World Languages and Cultures

The Department of World Languages and Cultures plays a pivotal role in preparing students to meet their general education requirements and world citizenship in the 21^st century.

The department offers an undergraduate major in Spanish with minors in French and Portuguese. A two-year sequence of courses is also offered in Swahili. Additional courses may be offered in other foreign languages either by the department or through the University of North Carolina Language Consortium.

The current language program is supported by the Language Media Center which employs a full-time director to assist students in the development of the essential language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and culture. Tutorial assistance is also provided in Spanish and French. Language majors and minors from this department are currently working in various professions: teaching, business, medicine, law.

Placement and Proficiency Examinations for Foreign Languages

Students who have completed at least two years of high school foreign language may take a placement examination or an appropriate department proficiency examination in an attempt to qualify for the intermediate level or above.

Students may also receive credit toward the Spanish major or foreign language minors by taking and passing appropriate department proficiency examinations.

Retroactive Credit Policy for Foreign Languages

The Retroactive Credit Policy is designed to grant credit to students with previous language study. Under this policy students who enroll in and successfully complete a course beyond the first semester of beginning foreign language (xxx 1311) receive credit for courses they bypassed up to 6 credit hours. Students receive credit towards graduation but no grade for the lower course(s). Retroactive credit is available only for the first language course in which a student enrolls and is given only when the student achieves a grade of C or better. Retroactive credit is not available if a student has received Advanced Placement or transfer credit in the language.

Students are advised to contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures for guidelines concerning placement. Retroactive credit is applied for at the completion of the course.