The objective of a major in French, Spanish or Romance Languages is to develop advanced language skills and to provide a broad and deep understanding of diverse literary and cultural traditions of French- and Spanish-speaking countries. In upper-division classes, the aim is to develop analytical and writing skills along with oral proficiency through intensive critical study of literary texts, Francophone and Hispanic literature, cinema, culture and history.

To foster an awareness of a culture different from one’s own, departmental courses are often interdisciplinary in approach, introducing art and music, historical background, social, philosophical and political issues, and other cultural concerns. Many are cross-listed with the programs in Gender and Women’s Studies, Chicano Studies, Latin American Studies and Media Studies. Many courses make extensive use of multimedia. The department also works closely with the Study Abroad Program.

Majors in French, Spanish and Romance Languages have served in the Peace Corps., accepted prestigious fellowships (Watson, Fulbright, etc.) and gone on to a wide variety of careers in medicine, law, business, government, allied health care, university and secondary school education and more. The ability to speak a foreign language and the knowledge of another culture are highly prized by employers and lead to a significant degree of satisfaction in the workplace and in one’s personal life.

The major in French is designed to assist students in achieving a superior level of linguistic fluency in French and cultural competency through the study of French literature and culture. Students majoring in French are required to complete major requirements and senior exercises as described below. They are also expected to participate in the Study Abroad Program for a semester and to reside in Oldenborg Center for one year (usually their second year).

Upon graduation, French majors should be able to achieve the following objectives:

1. demonstrate advanced competence in written and spoken French.
2. demonstrate the ability to read critically, interpret analytically, and write     coherently about texts produced in the French-speaking world:
a. identify literary figures and devices and describe their function.
b. compare and contrast analyses and interpretations of different literary and cultural texts.
3. identify and evaluate the specific nature of a wide array of literary genres.
4. demonstrate familiarity with basic critical methodological approaches in the study of these genres, such as close reading, socio-historical contextualization, and literary, political, psychoanalytic and cultural theory
5. demonstrate knowledge of literary and cultural traditions, such as major movements, writers, and works of France and the French-speaking world
6. produce a senior thesis/paper with a clear thesis statement, a logical structure, appropriate evidence and persuasive analysis.
7. demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of scholarly research and writing
a. locate, evaluate and incorporate material relevant to the research project.
b. present the bibliography in proper scholarly format.
8. articulate an argument in an effective and convincing manner in formal spoken French

. The major in Spanish is designed to assist students in achieving a superior level of linguistic fluency in Spanish as well as cultural competency through the study of the very finest literary production and the complex histories and cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries of Spain and Latin America, and of the Spanish-speaking communities of the United States. Students majoring in Spanish are required to complete major requirements and senior exercises as described below. They are also expected to participate in the Study Abroad Program and to reside in Oldenborg Center for one year.

Upon graduation, Spanish majors should be able to:

1. demonstrate advanced competence in written and spoken Spanish.
2. demonstrate the ability to read critically, interpret analytically, and write coherently about both verbal and visual texts produced in the Spanish-speaking world:
a. identify literary figures and devices and describe their function.
b. compare and contrast analyses and interpretations of different literary and cultural texts.
3. identify and evaluate the specific nature of a wide array of literary genres.
4. recognize basic critical methodological approaches in the study of these genres, such as close reading, socio-historical contextualization, and literary and cultural theory.
5. demonstrate knowledge of literary and cultural traditions, such as major movements, writers, and works of the Spanish-speaking world, focusing on atleast one and ideally multiple traditions: Spanish American, Spanish and US/Latino literary cultures.
6. produce a senior thesis/paper with a clear thesis statement, a logical structure, appropriate evidence and persuasive analysis.
7. demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of scholarly research and writing ,a. locate, evaluate and incorporate material relevant to the research project.
b. present the bibliography in proper scholarly format.
8. articulate an argument in an effective and convincing manner in formal spoken Spanish.

The major in Romance Languages is designed to assist students in achieving an advanced level of linguistic fluency in both French and Spanish through the study of the very finest literary production and the complex histories and cultures of the French- and Spanish-speaking worlds. Students majoring in Romance Languages are required to complete major requirements and senior exercises as described in the college catalog, selecting either French or Spanish for the primary language of the senior exercises. They are also expected to participate in the Study Abroad Program and to reside in Oldenborg Center for one year.

Upon graduation, Romance Languages majors should be able to:

1. demonstrate advanced competence in written and spoken French and Spanish.
2. demonstrate the ability to read critically, interpret analytically, and write coherently about texts produced in the Spanish- and French-speaking worlds:
a. identify literary figures and devices and describe their function.
b. compare and contrast analyses and interpretations of different literary and cultural texts.
3. identify and evaluate the specific nature of a wide array of literary genres.
4. demonstrate familiarity with basic critical methodological approaches in the study of these genres, such as close reading, socio-historical contextualization, and literary, political, psychoanalytic and cultural theory
5. demonstrate knowledge of literary and cultural traditions, such as major movements, writers, and works of both French and Spanish-speaking worlds.
6. produce a senior thesis/paper with a clear thesis statement, a logical structure, appropriate evidence and persuasive analysis.
7. demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of scholarly research and writing a. locate, evaluate and incorporate material relevant to the research project .
b. present the bibliography in proper scholarly format.
8. articulate an argument in an effective and convincing manner in formal spoken French or Spanish.