Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Department Head: Fernandez-Medina
Professors: Fernandez-Medina, Hellin-Garcia, Skow, Toubiana, Urroz,
Associate Professors: Emm, Roca-Martinez, Segle, Strobbe
Assistant Professors: Gomis-Izquierdo, Mendez, Tsai

Proficiency in modern languages, a component of traditional liberal-arts schooling, has become a vital asset in today’s global society and economy. The ability to communicate effectively with the billions of non-English speakers in the realms of commerce, government, science, and the arts serves crucial national interests. Cultural sensitivity, heightened through language study, furthers our relations with the world.

The modern language courses in the General Education curriculum cultivate four basic skills-reading, writing, listening, and speaking-with emphasis on communicative proficiency. The language minor enhances competence in the basic skills and allows for specialization in business practice, contemporary society, or literature. The language major hones fluency and imparts a detailed knowledge of life and letters.

Students may pursue a B.A. in Modern Languages in French, German, or Spanish. The major is most flexible and has proven a sound preparation for coveted duty assignments, choice career opportunities in both public and private sectors, and graduate study in intelligence, business, law, or medicine. Students who excel are eligible for induction into the following national honor societies: Pi Delta Phi (French), Delta Phi Alpha (German), and Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish).

Plan of Undergraduate Major

Thirty hours of coursework in the language of the student’s major starting at 201 or higher, whichever is more advanced, are required for the major. These include 201, 202, 301, 302, and at least one 400-level course. In addition, students must engage in one of the following high-impact “Signature Experiences”: Study Abroad (203, 204, 390, or 391), an Internship (numbers differ by language), a Capstone Course in the Major (MLNG 499) or an additional 400-level course in the language of the major. The remaining twelve hours must be selected from the non-sequenced courses in the major language (300- and 400-level). Up to 9 credit hours towards the major may be earned in an approved study abroad program.

Language students pursuing a double major will have the opportunity to count 1 course (3 credit hours) from another department, which should be related to the history, civilization, or culture of the target language in which the student is majoring. The course must be approved by the Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Therefore, after completion of the core-curriculum language requirement, at least 27 credit hours (9 courses) must be taken from the language major, and 3 credit hours (1 course) may be taken from outside the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Credit and Scholarships for Study Abroad

The Citadel currently offers study-abroad programs in French, German, and Spanish. Credit may be granted for courses in French, German, and Spanish taken abroad at other schools during the summer or the regular school year. The Albert E. Gurganus Summer Stipend ($1,000), the Deutscher Brüderlicher Bund Scholarship ($1,500), and the John Alexander Summer Scholarship ($2,000) assist qualified German majors with summer-study projects in Europe. Monetary awards sponsored by the American Society of the French Legion of Honor may be available for qualified French majors and minors participating in The Citadel’s Summer Study in France. Students who wish to study language abroad will be expected to show evidence of competence in the language classes they have completed. Such work must have prior approval from the Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

The study-abroad program in Chinese, Project Global Officer (Project GO) in Taiwan, is fully funded by the Department of Defense for successful applicants who are cadets and midshipmen in the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy (including Marine option) ROTC programs.

Students with Prior Chinese Language Experience

Students who have prior experience in learning Chinese and want to enroll in Chinese at The Citadel must contact the Chinese Program Director Dr. Tsai (ytsai@citadel.edu) to take a placement interview.

Programs

Majors

Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Major

Concentrations

Minors

Chinese, French, German, or Spanish Minor

Courses

Japanese

JAPN 101/102 - Intensive Introduction to Japanese I and II

Modern Languages

Language and literature courses numbered 300 and above in a given language have, unless otherwise stated, 202 or 204 in that language as a prerequisite.