2009-2010 University Catalog 
  
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2009-2010 University Catalog

Modern and Classical Languages

■ Modern and Classical Languages

Phone: 703-993-1220
Web: mcl.gmu.edu

Faculty

Professors: Gilbert, Ricouart, Winkler

Associate professors: Berroa, Chamberlain, Christensen (chair), Goldin, Leeman, Levine, Rabin, Roman-Mendoza

Assistant professors: Carreño-Rodríguez, Markx, Olson, Ramos-Pellicia, Sanusi, So, Vivancos-Perez

Term associate professors: Zhang

Term assistant professors: Apitz, Falcon, Fujiwara, Fyfe, Quintana, Ruiz-Ross, Salawdeh , Vasilyeva

Term instructors: Chen, Hilmi, Kirsch, Lamothe, Mircea-Pines, Planas, Sweet

Course Work

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

The following courses are offered in English. Knowledge of a foreign language is not required: ARAB 325; CHIN 310, 311, 320, 325, 328; FREN 325, 329; GERM 301, 325; ITAL 325; JAPA 320; 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.

General Education Requirements

The department offers courses approved to fulfill university general education requirements: RUSS 354 and SPAN 322 fulfill the general education requirement in global understanding; FRLN 385, RUSS 353, and SPAN 388 fulfill the general education synthesis requirement; a number of courses fulfill the general education requirement in literature; RUSS 354 and SPAN 322, which are approved to fulfill the general education requirement in global understanding. See the University General Education  chapter of the catalog.

College-Level Requirements

Language courses through the intermediate (200) level can be used to fulfill the college-level requirement in foreign languages for the bachelor of arts degree in the College of Humanities and Sciences and the College of Science. FREN 451, RUSS 353, and RUSS 354 fulfill the college-level requirement in non-Western culture.

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages with concentrations in French and Spanish.

The concentration in French is designed for students who want to increase their proficiency in French language and culture while learning about the history, politics, and economics of the many French-speaking countries around the world.  Students can take a study abroad course or spend a summer in Paris or Quebec, earning credit towards their degree.  They can participate in the many French-speaking activities sponsored by Mason’s French Club.

The concentration in Spanish enables students to become proficient in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish while learning about Latin American, Latino and Spanish languages practices, literatures, histories, and cultures. Students are encouraged to do an internship or service learning project, where they can draw on their knowledge of Spanish, gain valuable work experience while working for social change in their communities.  Students have many opportunities to study Spanish abroad for as little as a week and as long as a semester and at the same time, earn credit toward their degree.

Both concentrations prepare students for teaching careers at the secondary school level, graduate study in languages, and research and professional work in government and private enterprise.

Foreign Languages with a Second Major

Majors in foreign language are encouraged to complete a second major in another field. Students who want to pursue a second undergraduate major should plan a program of study in consultation with advisors from both degrees and be familiar with the relevant policies on more than one major. See the Academic Policies chapter of the catalog.

Minors

Language majors are encouraged to complete a minor in another field.

The department offers minors in classical studies, Japanese studies, Chinese, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. They are available to students in any major. Except for classical studies, all the minors have as a prerequisite the completion of an intermediate course in the relevant language.

Graduate Programs

The department offers a distinctive interdisciplinary master’s degree in foreign languages designed to meet the needs and interests of prospective and practicing teachers and other professionals. It also prepares students for doctoral study at other institutions. Within the master’s degree, students choose one of four concentrations: French, Spanish, French and Spanish, and Spanish/bilingual-multicultural education.

Students are encourage to participate in the many study abroad programs offered by Mason. These include short courses during winter and spring breaks as well as semester-long programs in the French and Spanish speaking regions of the world.

Funding

The department has a limited number of teaching assistantships for highly qualified graduate students with excellent language preparation. Students develop valuable language teaching experience by working with faculty experts in language teaching pedagogy.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Undergraduate Minor

Master's Degree