Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Home Page

Faculty

Susan E. Brownell, Associate Professor, Interim Chairperson
Ph.D., University of California-Santa Barbara
Roland A. Champagne, Professor Emeritus, French,
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Lorna V. Williams, Professor, Spanish
Ph.D., Indiana University
Jeanne Morgan Zarucchi, Professor, French and Art History
Ph.D., Harvard University
Albert J. Camigliano, Associate Professor Emeritus, German
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Ingeborg M. Goessl, Assistant Professor Emerita, German
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Sheridan Wigginton, Assistant Professor, Spanish and Education
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
Deborah Baldini, Teaching Professor, Spanish
Ph.D., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Anne-Sophie Blank, Associate Teaching Professor, French
M.A., Washington University
Martha Caeiro, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish
M.A., Washington University
Luis Castañeda,
M.A., University of Colorado
Donna Cays, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish
M.A., Saint Louis University
Elizabeth Eckelkamp, Associate Teaching Professor, Japanese
M.A., Washington University
Nancy Mayer, Associate Teaching Professor, ESL
M.A.T., Webster University
Denise Mussman, Associate Teaching Professor, ESL
M.A., University of Illinois-Chicago
Margaret B. Phillips, Associate Teaching Professor, Latin
Ph.D., Saint Louis University
Kimberley Sallee, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish
M.A., University of New Mexico
Sandra Trapani, Associate Teaching Professor, French
M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
Susan Yoder-Kreger, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish
M.A., University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Maria Teresa Balogh, Assistant Teaching Professor, Spanish
M.A., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, MFA, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Suzanne Hendrickson, Assistant Teaching Professor, French
Ph.D., Washington University
Elizabeth Landers, Assistant Teaching Professor, French, Director of Language Programs
M.A., Washington University
Maria Snyder , Assistant Teaching Professor, French and German
Ph.D., Washington University
Kersten Horn, Lecturer, German
M.A., University of Texas, Austin
Fushon, Le, Lecturer, Chinese
M.A., Iowa State University
Rosalina Mariles, Lecturer, Spanish
M.S., Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

General Information

Degrees and Areas of Concentration
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers course work in French and Spanish, leading to the B.A. degree, and a field of concentration in each of these languages for students seeking the B.S. degree in education. In addition, the department offers courses in English as a Second Language, Arabic, Chinese, German, Ancient Greek, Modern Greek, Japanese, and Latin.

A minor in French, German, or Spanish may also be earned in the department. For details, see specific requirements for the minor, which appear later in this section.

The department maintains a language resource center where books, journals, magazines, and other foreign language realia are available to students, along with audiovisual and computer materials.

Cooperative Study
Courses in other languages are available to UMSL students through Washington University, Saint Louis University, Harris-Stowe State College, and SIU-Edwardsville. For information, consult the UMSL registrar's office.

Study Abroad
Language students who have been at the University of Missouri-St. Louis at least one semester and have studied the language at least one year may receive credits for formal study abroad during the summer. Prior consent of the department must be obtained for summer courses abroad, and the student must present a transcript for evaluation. Exchange programs are available with several universities in foreign countries. For information, contact the study abroad office.

Alumni Scholarship
Qualified junior and senior language majors may apply for the Foreign Language Alumni Scholarship, which is renewable each semester on a competitive basis. For information, contact the department.

Baldini Family Scholarship
Qualified full-time UMSL students pursuing a foreign language and literature degree with teacher certification may apply for this scholarship which is awarded on a competitive basis and must be used within one semester of the award. For information, contact the department.

Community College Scholarship
Qualified community college students may apply for the Foreign Language Community College Scholarship to be applied for educational fees toward the enrollment in third semester or higher courses in French, German, or Spanish. This scholarship must be used within one semester of the award. For information, contact the department.

German Scholarships
Students of German may apply for UMSL Summer Abroad scholarships that will partially finance their summer studies abroad. Other scholarship money is available for students with advanced standing in the language. For information, contact the department.

Departmental Honors

Candidates for departmental honors in French or Spanish must meet the following requirements:

1) Achieve a GPA of 3.5 in the major for all hours attempted beyond the first two semesters. (Language Courses 1001 and 1002)
2) Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
3) Successfully complete an honors thesis or project.

Undergraduate Studies

General Education Requirements
Each language major must satisfy the general education requirements of the university and the general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
Students who have fulfilled the language requirement (13 hours: Language Courses 1001, 1002, and 2101) may enroll in a second language on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis.

Specific Requirements or Restrictions
Students entering with no high school language units must enroll in Language 1001 or may enroll in Language 2115. Language 2115 (a, b, and c) is the intensive study of a language and will satisfy the foreign language requirement. 2115a, 2115b, and 2115c are co-requisites and must be taken concurrently. All three sections must be completed with a grade of C- or better, to satisfy the foreign language requirement.

A grade of D in a Language 1001 course is a passing grade but not an entrance grade for a Language 1002 course. A grade of D in a Language 1002 course is a passing grade but not an entrance grade for a Language 2101 course or its equivalent. A grade of D in a Language 2101 course fulfills the language requirement, but is not an entrance grade for a higher-level course.

Demonstration of a high level of proficiency may reduce the number of hours required for the major. Native speakers of a foreign language should consult with the department concerning appropriate placement.

Students may not take for credit an elementary course if they have already completed a higher-level course for which the elementary course, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite.

Degree Requirements
Students electing to major in the department must have completed the 1002 course in the language selected with a grade of C- or better. Any major who receives a grade of D in any course required for the major must repeat that course. No course required for the major may be taken on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (s/u) basis.

Bachelor of Arts
All students seeking a B.A. in a foreign language must meet the departmental requirement of a minimum of 33 hours (excluding Language 1001 and 1002). The maximum number of hours that may be taken in the major is 45 (including Language 1001 and 1002). In addition, students seeking the B.A. in a foreign language who desire a teaching certificate must also take Course 3264 (same as SEC ED 3274), Curriculum and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages, Course 4364 (same as SEC ED 4374), Foreign Language Teaching Seminar, and fulfill the professional secondary education requirements of the College of Education.

Bachelor of Science in Education
Those students seeking the B.S.Ed. degree, with a concentration in a foreign language, are required to complete 30 hours of work (excluding credit for Language 1001 and 1002) of which 12 hours must be on the 4000 level. Students working toward a degree in elementary education, with related work in a foreign language, should consult the College of Education concerning their program.

Transfer Students
Transfer students majoring in one of the foreign languages must complete at UMSL a minimum of 12 graded hours in language courses at the 3000 level or above with a grade point average of 2.0 or better in these courses.

Native Speakers
Native speakers must complete at least two courses at the 3200 level and four courses at the 4300 level to obtain a major in their native language.

Specific Requirements for the Major

French

Each major in French must complete the following courses:
FRENCH 2101, Intermediate French Language and Culture, or the equivalent
FRENCH 2102, Intermediate French Language and Culture II
FRENCH 2180, Readings in French
FRENCH 3200, Advanced Grammar
FRENCH 3211, Contemporary French Civilization
FRENCH 3280, French Literature I: Middle Ages to Eighteenth Century
FRENCH 3281, French Literature II: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
and four courses at the 4000-level.

The following courses are also strongly recommended:

SPANISH 2110, Spanish Literature in Translation
HIST 4351, Contemporary France : Since 1870

Spanish

Each major in Spanish must complete the following courses:
SPANISH 2101, Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture, or SPANISH 2105, Commercial Spanish, or the equivalent

One of the following two:
SPANISH 2171, Spanish Conversation and Pronunciation
SPANISH 2172, Spanish Composition

SPANISH 2180, Readings in Spanish
SPANISH 3200, Syntax of the Spanish Language
SPANISH 3210, Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Spain, or SPANISH 3211, Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Spanish America
SPANISH 3280, Introduction to Hispanic Literature: Spain
SPANISH 3281, Introduction to Hispanic Literature: Spanish America

and four courses at the 4000-level, one of which must be:SPANISH 4399, Seminar on Hispanic Literature

The following courses are also strongly recommended:

FRENCH 2110, Modern French Literature in Translation, or 2150, European Literature in Translation: Special Topics
HIST 4355, History of Spain
HIST 4371, History of Latin America : to 1808
HIST 4372, History of Latin America : Since 1808
POL SCI 3253, Political Systems of South America
POL SCI 3254, Political Systems of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Learning outcomes for Majors
The Bachelor of Arts in French and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish prepare students to become knowledgeable about the cultures and cultural patterns that identify the speakers of these languages, and to study the literatures that have been recorded by these peoples as their reflections on values and views of the human condition.

Upon completion of the lower division courses, students will:

Upon completion of the upper division courses, students will:

Specific Requirements for the Minor
A minor in French, German, or Spanish requires the completion of four courses in the language beyond the basic foundation sequence (Language 1001, Language 1002, and Language 2101. Transfer students must complete at least two courses for the minor at UMSL. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

French
FRENCH 2102, Intermediate French Language and Culture II
FRENCH 2180, Readings in French
Plus two French courses on the 3000-level or above.

German
GERMAN 2170, Composition and Conversation
GERMAN 2180, Readings in German
Plus two German courses on the 3000-level or above.

Spanish
Two of the three
SPANISH 2171, Conversation and Pronunciation
SPANISH 2172, Composition
SPANISH 2180, Readings in Spanish
Plus two Spanish courses on the 3000-level or above.

Students pursuing a graduate degree in secondary education may select an emphasis area in French, German, or Spanish. These required eighteen hours may be selected from 3000 and 4000 level courses in these languages.

Certificate in Foreign Language and Study Abroad
Students seeking the certificate must complete language courses at UMSL and abroad. The Center for International Studies and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures cooperate in offering the Certificate.

1) Foreign language study at UMSL

Students must select one of the following languages and complete the required courses at UMSL. Total: 6 credit hours.
A. French
FRENCH 2102, Intermediate French Language and Culture II
FRENCH 2180, Readings in French
B. German
GERMAN 2170, Composition and Conversation
GERMAN 2180, Readings in German
C. Spanish
SPANISH 2172, Spanish Composition
SPANISH 2180, Readings in Spanish

2) Foreign language study abroad

Students must complete two additional three credit hour courses, in language or literature, taught in the same target language selected above, at a foreign university that is affiliated with the UMSL Study Abroad Program, towards the goal of increasing competence in the target language. Total: 6 credit hours. All courses must be approved by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Students should consult the study abroad advisor in the Center for International Studies to select a site for their study abroad experience. Then, students should consult their advisor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures to select appropriate courses.

Minor in Applied Spanish
An applied minor in Spanish may be earned by completing five courses in Spanish beginning with Spanish 2101 or its equivalent. These courses need to be completed with a C- or better. Transfer students must complete at least two courses for the Applied Minor at UMSL. After Spanish 2101, students must complete the following courses in Spanish:

SPANISH 2171, Conversation and Pronunciation
SPANISH 2172, Composition

One of the following courses:
SPANISH 3200, Syntax, of the Spanish Language
SPANISH 3210, Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Spain
SPANISH 3211, Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Spanish America
SPANISH 3271, Advanced Spanish Conversation
Plus
SPANISH 3215, Practicum in Spanish

Career Outlook

Graduates with a foreign language degree may elect to enter the fields of teaching, business, journalism, communications, or government, or to pursue advanced degrees in their specialty. It is especially recommended that students consider a double major or another discipline and a language. A language then becomes an asset that makes graduates more adaptable to the demands of international communication in their second major discipline and hence more competitive and marketable upon completion of the B.A. degree.