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2003-04 University Catalog George Mason University

Modern and Classical Languages

Faculty

Professors: Aguera, Aksyonov (Robinson Professor), Elstun, Francescato, Gilbert, Hecht, Ricouart, Warner, Winkler

Associate professors: Berroa, Chamberlain (chair), Christensen (associate provost), Goldin (associate chair), LePage, Levine, Rabin

Assistant professors: Leeman, Roman-Mendoza, Wekerle, Zhang

Visiting assistant professors: Fatih, Tominaga, Vasilyeva

Visiting instructors: Alonso, Beaulieu, Bucelli, Hancock, McCabe, Mircea-Pines

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated ARAB, CLAS, CHIN, FREN, FRLN, GERM, HEBR, ITAL, JAPA, LATN, RUSS, and SPAN in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

The following courses are offered in English. Knowledge of a foreign language is not required:

FREN 325, 329; GERM 301, 325; RUSS 325, 326, 327, 353, 354; SPAN 321, 322, 325, 329; and all courses designated CLAS and FRLN. Courses numbered 325 may be repeated once for credit if the authors studied are different.

Courses that Fulfill General Education Requirements

1. Language courses through the intermediate level (through the 200 level) can be used to fulfill the college-level requirement in foreign languages for the B.A. degree.

2. Approved literature courses offered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages can be used to fulfill the university general education and college-level requirements in literature.

3. FREN 451, RUSS 353, and RUSS 354 fulfill the college-level requirement in non-Western culture.

4. RUSS 353, RUSS 354, and SPAN 322 fulfill the university global understanding requirement.

Undergraduate Programs

Foreign Languages, B.A.

This program, which offers concentrations in French and Spanish, prepares students for teaching careers at the secondary school level, graduate study in languages, and research and professional work in government and private enterprise. Language majors are encouraged to complete a minor or, if possible, a second major in another field. Students who want a double major in a language and another subject should plan a program of study in consultation with advisors from both disciplines.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students in language concentrations may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing FREN 352 or SPAN 452.

Concentration in French

In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates must complete a minimum of 30 credits in French courses at the 300 level and above. Students are expected to complete a balanced program that includes courses in language, culture and civilization, and literature. The 30 credits required in the concentration must include the following:

1. 1 advanced language course (3 credits): FREN 350, 351, 352, 355, 357, 460, 461, or 462

2. 1 course in French civilization (3 credits): FREN 375 or 376

3. 1 survey course in French literature (3 credits): FREN 377 or 378

4. 4 courses (12 credits) at the 400 level or above

5. 3 electives in French at the 300 level or above (9 credits)

No more than one course (3 credits) conducted in English may be taken for credit for the concentration in French.

Students are encouraged to take courses in other languages and literatures and in related disciplines such as music, art, history, and philosophy.

Concentration in Spanish

The department of Modern and Classical Languages offers a B.A. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish. In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, students in this concentration complete 33 credits in Spanish courses at the 300-level and above.

1. SPAN 301 Grammar and Syntax

2. SPAN 302 Reading and Writing Skills

3. SPAN 390 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Analysis (prerequisite: SPAN 302)

4. SPAN 452 Advanced Written Spanish (prerequisite: SPAN 302)

5. SPAN 461 or 466 Spanish or Latin American Civilization and Culture (prerequisite: SPAN 452)

6. The following 3 courses (prerequisites: SPAN 390 and 452):

  • SPAN 483 and 484 The Literature of Spain I and II
  • SPAN 488 The Literature of Spanish America

7. Two or more electives that may include:

  • other SPAN courses not specifically required or not chosen to fill a requirement
  • courses transferred from other universities
  • courses taken on overseas study programs
  • special topics courses
  • independent studies and internships
  • 500-level courses with permission of the professor
  • (SPAN 321, 322, 325, and 329 may not be applied toward the concentration in Spanish.)

Comparative Literature Emphasis

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and the Department of English offer a B.A. degree with an emphasis in comparative literature. This program permits the student to combine the study of a language with cross-cultural literary study. The program requires 10 courses above the 200 level, distributed as follows:

1. 2 courses in a foreign literature with selected readings in the original language

2. 2 courses in English and/or American literature

3. 3 courses designated as comparative or world literature by the Comparative Literature Committee. These courses include CLAS 390; ENGL 431, 436, 437; and appropriate special topics courses designated CLAS, FREN, GERM, RUSS, and SPAN.

4. CL 300 Introduction to Comparative Literature

5. 1 course in literary criticism: ENGL 494, ENGL 551, FREN 381, or SPAN 390, as appropriate for the student's focus

6. CL 514 Theories of Comparative Literature

Students should consult with their advisors to design a program of study focusing on a specific genre, period, issue, or other cross-cultural topic.

For more information, contact the Department of Modern and Classical Languages or the Department of English.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the Professional Licensure section in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, e-mail gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information.

Minor in French, German, Latin, Russian, or Spanish

Prerequisite: Completion of an intermediate (202 or 209) course in French, German, Russian, Spanish, or Latin, or equivalent placement test score.

A minor in any of these languages consists of 18 credits above the intermediate level in a single language. Except for the minor in Latin, no more than one course taught in English may be applied to the minor.

Requirements for the Minor in French

Three of the following (9 credits):

  • FREN 350 French Conversation
  • FREN 351 Advanced French Grammar
  • FREN 352 French Composition
  • FREN 355 Phonetics and Oral Expression
  • FREN 357 Introduction to Translation
  • FREN 391 French for the Business World I

Two of the following (6 credits):

  • FREN 375 French Civilization: From Ancient Gaul to the French Revolution
  • FREN 376 French Civilization: From the Revolution to Contemporary France
  • FREN 377 Survey of French Literature: Middle Ages to 1800
  • FREN 378 Survey of French Literature: 1800 to Present

One French elective at the 300 level or above (3 credits)

Requirements for the Minor in German

Three of the following (9 credits):

  • GERM 310 Conversation and Composition
  • GERM 316 German for the Business World
  • GERM 318 Translation of Texts
  • GERM 415 Advanced Grammar and Style
  • GERM 418 Advanced Composition

One of the following (3 credits):

  • Genre courses at the 300 level
  • Period courses at the 400 level

One of the following (3 credits):

  • GERM 301 Culture and Civilization
  • GERM 340 Survey of German Literature

One German elective at the 300 level or above (3 credits)

Requirements for the Minor in Latin

Eighteen credits from the following:

  • LATN 351 Roman Prose Literature
  • LATN 352 Roman Poetry
  • LATN 451, 452 Studies in Roman Literature

Courses vary in content and may be repeated for credit.

Requirements for the Minor in Russian

Three of the following (9 credits):

  • RUSS 302 Russian Conversation and Composition or RUSS 303 Russian Advanced Conversation
  • RUSS 380 Advanced Russian I
  • RUSS 381 Advanced Russian II

One of the following (3 credits):

  • RUSS 310 Readings in Russian Literature
  • RUSS 311 Contemporary Russian Short Fiction

One of the following (3 credits):

  • RUSS 353 Russian Civilization
  • RUSS 354 Contemporary Post-Soviet Life

One Russian elective at the 300 level or above (3 credits) (This course must be conducted in Russian.)

Requirements for the Minor in Spanish

Students in this minor complete 18 credits distributed as follows:

Two required courses (nine credits):

  • SPAN 301 Grammar and Syntax
  • SPAN 302 Reading and Writing Spanish (six credits)

Two elective courses (six credits) chosen from:

  • SPAN 390 Introduction to Hispanic Literary Analysis
  • SPAN 452 Advanced Written Spanish
  • SPAN 461 Spanish Civilization and Culture
  • SPAN 466 Latin American Civilization and Culture
  • SPAN 483, 484 The Literature of Spain I, II
  • SPAN 488 The Literature of Spanish America

One Spanish elective at the 300-level or above (three credits)

Minor in Classical Studies

The minor is intended for students who wish to become familiar with the classical cultures and broaden their knowledge of the foundations of Western civilization, and for students who are studying other areas of the humanities, especially English, languages, comparative literature, history, art history, philosophy, or religion. The minor provides enough flexibility for students to choose relevant courses according to their primary interests.

The minor in classical studies consists of the following 18 credits:

1. 6 credits in classics, including CLAS 250

2. 3 credits in classical history (HIST 301, 302, 304, 388 [with approval], 480)

3. 3 credits in classical art history or classical philosophy, and religious studies

4. 6 credits of approved electives from classical art history, classics, classical history, classical philosophy, and religious studies

Graduate Programs

Foreign Languages, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Foreign Languages is designed to meet the needs and interests of prospective and practicing teachers and other professionals, and to prepare students for doctoral study at other institutions. The program offers three concentrations: French or Spanish, French and Spanish, and Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education.

Admission Requirements

In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements for graduate study, applicants seeking degree status must hold a baccalaureate degree in French or Spanish, have at least a 3.000 GPA (on a 4.000 scale) in the field, and submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic qualifications.

Applicants whose baccalaureate degrees were earned in other fields or who otherwise do not meet the above requirements but who provide evidence of a capacity to pursue graduate study are encouraged to apply and may be admitted to the program with provisional status. Applicants in this category may be asked to appear for a personal interview and take the appropriate part(s) of the GRE. They may also have undergraduate deficiencies to make up before being advanced to degree status.

Degree Requirements

Candidates who elect a concentration in one language must complete a program of 30 credits. Those who concentrate in two languages must complete a program of 42 credits. The concentration in Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education requires 36 credits. In all three concentrations, 6 of the total credits may be earned with a thesis. Regardless of the concentration selected, all students must meet the core and distribution requirements given below and pass an oral comprehensive examination.

Concentration in French

The concentration requires 30 credits, of which at least 18 must be earned in courses listed under the designator FREN and distributed accordingly: at least 6 credits in literature courses covering two different periods, at least 6 credits in language/linguistics courses, and at least 6 credits of French electives (in either literature or language). The remaining 12 credits are electives, of which up to 6 may be used for directed reading and research (798) and thesis (799).

Concentration in Spanish

The concentration requires 30 credits to be distributed as follows:

Nine credits of core courses:

SPAN 502 Hispanic Sociolinguistics (3 credits)

SPAN 505 Applied Spanish Sylistics (3 credits)

SPAN 510 Introduction to the Graduate Study of Literature in Spanish (3 credits)

Full-time students must take this core in their first year. Part-time students must include these courses within their first 12 semester hours. The core courses may be taken concurrently with other courses.

Nine credits of courses in Spanish to be selected from the following:

One course (3 credits) in the literature of Spain

One course (3 credits) in the literature of Spanish America

One course (3 credits) in Spanish language or Spanish linguistics

Twelve credits of electives to be selected from the following:

Additional courses in Spanish language and literature, including courses taken through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Up to 6 credits in SPAN 798 Directed Reading and SPAN 799 Thesis

Courses under the rubric FRLN

Courses transferred from other universities, including study abroad

Up to 6 credits of course in related fields

Students intending to go on for the Ph.D. in linguistics or literature are strongly encouraged to pursue the thesis option. Independent studies courses are not available for graduate students of Spanish.

Concentration in French and Spanish

The concentration requires 42 credits, including 18 credits in French distributed according to the requirements for the concentration in French and 18 credits in Spanish distributed according to the requirements for the concentra tion in Spanish. The remaining 6 credits are electives, which may be used for directed reading and research (798) and thesis (799).

Concentration in Spanish/Bilingual-Multicultural Education

The concentration requires 36 credits, including at least 18 credits in SPAN distributed according to the requirements for the concentration in Spanish and 6 credits of bilingual education seminars selected from EDCI 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, and 521. The remaining 12 credits are electives, of which up to 6 may be used for directed reading and research (SPAN 798) and thesis (SPAN 799).