Language & Cultural Studies

Description

The Language and Cultural Studies program offers a minor within the College of Arts and Sciences as well as language courses in Spanish and French. Fluency in another language and experiencing the culture of its speakers are skills that help to cement a liberal education that is truly global in breadth and hands-on in practice. As such, the program provides students with the ability to communicate in a new language while also exploring the individual and collective values of the communities that speak it. The program encourages an appreciation for and experiences of the artistic expressions of the cultures addressed and requires students to contemplate the interdependent nature of the world, considering the complexity and richness of diverse cultures while developing their language skills.

The minor requirements are thus interdisciplinary, integrating the core linguistic and socio-cultural matters pertinent to languages. In addition to course work, students are encouraged to participate in full immersion language experiences through study abroad programs or Spanish-speaking internships.

Minor Requirements

The minor in Language & Cultural Studies requires 18 credit hours, and students choose one of two options: the two-language option or the social sciences and humanities option.  Both tracks require students to have either successfully completed or placed out of SPAN 202 Spanish for Professional Communication before beginning the courses in the minor.  (Please see the Inderdisciplinary and Supporting Courses page in this Catalog for further information about placement in lagnuage courses.)

SPAN 491 Internship is not required for the minor but is strongly recommended.

Two Languages (18 credits)

  • FREN 201 Intermediate French I
  • FREN 202 Intermediate French II
  • FREN 497 Directed Readings in French
  • SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers
  • SPAN 302 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers II
  • SPAN 499 Senior Seminar

Recommended:  Additional courses in history and culture from Africana Studies, Global Affairs, and Humanities, such as GLBL 250 Human Geography Seminar Human Geography (Latin American or Africa)

Social Science and Humanities (18 credits)

  • SPAN 213 Latina Voices or ENGL 271 Literature of the African Diaspora
  • SPAN 301 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers
  • SPAN 302 Reading and Writing for Advanced or Native Speakers II
  • GLBL 250 Human Geography Seminar (Latin America or Africa)
  • Any two additional courses in history and culture from Africana Studies, Global Affairs, Humanities, Political Science or Spanish

Program Policies

Advanced Placement: AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the minor.

CLEP Policy: CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the minor.

Grades in Minor Courses: Students must receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in courses taken to fulfill minor requirements.

Pass/No Pass: Courses fulfilling the minor requirements may not be taken Pass/No Pass.

TELL Policy: Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult with the program faculty before preparing a portfolio.

Transfer Credits: Up to 9 hours of transfer credit will be accepted towards the minor, pending faculty review and approval. A minimum of 9 credits must be taken at Trinity in order to meet the requirements for the minor.