written proficiency at the level determined by the department before being admitted to a major/minor program. This requirement must be completed prior to registration for 301. Transfer students with 8 or more credits at the 200-level may register for 301, with departmental permission, during their first semester at SCSU; registration for upper-division courses in subsequent terms is contingent on satisfactory completion of the proficiency exam (220). Students transferring to SCSU above 301-level must see a FORL major adviser for information on how to fulfill this requirement.

Students must be admitted to a language major/minor in order to register in 400-level classes. In addition, all courses at the 300-level must be completed prior to registration at the 400-level. BS students may register for 455 concurrently with 302. (Bachelor of Science programs are for those who are preparing to teach a foreign language in elementary or secondary schools). Any courses from another department, designated by the language section as applicable to a major/minor in that language, must have prior approval of the adviser and must be listed on the major/minor application. Students who have a language major from another institution and who wish to add teaching licensure through the Languages and Cultures department at SCSU should consult with foreign languages teaching methodology faculty about this requirement.

Students pursuing a BS degree must complete ENGL 361 prior to enrolling in 450.

For students pursuing a B.S. degree: FORL 453 and 455 must be completed prior (but not more than one year prior) to student teaching. Before being declared eligible for student teaching, students must demonstrate the required level of oral proficiency in the language in which they are seeking licensure. Students entering with a foreign language major from another institution and who wish to add a teaching licensure through the FORL Department at SCSU must complete at least 3 classes in that language at SCSU, including 450, as well as FORL 453 and/or 455 and the appropriate BS capstone course(s). ENGL 361 or equivalent is a prerequisite for these courses. Other courses should be selected in consultation with foreign languages teaching methodology faculty. Entering students must meet the same language proficiency standards as required for admission to an undergraduate major/minor program.

Special note: Proposed changes in MN licensure requirements may necessitate an increase in the number of courses/credits required for the BS major.
Special note: Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall and a 2.5 GPA in major courses (200-level and above) in their language(s) in order to graduate with a major/minor from this department.

Upper Division Writing Requirement

BA and BES programs: Students majoring in BA and BES programs in French, German, or Spanish satisfy the UDWR by receiving departmental approval of their writing portfolio with a grade of at least C. The writing samples will be graded following specific criteria that evaluate: ability to communicate ideas effectively at an appropriate level in the target language; command of mechanical aspects, grammatical structures, and organizational skills. BS programs: BS students in foreign language satisfy the University's upper division writing requirement by demonstrating Intermediate-high proficiency level according to the ACTFL guidelines through certified testing, as required by the Board of Teaching requirements.

Bachelor of Arts

French Major: (36)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 450, 457. Electives: 12 credits at 400 level. Students may take 3 credits outside the department in courses with a clear French focus (e.g., History, Film Studies, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

This major requires either one year in a single foreign language [other than French] OR a minor.

German Major: (36)
201, 202 (where necessary) 220, 301, 302, 450, 457
Electives: 15 Cr. at 300- or 400-level. Students may take 3 credits outside the Department in courses with a clear German focus (e.g. History, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

This major requires either one year in a single foreign language [other than German] OR a minor.

Spanish Major: (36)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 341, 457 3 credits from 430, 432, 433; 3 credits from 440, 442, 443
Electives: 6 credits at 300-400 level, among which 3 credits may come from another department, with prior approval of major adviser.

This major requires either one year in a single foreign language [other than Spanish] OR a minor.

French Minor: (22)
201, 202 (where necessary), 220, 301, 302, 331
3 credits to choose from any 400-level courses.

German Minor: (22)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302.
Electives: 6 credits at 300- or 400-level.

Spanish Minor: (22)
201, 202 (where necessary), 220, 301, 302, 331, 341

Bachelor of Science

Requirements for teaching licensure, in addition to coursework, include demonstration of oral and written proficiency in the language(s) to be taught. Information on meeting this requirement is available in the Department of Languages and Cultures. Requirements for Minnesota licensure must be met. Candidates must consult with foreign languages teaching methodology faculty.

Special Note: Proposed changes in MN licensure requirements may necessitate an increase in the number of courses/credits required for the BS major.

French ELED (K-8) Major: (37)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 450, 456; FORL 455. Six credits from 411, 421, 431, 432, 460, ENGL 361. Students may take 3 credits outside the department in courses with a clear French focus (e.g. History, Film Studies, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

French K-12 Major (40)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 450, 454; FORL 453, FORL 455. Six credits from 411, 421, 431, 432, 460, ENGL 361. Students may take 3 credits outside the department in courses with a clear French focus (e.g. History, Film Studies, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

German ELED (K-8) Major (37)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 450, 456; FORL 455.
Electives: 9 Cr. at 300- or 400-level; ENGL 361. Students may take 3 credits outside the department in courses with a clear German focus (e.g. History, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

German K-12 Major (40)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 450, 454; FORL 453, 455.
Electives: 9 Cr. at 300- or 400-level; ENGL 361. Students may take 3 credits outside the department in courses with a clear German focus (e.g. History, Philosophy, Art History), with prior permission of major adviser.

Spanish ELED (K-8) Major: (40)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 341, 450, 456; FORL 455; ENGL 361.
3 credits from 430, 432, or 433. 3 credits from 440, 442, 443.

Spanish K-12 Major: (43)
201, 202, 220, 301, 302, 331, 341, 450, 454; FORL 453, FORL 455; ENGL 361.
3 credits from 430, 432, 433. 3 credits from 440, 442, 443.

Students with teaching majors in fields other than a foreign language may complete a B.A. minor program in a second language if they choose, but they will not be eligible to add that language to their teaching license. Students with a BA minor may not be able to pass required proficiency-based licensure exams. Students interested in this option should consult foreign language teaching methodology faculty.

Bachelor of Elective Studies

French, German or Spanish Major (36)
Arranged in consultation with and approved by adviser.

French, German or Spanish Minor (24)
Arranged in consultation with and approved by adviser.

Certificate Program for International Awareness (CPIA)
The German and French sections of the Foreign Languages Department offer a certificate program for international awareness (CPIA) to augment study of both cultures and languages. A "Passport to Germany" and a "Passport to France" can currently be obtained by students pursuing the CPIA initiative. The certificate programs are designed around beginning/intermediate language and culture courses, a Simulated Oral Proficiency Test, and capstone class in Media Literacy, emphasizing the passport designation.

Course requirements
GER or FREN 101, 102, 201, 202 depending on previous training (0-14 cr.). Students with more than three years of high school language in French or German start with 201 and 202 (6 cr.) or any 6 credits in the 300 or 400 levels, if more prior language training exists. Six language credits at or above the 200 level taken at SCSU as well as the Introduction to French Culture 110 (3 cr.) or Introduction to German Culture 110 (3 cr.), Reading and Writing Strategies 230 (2-4 cr.), and 4-6 credits in any course with an international focus in Fine Arts and Humanities (eligible courses are determined by section coordinators and may vary).