The Department of Modern Languages offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in French and Spanish. The French or Spanish graduates will: be knowledgeable in the subject area; demonstrate good abilities in the active skills (reading, speaking, listening, writing) of the language they are studying; reach a level of cultural awareness that allows sensitivity to the different manifestations of culture in the countries where each language is spoken; utilize those skills and knowledge gained from modern language, cultural, and literary studies to develop a critical mind, to analyze objectively and to synthesize clearly; utilize those skills and knowledge from modern language study necessary to be aware of the meaning of the international community and to appreciate the international nature of social, political, and economic decisions.
The Pennsylvania University System offers Junior Year Abroad programs in a variety of non-English speaking countries. The Shippensburg University study abroad advisor can place you in one of these locations. During the year there are optional fieldtrips to Washington, D.C., and other metropolitan areas to attend regional or national language association meetings, to see foreign language plays or movies, and to visit consulates and embassies. Independent study provides the opportunity to do graduate-level research in a topic of your choice, working with a faculty specialist in that area. Internships are available as well as opportunities to tutor peers or local high school students. There are occasional opportunities for highly-qualified students to translate for local businesses.
The Modern Languages Department, located in Shippen Hall, has a 35-position language laboratory for both classroom sessions and for individualized work. Should you with to study classroom material in your own room, a cassette copier will duplicate the original tape. In Shippen Hall and in the Ezra Lehman Memorial Library, Shippensburg University maintains an excellent collection of books, maps, tapes, records, slides, filmstrips, and films on the language, literature, and culture of foreign countries.
The Language Club brings guest speakers and foreign films to campus, publishes a multilingual newsletter, plans trips to nearby cities that offer other language events, and provides a social and cultural milieu in which you can get the most from you language studies. The International Students’ Club develops and fosters interaction between Shippensburg University’s international and American students. Club activities help you attain a greater appreciation for the cultures of other countries. Members of the modern language faculty have spent a great amount of time living, studying, and traveling in countries whose languages they teach. Courses range from those for beginners to those for students who are adept in a language. Your faculty advisor will find the courses that best match your command of a language.
Students who earn the B.A. degree with secondary certification in modern languages usually enter secondary school teaching or go on to graduate school to earn an advanced degree. You can increase you job opportunities by earning certification in more than one language or in more than one academic area (French-Spanish, Spanish-English). With a B.A. degree your career options multiply: you can use your skills in speaking, reading, and writing a modern language in such careers as foreign service, international business, communications (particularly in bilingual regions of the country), science, travel/tourism, airlines work, translation and interpretation, and United Nations or Peace Corps work. It is advisable, however, to take a second major or a minor in a professional field where facility with a foreign language is advantageous.
Required (21 credits)
|
FRN150 |
French Civilization |
3 credits |
|
FRN200 |
Introduction to Reading |
3 |
|
FRN202 |
Intermediate French Conversation |
3 |
|
FRN308 |
Diction and Comprehension |
3 |
|
FRN309 |
French Grammar |
3 |
|
FRN316 |
Composition and Stylistics |
3 |
|
FRN317 |
Readings in French Literature |
3 |
Restricted Electives (12 crs.)
Required Professional Education Courses (if planning to teach French*) (33 crs.)
|
TCH205 |
The American School |
3 credits |
|
TCH310 |
Educational Psychology |
3 |
|
EEC411 |
Introduction to Exceptionality |
3 |
|
or |
|
|
|
PSY355 |
Psychology of the Exceptional Child |
3 |
|
EDU326 |
Teaching of Foreign Language |
6 |
|
EDU495 |
Student Teaching and Professional Practicum |
15 |
|
RDG329 |
Reading in the Content Areas |
3 |
*Other requirements for teacher certification are available from the Department of Modern Languages.
Students planning to teach French will find it to their advantage to work for dual certification in two modern languages, a modern language and English, or a modern language and another field. To achieve dual certification a student must have the approval of both departments involved, follow an approved course of studies in the specialty areas, take the appropriate methods courses, and complete student teaching in both fields.
Required Spanish (27 crs.)
|
SPN150 |
Spanish Civilization and Culture |
3 credits |
|
SPN200 |
Introduction to Reading and Translation |
3 |
|
SPN202 |
Intermediate Spanish Conversation |
3 |
|
SPN302 |
Advanced Spanish Conversation |
3 |
|
SPN309 |
Spanish Phonetics |
3 |
|
SPN312 |
Spanish Grammar |
3 |
|
SPN313 |
Advanced Composition and Stylistics |
3 |
|
SPN360 |
Masterpieces of Spanish Literature |
3 |
|
SPN361 |
Masterpieces of Spanish American literature |
3 |
Required Spanish Elective (3 crs.)
SPN400 or SPN490 or one course on a Latin American topic taught outside the department or ETH102.
Restricted Spanish Electives (6 crs.)
Required Professional Education Courses (if planning to teach Spanish*) (33 crs.)
|
TCH205 |
The American School |
3 credits |
|
TCH310 |
Educational Psychology |
3 |
|
EEC411 |
Introduction to Exceptionality |
3 |
|
or |
|
|
|
PSY355 |
Psychology of the Exceptional Child |
3 |
|
EDU326 |
Teaching of Foreign Language |
6 |
|
EDU495 |
Student Teaching and Professional Practicum |
15 |
|
RDG329 |
Reading in the Content Areas |
3 |
*Other requirements for teacher certification are available from the Department of Modern Languages.
Dual Certification Spanish and Another Field
Students planning to teach Spanish will find it to their advantage to work for dual certification in two modern languages, a modern language and English, or a modern language and another field. To achieve dual certification a student must have the approval of both departments involved, follow an approved course of studies in the specialty areas, take the appropriate methods courses, and complete student teaching in both fields.