World Languages and Cultures

General Information

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 twenty-first century.

The department offers an undergraduate major and minor in Spanish with minors in French and Portuguese. There is also a sequence of courses offered in Swahili. Additional courses may be offered in other world languages either by the department or through the University of North Carolina Language Exchange.

The language programs are supported by the Language Media Center which assists students in the development of the essential language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and culture. Language tutorial assistance is also provided. World language majors and minors from this department are currently working in various professions: teaching, business, medicine, and law.

Vision and/or Mission

The Department of World Languages and Cultures will provide a quality world language education to a diverse student body that will equip them with the necessary cross-cultural linguistic skills to function proficiently in the twenty-first century.

Departmental Goal

The goal of the Department of World Languages and Cultures is to prepare language students, majors and minors with the necessary linguistic and cultural skills that will equip them to communicate successfully in the target language. This focus will allow them to meet the benchmarks of world language education: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities.

Departmental Objectives

· To develop proficiency in the fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and culture.

· To provide an in-depth study in world languages, literatures, cultures, and civilizations.

· To prepare majors and minors to do additional research and studies beyond the undergraduate level.

· To prepare students for a variety of careers and professions that require knowledge of and fluency in world languages.

Undergraduate Programs Offered

Major Program

Spanish

Minor Programs

Spanish

French

Portuguese

Other Courses Offered

The department offers a sequence of courses in Swahili that satisfy requirements for general education, program electives, and the summer study abroad program in Kenya/Tanzania.

Policies

Retroactive Credit Policy for World 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 World language 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. Retroactive credit is applied for at the completion of the course.

Placement Exams

Students are advised to contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures for guidelines concerning placement.

Proficiency Assessment for Students with World Language Experience

Students who have completed at least two years of high school world language may take 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 world language minors by challenging and passing appropriate department examinations.

Study Abroad

In conjunction with the Office of International Programs, the department supports study abroad programs which provide students with opportunities to earn credits toward the major and minors, and to develop cross-cultural sensibilities. The department strongly recommends that students participate in study abroad programs. For students earning the major in Spanish, study abroad transfer credits may be applied towards the major. SPA 4391- Senior Seminar must be taken at WSSU.