Department of Modern Languages

Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts
Office 251, Phone: (270) 745-2401, Fax: (270) 745-6859
Website: www.wku.edu/modernlanguages
e-mail: mailto:modern.languages@wku.edu

Professors: K. Egloff, M. Stewart
Associate Professors: N. Love, L. McGee, I. Pertusa
Assistant Professors: S. Lenk
Instructors: E. Cuisinier, S. Davis, J. Eller, E. Maestre, G. Obeso, B. Phelps, T. Straubel

Through coursework, experience abroad, community outreach activities, and other cultural encounters, the department of Modern Languages cultivates communicative skills and cultural awareness that prepare students at Western Kentucky University to be more knowledgeable and sensitive citizens of the global community. The Department’s goals are to deliver high-quality language instruction based on nationally-recognized standards, to contribute actively to cross-disciplinary international initiatives on campus, and to graduate majors and minors who are prepared for advanced study in language and literature and whose language skills provide enhanced opportunities for careers at the regional, national, and international levels.

Language students may join French, German, or Spanish language clubs and may also be elected for membership in chapters of national language honor societies. They may attend international films, interact with exchange students, take part in community or regional outreach activities, and enjoy the benefits of multi-media enhanced instruction. The department also strongly encourages students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. Students can earn credit toward majors and minors through participation in the programs of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies, the department exchange with the State College of Education in Vienna, Austria, and other approved programs.

When planning programs of study in this department, students should be aware of the University’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the subsections in the chapter entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) General Education Requirements, and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Students should be aware that some academic programs may require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the department head.

Policy Statements on Foreign Language placement and credit for advanced placement
(Contact department by phone [270-745-2401] or by e-mail [modern.languages@wku.edu] for further information.)

1. Placement Policy for students intending to major or minor in the language:
   The Modern Languages program strongly recommends that students with good language skills in French, German, or Spanish and those who plan to major or minor in one of these languages after having studied it previously, take the CLEP examination or the on-line department placement exam (see below) to insure correct placement. They may also want to speak with the department head or the department advisor about their placement to insure that they progress through their program of study as smoothly as possible.



2. Placement Policy for purposes of general education:
   Students enrolling as first-time, degree-seeking college students in summer 2004 or after must fulfill the foreign language general education requirement of “proficiency at the second-semester level.” They can do this by successfully taking a 102 (second-semester of first year) course, by taking a department exam for 102, by gaining appropriate CLEP or AP credit, or by placing into and successfully passing a course at the intermediate (201 or 202) level or higher. Students who began their college studies in the summer of 2004 or after and wish to continue a language that they studied for 2 or more years in high school must begin that language at the 102 level or higher. Other students who want to begin the study of a new language in order to fulfill the general education requirements should enroll in the first-semester course of that language.

   Students who enrolled as first-time, degree-seeking college students prior to the summer of 2004 must fulfill the foreign language general education requirement of proficiency at the first-semester level. They can do this by successfully taking a 101 or first-semester of first year course.




3. On-line Placement Test:
   The placement tests in French, German, and Spanish are available on the Web and may be taken at any time convenient for the student. It only takes a few minutes to take the exam on-line. The score will be sent automatically to the student and to the Modern Language Department at WKU. On the basis of the score earned, the student can be placed at the appropriate language level. It is important that the student enroll in the designated course as soon upon entering WKU as possible in order to capitalize on existing language skills. See the department web site for instructions on how to access the examination site.

For information on verified credit, AP credit, or CLEP credit, go to the Modern Languages website at this address: www.wku.edu/modernlanguages and click on Placement.

Modern Languages
For timely completion of the majors in French, German, or Spanish, students should consult the four-year degree plans for each major, posted at the Modern Languages web site at this address: www.wku.edu/modernlanguages.

Major in French
Thirty-six semester hours are required in this major (reference number 665). Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit. Study abroad is strongly recommended. A minor or second major is required. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward the major.

Required core courses: (24 hours)

• FREN 101, 102, 201, 202
• FREN 320 French Grammar & Composition –or—FREN 420 Advanced French Composition & Stylistics
• FREN 321 French Conversation –or—FREN 421 Advanced French Conversation
• FREN 323 French Civilization & Culture
• Upper-division literature course
• Elective courses: At least four courses at the 300- or 400-level for a total (including the core courses) of 36 or more credit hours.

Major in German
Thirty-six semester hours are required in this major (reference number 683). Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit. Study abroad is strongly recommended. A minor or second major is required. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward the major.

Required core courses: (18 hours)

• GERM 101, 102, 201, 202
• GERM 330 German Composition & Conversation
• GERM 335 Contemporary Culture & Civilization
• Elective courses: At least six courses at the 300- or 400-level for a total (including the core courses) of 36 or more credit hours.

Major in Spanish
Thirty-six semester hours are required in this major (reference number 778). Some of the required course work may be accomplished through CLEP or AP credit. Study abroad is strongly recommended. A minor or second major is required. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this major.

Required core courses: (24 hours)

• SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202
• SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation
• SPAN 371 Spanish Composition & Grammar
• SPAN 372 Latin American Civ & Culture –or—SPAN 373 Spanish Civ & Culture
• SPAN 374 Literature & Culture of Spain –or—SPAN 376 Lit & Culture of Latin America
• Elective courses: At least four Spanish courses at the 300- or 400-level for a total (including the core courses) of 36 or more credit hours.

Teacher Certification
Students interested in teacher certification in French, German, or Spanish should meet with the Modern Languages Academic Advisor as early in their academic career as possible for information on current program requirements. World Language teachers in Kentucky may be eligible for interest forgiveness on student loans.

Professional Education Coursework: Required for Certification in French, German, & Spanish

All students seeking teacher certification must take the official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) given by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

Major in French with Teacher Certification
Required core courses:

• FREN 101, 102 (or equivalent)
• FREN 201, 202
• FREN 320 French Grammar and Composition or FREN 420 Advanced French Composition and Stylistics
• FREN 323 French Civilization and Culture
• FREN 421 Advanced French Conversation
• Upper-division literature course

Total credit hours in required core courses:   24
Elective courses: Four French courses at the 300-or 400-level for a total (including the required courses) of 36 or more credit hours. 12
Total required hours in French: 36

Major in German with Teacher Certification
Required core courses:

• GERM 101, 102 (or equivalent)
• GERM 201, 202
• GERM 314
• GERM 330 German Composition and Conversation
• GERM 335 Contemporary Culture and Civilization
• GERM 430

Total credit hours in required core courses :   24
Elective courses:
Four German courses at the 300- or 400-level for a total (including the core courses) of 36 or more credit hours. 12
Total required hours in German: 36

Major in Spanish with Teacher Certification
Required core courses:

• SPAN 101 and 102 (or equivalent)
• SPAN 201 and 202
• SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation
• SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar
• SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture
• SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America
• SPAN 470 Advanced Oral Spanish

Minor in French

The minor in French (reference number 365) requires a minimum of 30 semester hours. The following courses must be completed (or equivalent CLEP or AP credit earned) in order to complete requirements for the undergraduate minor in French. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this minor.

Required core courses:

• FREN 101, 102
• FREN 201, 202
• FREN 320 French Grammar and Composition or FREN 420 Advanced French Composition and Stylistics
• FREN 321 French Conversation or FREN 421 Advanced French Conversation
• FREN 323 French Civilization and Culture

Minor in German
The minor in German (reference number 380) requires a minimum of 30 semester courses. The following courses must be completed (or equivalent CLEP or AP credit earned) in order to complete requirements for the undergraduate minor in German. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this minor.

Required core courses:

• GERM 101, 102
• GERM 201, 202
• GERM 330 German Composition and Conversation
• GERM 335 Contemporary Culture and Civilization

Minor in Spanish
The minor in Spanish (reference number 464) requires a minimum of 30 semester courses. The following courses must be completed (or equivalent CLEP or AP credit earned) in order to complete requirements for the undergraduate minor in Spanish. No course with a grade of “D” or below may be counted toward this minor.

Required core courses:

• SPAN 101 and 102 (or equivalent)
• SPAN 201 and 202
• SPAN 370 Spanish Conversation
• SPAN 371 Spanish Composition and Grammar
• SPAN 372 Latin American Civilization and Culture or SPAN 373 Spanish Civilization and Culture
• SPAN 374 Literature and Culture of Spain or SPAN 376 Literature and Culture of Latin America

Total credit hours in required core courses: 24
Elective courses: Choose at least two courses at the 300- or 400-level for a total (including the core courses) of 30 or more credit hours. 6
Total required hours: 30

Graduate Degree Programs
Inquiries about the master’s degrees in teaching foreign languages should be addressed to the Department  Head of the Department of Modern Languages (270/745-2401,modern.languages@wku.edu).

International Study Opportunities
WKU students may enroll for short-term, summer, quarter, semester or year abroad programs at study centers abroad and have that coursework transferred back to WKU and credited to their Modern Language major. The Department particularly recommends the KIIS (Kentucky Institute for International Studies) programs and (for German students) the Department’s direct exchange with the State College of Education in Vienna, Austria. See the international programs section of this publication for more information. The Department offers several scholarships and awards annually intended primarily to assist students who study abroad.