Requirements & Courses

The World Languages and Cultures (WLC) Department offers several kinds of majors. Students can pursue traditional language majors in French (FRN), German (GRM), or Spanish (SPN), each of which requires a semester study abroad.

WLC also offers two additional majors that do not require study abroad: WLC Single Language and Culture and WLC Dual Languages and Cultures.

36 credits which must include: 

1. Declaration of a concentration in one Target Language (FRN, GRM, or SPN);
2. Successful completion of WLC 101;
3. Students should be aware that a maximum of 10 credits (including WLC 101) may be taken wherein the primary language of instruction is English; courses must be pre-approved by WLC department.
4. Of the minimum 26 credits in the target language, no more than 4 credits from the 100 level may count towards the major, and a minimum of 12 credits must be upper-level coursework.
5. Study in a country where the target language is spoken is highly recommended.
6. Language Proficiency must be demonstrated by taking an approved external proficiency exam. Majors are expected to perform at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Intermediate-High proficiency level (as averaged across the four skills listening, speaking, reading, writing).
7. Students will write and defend in open forum an acceptable paper of moderate length in the target language reflecting on their language and culture study, study abroad experience (if applicable), and how the role of language and culture combines with the mission of a liberal arts education. Details and linguistic expectations will be determined in consultation with WLC faculty.

Thirty-six credits which must include: 

1. Declaration of a concentration in two (or more) target languages (CHN, FRN, GRM, or SPN).
2. Complete at least 4 credits of 300 level coursework in both languages;
3. Successful completion of WLC 101;
4. Students should be aware that a maximum of 10 credits (including WLC 101) may be taken wherein the primary language of instruction is English; courses must be pre-approved by WLC department.
5. Of the minimum 26 credits in the target languages, no more than 4 credits from the 100 level may count towards the major.
6. Study in a country where each target language is spoken is highly recommended.
7. Language Proficiency must be demonstrated by taking an approved external proficiency exam. Majors are expected to perform at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Intermediate-Mid level (averaged across the four skills listening, speaking, reading, writing) in both languages.
8. Students will write and defend in open forum an acceptable paper of moderate length reflecting on their languages and cultural study, study abroad experience (if applicable), and how the role of language and culture combines with the mission of a liberal arts education. Details and linguistic expectations will be determined in consultation with WLC faculty.

Department Honors may be achieved in the World Languages and Cultures Department by:

1. Having a 3.5 GPA in all classes applied to the major,
2. Performing beyond minimum requirements on the Language Exam portion of the Departmental Comprehensive Evaluation, and
3. Presenting a senior thesis of honors caliber.

Advanced Credit in a second language may be earned by:

1. Scoring at the 4 level or higher on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam.
2. Successfully completing the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) HL exam with a score of 5.