Modern Languages Modern Languages

Requirements for Majors and Minors

The modern languages major is available as a bachelor of arts degree only.

The Department of Modern Languages offers coursework in seven distinct concentrations:

American Sign Language (MLSL)
Japanese (MLJP)
Chinese (MLCH)
Latin (MLLA)
French and Francophone Studies
Spanish (MLSP) (MLFR, MLFA)
German (MLGR)

Courses that serve all language concentrations are labeled MDLA.

For a major in German, Japanese or Spanish: 40 credits in language courses numbered 202 and above, including MDLA 380 and 483 (Advanced Cross-Cultural Seminar). By departmental invitation, students may substitute MLFR/MLGR/MLSP 490 (Honor Thesis) for 483.

For a French Studies major: 40 credits in language courses numbered 202 and above, including MDLA 380 and MLFR 483 or 490, and 485.

For all French Studies, German, Japanese and Spanish majors: Two semesters of study abroad are required, normally yielding at least 20 of the 40 required credits. For entering students who place into a 300-level course, the department will waive four of the 40 credits required for the major.

Candidates for the major who have spent a year abroad before coming to Linfield may need to study only one more semester in a foreign country. This depends on their proficiency and placement when entering Linfield, which must be determined by the Linfield language faculty.

In order to facilitate the advising process for study abroad, students are urged to make their tentative plans for a language major or minor known to the faculty as soon as possible.

German Studies: The German Studies major and minor aim to foster in students the integrative perspective of a range of academic disciplines from the arts and humanities and the social sciences. Central to the German Studies program are cooperation and collaboration among departments, the insistence on a high level of German language proficiency, a significant study abroad experience (at least one semester), and the opportunity for an internship abroad.

For a major in German Studies: 40 credits including MLGR 202; 311; 212/312; 301; 302; MDLA 483 or MLGR 490; four years of German, or equivalent level of proficiency (ACTFL Intermediate High); and 9-12 credits taken abroad. One semester or more of study abroad or possible internship.
For a minor in German Studies: 27 credits including MLGR 202; 212/312; 301 and 9-12 credits taken abroad. One semester or more of study abroad or internship.

For a concentration in Francophone African Studies within the major in French and Francophone Studies: 46 credits in courses numbered 202 and above, including MLFA 230 & 240; MLFR 301 & 302; MDLA 380; MDLA 483 or MLFR 490 (Honor Thesis – by departmental invitation only); MLFA 486; and 2 additional courses taught in English by other departments on campus (see below) or at Gaston Berger in Senegal. Courses with a significant content related to Africa or people of African descent include: AAVC 210; ANTH 111; ENGL 305, 365; HIST 123, 125, 318; MUSC 080, 253; SOAN 265; courses with the same theoretical framework as African Studies (Postcolonial Studies, Gender Studies, Postmodern Studies, etc.) or that can be used as a background to understand African realities include: EDUC 302; PHIL 430 (if topic pertains to African Studies); PSYC 452; POLS 210, 370, 384; RELS 140, 310. Two semesters of study in Senegal are required, normally yielding at least 16 of the 46 required credits. For entering students who place at the 300 level, the department will waive four of the 46 credits required for the major. Candidates for the major who have spent at least year in a Francophone African country other than Senegal before coming to Linfield may need to study only one semester in Senegal. This depends on their French language proficiency and placement when entering Linfield, which must be determined by the French faculty.

For a minor in Francophone African Studies within the major in French and Francophone Studies: 23 credits including MLFR 202 and 301; MLFA 230 or MLFA 240; one course from another department from among approved courses on campus; and 9 credits taken abroad.

For entering students who place at the 300 level, the department will waive four of the 23 credits required for the minor. All students must take a foreign language course at the 300 level on the home campus after their semester abroad.

For a minor (French Studies, German, Japanese or Spanish): 20 credits in courses numbered 202 and above. For entering students who place into a 300-level course, the department will waive four of the 20 credits required for the minor. (The courses taken abroad in August do not count toward the minor.) For the minor, up to twelve credits may be available depending on program offerings in Austria, Costa Rica, Mexico, or France; and 10 in Japan. These credits must deal with the literature, culture, and/or language of the host country. One semester abroad is required for the minor. All students must take a foreign language course at the 300 level on the home campus after their semester abroad. Please note that in cases where this is not possible a student may take two 300 level courses prior to the semester abroad.

Completion of at least the second semester of intermediate study of an appropriate language is required for Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, or European Studies minors (see International Studies) and for the major in International Business and the major in Intercultural Communication.

Placement: Students who participate in the semester abroad after 102 will normally be placed into 202 upon their return.

All individual programs for majors and minors, including course selection for the junior year abroad, are approved only after close consultation with the Linfield language faculty. Because language study embraces many disciplines, language majors and minors are encouraged to complement their study of other cultures with courses in history and the humanities. All language students are encouraged to consider a minor in Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, or European Studies. A maximum of two courses (six credits total) may count toward a language major or minor and an Asian, Latin American, or European Studies minor.

For Oregon Initial Teaching Licensure in French, German, or Spanish, a student must complete the Linfield Teacher Education Program and the State of Oregon licensure requirements. In order to complete these requirements, a student must begin taking education courses no later then his/her sophomore year. The student must be advised by an Education Department faculty member each semester prior to registration.

Study Abroad

For information about Linfield’s semester abroad programs in Austria, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Senegal, and Mexico, see the section on International Programs in this catalog.

Because majors studying abroad take courses in the host language, they should complete course work up to and including the 301 level before undertaking foreign study.

Proficiency Goals

The ACTFL target levels referred to in the course descriptions below are those proficiency levels described in detail in the Proficiency Guidelines developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. These target levels imply a median performance in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Teaching in elementary and intermediate courses is proficiency-based, i.e. with a practical orientation and not a theoretical one.