DEPARTMENT
Foreign Languages & Literatures
- Chair: Dr. Thomas J.
Mathews
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- Location: Wasatch Hall, Room 101
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- Telephone Contact: Karlene Foster 801-626-6183
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- Professors: Yumi Adachi, Craig Bergeson, Erika Daines, Alicia Giralt, Gary M. Godfrey, Cheryl
Hansen, Thomas J. Mathews, Eva Szalay, Tony Spanos, Jeffery D. Stokes,
Wangari wa
Nyatetu-Waigwa; Assistant Professors:
Isabel Asensio; Instructor: Rona Maughan
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers courses in language,
literature and culture that enable students to complete various institutional
requirements. We prepare students to function effectively in a foreign language while
gaining an understanding and appreciation of humanistic ideals and values. Mastery of a
foreign language is the hallmark of a world citizen.
A bachelor of arts degree is offered. Students may select a regular major, a teaching
major or a major with a commercial emphasis in French, German or Spanish. Regular and
teaching minors are offered in these three languages as well. In addition, a Japanese
minor is offered, and the department participates in Asian Studies and Latin American
Studies minors and in a departmental Honors Program. A language emphasis for the BIS
degree requires a minimum of 18 hours, 15 of which must be upper-division course work.
Courses in other languages may be offered as need and resources allow. The curriculum is
based on a National Standard for measuring proficiency. Each course is designed to foster
linguistic skills and to increase the students' ability to participate in the culture.
Foreign Language Requirement
for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree will include a foreign language or ASL (American Sign
Language) requirement which may be met by one of the following:
- Documentation of a proficiency level of "Intermediate Low" or better through
an examination administered by the WSU Foreign Language Department or through an
examination by a recognized testing agency.
- Completion of WSU foreign language course 2020 with a grade of "C" or higher,
or comparable transfer credit.
- Completion of any upper-division WSU foreign language course with a grade of
"C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
- Students for whom English is a second language may meet the BA foreign language
requirement by verifying their proficiency in their native (non-English) language in
cooperation with the Foreign Language Department and verifying their
proficiency in English as a Second language by passing the ESL Special
Examination.
- Documentation of a minimum proficiency level in American Sign Language through an
examination administered by the American Sign Language/Interpreting program at Salt Lake
Community College (SLCC). The signer must "produce and maintain American Sign
Language with continuity and precision."
- Completion of SLCC's American Sign Language Course ASL 1050 with a grade of
"C" or higher, or comparable transfer credit.
Students with prior language experience may obtain lower-division foreign
language credit by completing one of the following options:
- Students may obtain credit for 1010, 1020, HU2010 and 2020 by passing a
higher numbered course with a minimum grade of "C"
- Students may obtain credit for 1010, 1020 and 2020 through examination,
but only in those languages in which the Department of Foreign Languages and
Literatures has expertise (usually limited to French, German, Japanese and
Spanish). This examination is administered regularly by the department.
Credit for Humanities General Education (HU2010) cannot be obtained through
examination.
Upon payment of a nominal fee, hours earned through either option are
recorded as "credit" on the transcript and do not affect the student's
GPA. The department may accept results from other foreign language testing
agencies as evidence of proficiency. Application for credit is to be made at the
office of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
Weber State University 2007-2008 Catalog