Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Christopher J. Miles, Ph.D., Interim Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5038
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4964

L. Abreu, K. Angus, A. Arana Sánchez, C. Baertich, J. Burnett, C. Carracelas-Juncal, M. Doleac, L. Fonder-Solano, L. Garrido-Baez, J. Gillespie, L. Guglani, J. Loaiza, C. Miles, W. Odom, W. Powell, K. Rowland, M.A. Stewart

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a flexible program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree either with or without teaching licensure. It also offers an academic minor. The program aims to provide the students with sufficient language skills and cultural insights to give them sound foundations for a wide range of careers. It is designed to meet the following objectives:

prepare students ( in combination with other disciplines) for industrial, commercial and government employment in which knowledge of a foreign language and culture is a distinct advantage
prepare students to teach foreign languages in secondary schools
prepare students for graduate study in foreign languages and literatures and related fields
provide support courses for other programs in the university

The department offers curricula from the beginning through the advanced levels in French, Spanish, German and Latin. Not all of these languages will be taught every year; students should consult the Class Schedule Guide or SOAR for a list of annual course offerings in this department. Students may not concurrently enroll in more than one basic language sequence course (101, 102, 201, 202) in the same language area (e.g. SPA 201 and SPA 202 ), except in the case of 5W1/5W2 or 8W1/8W2 sessions.

Students have access to the Foreign Language Multimedia Center in the Liberal Arts Building, room 110. The center is used for tutoring and as a classroom. Language students are welcome to use the center for study sessions to show foreign language films and for internet access.

Master of Arts in the Teaching of Languages

Information on the MATL (Master of Arts in the Teaching of Languages) program can be found in the Graduate Bulletin and on the department’s Web page at www.usm.edu/foreign-languages-literatures.

Study Abroad

In cooperation with the Southern Miss Office of International Programs, the department offers active and popular study abroad summer, semester and yearlong programs. Current programs include such destinations as Vienna (Austria); Bonn (Germany); Paris, Orleans and Pontlevoy (France); Granada, Jaén and Madrid (Spain); Mérida (Mexico); Lima (Peru) and San José (Costa Rica). No more than 12 hours of study abroad credit can be applied towards the major in Spanish, French or licensure.

CLEP Examinations in Foreign Languages

Students with previous language study or background may earn up to a total of 12 hours of college credit in Spanish, French or German by taking a CLEP examination available through the Southern Miss Testing Center. Students may take the foreign languages subject exam at any time during their course of study.

Requirements for a Major in Foreign Languages

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers three options for a Bachelor of Arts: (1) Foreign languages: Spanish concentration; (2) Foreign languages: French concentration; (3) Foreign languages: Two-language concentration. Each option requires a minimum of 30 semester hours above the 100-level in foreign languages and literatures. At least 18 hours must be earned in upper-level foreign language courses. Students may not apply more than 12 hours of transfer credit toward the major. Students must complete at least one, preferably two, 300-level courses before enrolling at the 400-level. The Spanish and French and licensure majors require at least 9 hours of 400-level coursework. For assistance in devising a suitable curriculum, students should consult as soon as possible with a foreign language advisor.

Option One: Spanish Concentration

A minimum of 30 semester hours are required. This may include up to six hours of credit at the sophomore (200) level (SPA 201 , SPA 202 , SPA 281 or SPA 282 ). Requirements include:

A minimum of six hours at the junior (300) level, excluding SPA 361
A minimum of nine hours at the senior (400) level
A writing intensive course: SPA 305 or SPA 406
SPA 441 Spanish Capstone Seminar

Students are required to complete a departmental Senior Capstone during their senior year. See an adviser for details. A maximum of 12 hours of study-abroad courses may be applied toward the major. A maximum of six hours of Special Problems may be accepted, subject to approval by adviser and chair.

Option Two: French Concentration

A minimum of 30 semester hours are required. This may include up to six hours of credit at the sophomore (200) level (FRE 201 , FRE 202 , FRE 281 or FRE 282 ). Requirements include:

1)   A minimum of six hours at the junior (300) level
2)   A minimum of nine hours at the senior (400) level
3)   A writing intensive course: FRE 305 or FRE 406
4)   FRE 441 French Capstone Seminar

Option Three: Two-Language Concentration

A minimum of 30 hours are required at the sophomore (200) level and above, including 18 hours in courses at the 300-and 400-level. Of these 18 hours, at least 12 must be in a single language. Concentration 1: Latin plus any other language; concentration 2: German plus any other language; concentration 3: German alone. Students are required to complete a departmental Senior Capstone during their senior year. See an adviser for details. For students participating in Southern Miss study-abroad programs in Germany or Austria, all 30 hours for this concentration may be earned in German. Six hours in German must be earned at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg.

Requirements for a Major in Foreign Languages with Teacher Licensure

A student seeking teacher licensure in either French or Spanish needs 30 hours at the 200-level or above in the appropriate concentration. All students seeking teacher licensure in foreign languages must include FL 461 and FL 461L in their programs. In addition, the student should fulfill the requirements of the Teacher Education Program at Southern Miss, as explained on the Degree Plan. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all foreign language courses and in all required professional education courses. Licensure students will be required to take the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), with a target level of Advanced Low. As a part of the licensure concentration, all students must graduate within the requirements of an NCATE-approved program of study.

Grade Requirements for a Minor in Foreign Languages

An undergraduate minor in the following areas requires a grade of C or higher in all courses taken for the minor: Arabic, Chinese, French, Greek, Latin, Russian, Spanish and Classics.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Non-degree