Degrees

Language Requirements

BA in Language and Culture

Language and Culture Options

Minors

Teacher Licensing

French Courses

German Courses

Japanese Courses

Spanish Courses

Foreign Languages and Literatures

Churchill 250
541-552-6435
Daniel Morris, Chair

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers courses and degree options in French, German, and Spanish. The courses range from beginning language instruction to the study of literature, linguistics, and culture at the graduate level. First- and second-year instruction is also available in Japanese.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, a student may earn a basic teaching license in French, German, or Spanish at the secondary level through the Education Department’s Master of Arts in Teaching. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers graduate coursework toward this interdisciplinary master’s degree in education.

Degrees

Minors

Language Requirements

Southern Oregon Foreign Language Proficiency Program

High school students may obtain SOU foreign language credit through the Southern Oregon Foreign Language Proficiency Program, sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and the Southern Oregon Foreign Language Articulation (SOFLA) project. Only approved schools and teachers are allowed to participate in the program. To receive the credit, students must be high school seniors enrolled in an advanced (third, fourth, or fifth year) high school language program. These students must successfully pass an Oral Proficiency Interview administered by a certified tester of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and demonstrate writing proficiency through the SOFLA writing proficiency exam based on the ACTFL scale. The following credits will be awarded:

1. 101, 102 for scores equivalent to novice high on the ACTFL scale in both speaking and writing;
   
2. 101, 102, 103 for scores equivalent to intermediate low on the ACTFL scale in both speaking and writing; or
   
3. 101, 102, 103 and 201, 202 for scores equivalent to intermediate mid on the ACTFL scale in both speaking and writing.
   

Students planning to enroll at SOU who place at the intermediate mid level on both assessments may receive additional credit for 203 upon recommendation of their high school teacher and successful completion of a 300-level class at SOU.

BA in Language and Culture

A language and culture major with an option in French, German, or Spanish prepares students for a variety of careers in which cultural understanding, international or community-based work experience, and practical application of a second language play a significant role. The language and culture major is also an excellent complement to a second major in many fields. It adds valuable foreign language and cultural competency and international or multicultural experience to knowledge in other disciplines, preparing students for careers in government or civil service, law enforcement, health and human services, travel and tourism, and entrepreneurial business. The degree also offers options that prepare students for graduate work in the language, literature, and culture of their concentration, as well as in linguistics, comparative literature, cultural studies, international studies, international business, teaching, and law.

The language and culture major enables intermediate to advanced students to maximize their competency in language skills and cultural proficiency by focusing on communication, practical applications, research and analysis, language fluency, and cultural knowledge and understanding. Two language and culture options equip undergraduates with varying skills to reach their potential language and culture proficiency levels. Option A: International Residency/Internship requires a three-month foreign residency and a ten-week work internship completed abroad. Option B: Integrated Skills requires additional coursework and a 120- to 150-hour community-based or foreign work experience with either a multicultural or an international component; the work experience may be completed locally or abroad.

The language and culture major is also designed to increase students’ preparedness to enter the work world. To this end, both options require the student to complete a minor or a second major in another field.

Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program

Language and culture majors may participate in the University’s Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program. For information on this program, see page 160.

Admission to the Major

To be admitted to the language and culture baccalaureate program, students must have:

1. Completed two years of college-level French, German, or Spanish or the equivalent;
   
2. Attained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in all coursework;
   
3. Attained a cumulative GPA of a least 3.0 in all coursework in the language option chosen; and
   
4. Demonstrated an oral proficiency level equivalent to intermediate mid on the scale published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
   

Requirements for Major

Students in all languages and options must complete the following minimum requirements:

1. All core curriculum and baccalaureate degree requirements as stated beginning on page 15.
   
2. A core of cultural credits (8 credits).
   
3. Interdisciplinary electives in related fields (8 upper division credits).
   
4. A set of language-specific core credits (20 credits).
   
5. All language electives for either Option A: International Residency/Internship or Option B: Integrated Skills.
   
6. A culture-specific work experience (4–6 credits).
   
7. A capstone project (2–4 credits).
   
8. A minor or a second major.
   
9. The research paper requirement, which must be met by completing Fr 316, GL 413 or 415, and Span 312 or 415 in courses on the SOU campus in Ashland.
   
10. A minimum 3.0 GPA in all upper division coursework in the language of specialization.
    
11. At least 16 of the major credits must be completed in courses offered on the SOU campus in Ashland (excluding the capstone and internship/work experience). At least 8 of these credits must be at the 400 level. Contact the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department for specific courses that must be taken on the Ashland campus to meet individual language option requirements.
    
12. A senior interview (no credit). During the final quarter of their program, students must complete a senior interview to determine oral proficiency with a faculty member other than their advisor.
    

Note: Students in Option A in all languages must also complete a twelve-week foreign residency in the culture of concentration.

Language and Culture Core Courses

(Required of all language and culture majors)
All language and culture majors must complete the 8-credit culture core, 8 credits of electives in related fields, and the 20-credit upper division language core in the language of specialization (French, German, or Spanish) as listed below.

Culture Core Requirements

(8 credits)

Culture Elective Requirements

Students must complete 8 credits of upper division courses in fields related to the language of specialization. They may use required minor (or second major) courses to meet this requirement. See advisor for approval of courses.

Language Core Requirements

1. Complete 12 credits in the language of specialization:
   

French Culture, Composition, and Conversation (Fr 314, 315, 316)	12
German Culture, Composition, and Conversation (GL 301, 302, 303)	12
Spanish Culture, Composition, and Conversation (Span 310, 311, and 312 or 415)*	12


* Students who study abroad or heritage speakers may take Span 415 to meet this requirement. Students who do not have transfer credit from a study abroad program to replace 310, 311 must take 8 credits of upper division courses approved by an advisor in addition to Span 415.
2. Complete 8 credits in the language of specialization:
   

Survey of French Literature (Fr 311)	4
Survey of French Literature (Fr 312)	4
Pronunciation and Phonetics (Fr 331, 332)	4
Major Figures in German Literature (GL 413 or 415)	4
Germany from 1945–90: From Division to Unity (GL 441)	4
Spanish Grammar Review (Span 315) (Option A only)	4
Nineteenth Century Hispanic Literature (Span 322)	4
Twentieth Century Hispanic Literature (Span 323)	4

Language and Culture Options

After completing the above requirements, students select either Option A: International Residency/Internship or Option B: Integrated Skills.

Option A: International Residency/Internship

French, German, Spanish

(18 credits)

Language Electives

(12 credits)

Choose 12 credits from the language of specialization.

French

German

Spanish

Internship

(minimum 6 credits)

Complete the international work internship (at least ten weeks of fulltime work) in the language of specialization.

Foreign Residency Requirement and Study Abroad

(No specific credit)

Option A: International Residency/Internship in all languages requires a minimum threemonth residency abroad in an approved international work or study program in a country where the language of specialization is spoken. With advisor approval, students may use international experience gained prior to entering the program to fulfill this requirement.

Capstone

(2 credits)

All students must complete a capstone project in the language of specialization demonstrating the skills and knowledge acquired during completion of the major.

Option B: Integrated Skills

French, German, or Spanish

(22 credits)

Language Electives

1. Choose 8 credits in the language of specialization:
   

Topics in French Film (Fr 350)	4
Topics in French Literature (Fr 426)	2–4
Noncontinental Francophone Literature (Fr 427)	4
Topics in French Culture (Fr 428)	2–4
Topics in German Film (GL 415)	4
Germany 1845–1945: Germany’s Search for Unity (GL 440)	4
Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik	up to 12
OUS or SOU study abroad program (variable credit as approved by advisor)
Span 315 Spanish Grammar Review	4
Topics in Applied Spanish Linguistics (Span 481)	2–4
Topics in Writing and Translation (Span 482)	2–4
Topics in Culture (Span 441/541)	2–4

2. Choose 10 credits in the language of specialization:
   

French Pronunciation and Phonetics (Fr 331, 332) 2 each
Translation (Fr 460)	4
Business French (Fr 480)	4
Advanced French Grammar (Fr 445)	4
Topics in French Culture (Fr 428)	2–4
Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik	up to 12
OUS study abroad program (variable credit as approved by advisor)
Upper division OUS online courses (variable credit)
Selected Genre or Period Studies (Span 421)	2–4
Major Literary Figures (Span 422)	2–4
Topics in Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Society (Span 460)	2–4
Spanish Research and Writing Capstone (Span 498)12	2

Foreign Residency and Study Abroad

Option B: Integrated Skills (French, German, and Spanish) encourages students to take advantage of the many varied and high-quality study abroad programs available, but it does not require students to study or reside abroad. Study abroad and OUS exchange program credit is accepted for the major with advisor approval.

Culture-Based Work Experience

(4 credits)

Complete the culture-based work experience (minimum of 120 hours) in the language of specialization.

Capstone

(2 credits)

All students must complete a capstone project that demonstrates the skills and knowledge acquired during the completion of the major.

Minors

French

Required Courses
Select 24 upper division credits in French as follows. At least 8 credits must be in courses taken on the SOU campus in Ashland.

Choose 4 credits from the following:

Choose 8 credits from the following:

German

Required Courses

Select 24 upper division credits in German as follows. At least 8 credits must be taken in courses on the SOU campus in Ashland.

Select 12 credits from the following:

Spanish

Required Courses

Select 24 credits of upper division courses in Spanish as follows. Students must take at least 8 credits in upper division courses (excluding 408/409) in regularly scheduled courses on the SOU campus in Ashland.

Teacher Licensing

Students who would like to teach French, German, or Spanish at the middle school or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor’s degree in language and culture with an emphasis in French, German, or Spanish before applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the department chair for an appropriate advisor and the Education Department regarding admission requirements for the MAT program.

Students must prepare in advance to increase their chances of acceptance into this competitive program. Practica, internships, and volunteer experiences working with children in the public schools prior to application to the MAT program are required.

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures strongly recommends and encourages its students to participate in any of the study abroad opportunities available through SOU or the Oregon University System (OUS). There are OUS programs in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Spain. Southern Oregon University offers an exchange program with the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. For most yearlong programs, students must complete two years of study in the foreign language prior to participation.

Students may also participate in study abroad programs through the National Student Exchange program. This program allows students to participate in study abroad programs of other universities throughout the U.S., and in universities in Canada and Puerto Rico.

Credit earned for study abroad programs is transferred back to the home campus. Financial aid may be used for these programs. Students interested in these programs should consult the director of international programs or foreign languages and literatures faculty.

French Courses

Lower Division Courses

Upper Division Courses

German Courses

Lower Division Courses

Upper Division Courses

Japanese Courses

Spanish Courses

Lower Division Courses

Upper Division Courses