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Requirements
Modern Languages & Literatures
The department prepares its students to thrive in a diverse world through the study of one or more languages (Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish) and the cultural, social, philosophical, and/or historical contexts in which these languages are situated. By acquiring the four basic linguistic skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—students develop intercultural competency through thoughtful engagement with literary and other cultural texts.
The department encourages its students to put their language learning and cultural understanding into practice both locally and while studying abroad, where students volunteer, complete internships, and pursue independent research projects through its unique Cities in Transition courses.
Majors
- Nine departmental units:
- Six units of Chinese language (above 100): Chinese 105, 110, 115, 200, 205, 220.
- One unit of Classical Chinese: 230.
- Two units of Asian literature or culture: Chinese 250, 255, 260, or 280. A student may fulfill 1 of these units with a Japanese literature or culture course: Japanese 240, 260, or 280.
- Three supporting courses:
- One unit of introductory Chinese history: History 210.
- Two other supporting courses, 1 of which must be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on China: Anthropology 375*; Art History 110, 150*, 250*; Comparative Literature 230*; Economics 206; History 150*, 210*, 310*; Interdisciplinary Studies 249, 288*; Philosophy 250; Political Science 236, 295*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with China.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if China is covered.
- One of the supporting courses may be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on East Asia: Anthropology 375*; Asian Studies 242; Art History 150*, 250”; Comparative Literature 230*; History 150*, 210*, 310*, Political Science 235, 295*, 330*, 386*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with East Asia.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if East Asia is covered.
- Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 1 supporting course that deals primarily with modern China. Courses taken in a study abroad program may substitute for required courses with the approval of the advisor.
- Asian Studies 351 (.5 unit).
- Majors are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester abroad in China at either of our partner institutions–Henan University or Shandong University.
- Students may apply credit earned through Beloit College’s Center for Language Studies toward the major.
- Native speakers of Chinese may not major in Chinese; however, they may receive credit as teaching assistants.
- Writing/Communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
Students who begin the major with French 100 will construct a major program in consultation with their advisor; this program will not exceed 10 units within the department nor more than 14 units total.
- Eight departmental units (110-level and above), including French 210 and 215.
- Supporting courses (4 units). Choose one of the three options available:
- Four courses chosen from appropriate offerings in anthropology (especially Anthropology 100 and 109), media studies, history; English, philosophy, or political science. A course in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish literature is recommended.
- Students with double majors may use required courses in the other majors to count as supporting courses toward a major in French.
- The student may submit a proposal to the major advisor for an individual plan of courses for meeting the requirement of 4 supporting courses.
- Majors normally spend one semester in a country in which French is the common idiom. With the consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used to count toward the major.
- Majors are expected to live at least one semester in the French House.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
- Nine departmental units:
- Six units of Japanese language taken from the following: 105, 110, 115, 200, 205, 215, 220, 225.
- Japanese 230.
- Two units of Asian literature or culture in translation: 240, 260, or 280. A student may fulfill 1 of these credits with a Chinese literature or culture course: Chinese 250, 255, 260, 280.
- Three supporting courses:
- One unit of introductory Japanese history: History 210.
- Two other supporting courses, 1 of which must be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on Japan: Anthropology 375*; Art History 250*; Comparative Literature 230*; History 150*, 210*, 310*, 386*; Interdisciplinary Studies 288*; Political Science 236, 295*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with Japan.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if Japan is covered.
- One of the supporting courses may be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on East Asia: Anthropology 375”; Art History 250*; Comparative Literature 230*; Economics 206; History 150*, 210*, 294, 310*; Philosophy 250; Political Science 295*, 330*, 386; Religious Studies 200*, 240, 250*; or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with East Asia.
- Courses with asterisks only apply if East Asia is covered.
- Double majors are encouraged, and in such cases required courses in other majors that have Japanese or East Asian content are acceptable as supporting courses toward a major in Japanese.
- Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 1 supporting course that deals primarily with modern Japan. Courses taken in a study abroad program may substitute for required classes, with the approval of the advisor.
- Asian Studies 351 (.5 unit).
- Majors are strongly urged to spend at least one semester abroad at Akita International University, Kansai Gaidai University, or Rikkyo University. With the consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used toward the major.
- Students may also apply credit earned through Beloit College’s Center for Language Studies toward their six units of Japanese language required for the major.
- Majors are strongly encouraged to live for at least one semester in Japan.
- Native speakers of Japanese may not major in Japanese; however, they may receive credit as teaching assistants.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
The Russian major and minor are no longer available to entering students as of Fall 2020.
- Nine departmental units (105-level and above):
- One unit taken from each of the following groupings:
- Russian 210, 215.
- Russian 250, 255, 260 or Russian Studies 250.
- Russian 220, 310, 315.
- Russian 360.
- Five elective units in Russian.
- One unit taken from each of the following groupings:
- Supporting courses (4 units). Choose one of the three options available:
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- Students may select any 4 units from the following courses: English/Comparative Literature 190, 261; Economics 209; History 200, 205; Political Science 160; Russian Studies 250, 270.
- Students with double majors may use required courses in the other majors to count as supporting courses toward a major in Russian.
- The student may submit a proposal to the major advisor for an individual plan of courses for meeting the requirement of 4 supporting courses.
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- Majors normally spend one semester or academic year in Russia on Beloit College’s program in Moscow. With the consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used toward the major.
- Majors are encouraged to live at least one semester in the Russian House.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
Students who begin the major with Spanish 100 will construct a major program in consultation with their advisor; this program will not require more than 11 units within the department nor more than 15 units total.
- Nine departmental units (above 110):
- Spanish 210 or 214, 215, 240.
- One unit (working language) from Health and Society/Spanish 218, Spanish 250, Interdisciplinary Studies 288.
- Two units (contemporary cultures and literatures) from Spanish 230, 270, 282, 285, 295.
- Two units (foundational texts) from Spanish 290, 320, 370, 375.
- One elective unit in Spanish. (Experiential learning for credit is strongly encouraged.)
- Supporting courses (4 units). Choose one of the three options available:
- Choose 4 courses from English/Comparative Literature 190, 261; Political Science 272, 273. An elementary knowledge of Latin is desirable.
- Use 4 courses from a second major toward a major in Spanish.
- Submit a proposal to the major advisor for an individual plan of courses for meeting the requirement of 4 supporting courses.
- Majors normally study at least one semester abroad in a Spanish-speaking country. With prior consent of the advisor, some courses completed abroad may be used to count toward the major.
- Majors are encouraged to live at least one semester in the Spanish House.
- Writing/communication: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills–speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the college’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes–grammar points and vocabulary–to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc.
Minors
- Six departmental units in Chinese at the 105 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.
- Six departmental units in French at the 105 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 2 units of literature in translation toward the minor.
- Six departmental units in Japanese at the 105 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.
The Russian major and minor are no longer available to entering students as of Fall 2020.
- Six departmental units in Russian at the 105 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.
- Six departmental units in Spanish at the 110 level or above.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may apply 2 units of language credit earned while studying abroad toward the minor.
- No more than 2 units of college transfer credit may apply toward the minor.
- At least 4 of the language units counted toward the minor must be taken at Beloit College. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
- With the pre-approval of the department, students may count 1 unit of literature in translation toward the minor.