2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived]

Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics


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Chairperson: Dr. Ronald W. Dunbar
Department Office: Root Hall, room A-137
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/lll/
E-mail: lll@indstate.edu

Undergraduate work in languages, literatures, and linguistics prepares students for active involvement in an increasingly global society by fostering competency in and sensitivity toward languages and cultures. While the development of language skills is a primary focus, the program aims to provide a broad education in language, literature, linguistics, and cultures. In addition to sharpening students’ communicative skills in one or more languages, the program also provides students with the tools of general linguistic, cultural, and literary analysis.

A degree in language studies opens up numerous career paths. Teachers of languages, including English as a second language are in high demand in Indiana and across the United States. Government offices and international companies need employees with advanced language proficiency, since the number of American consumers who speak languages other than English is growing rapidly.  The department offers programs particularly suited for students seeking a functional knowledge of more than one language to enhance their careers, and for students who plan to teach English overseas. Graduates with teaching English as a new language licensure may find employment in American public school systems, as well as in private schools and other countries.

In support of the liberal arts and sciences mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and ISU, the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics participates in the General Education Program, the Honors Program, the International Studies Program, the International Business Concentration, the Latin American Studies Program, and the Women’s Studies Program.


ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Degrees Offered

The Department of Languages, Literature, and Linguistics is unique within colleges in the Midwest in its extremely flexible undergraduate degree, which allows students to tailor their academic program to their individual career plans.  The bachelor of arts degree in language studies provides flexible options to study French, German, Spanish, (even Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese up to the intermediate level) linguistics; teaching English as a second language; or any combination of these languages or areas. In addition, language proficiency may be expanded through ISU’s study abroad opportunities.  This flexibility allows students to concentrate on one language, to switch languages, to study more than one language, or to include linguistic study without changing degrees.  Majors and minors may be augmented through additional course work in English on foreign or second language pedagogy, cultures, mythology, literature in translation, and linguistics.  The program’s core courses provide a common framework for all students and encourages them to interact with those in other language, literature, and linguistic areas.  Courses leading to teaching licensure are available in French, German, Latin, Spanish, and teaching English as a new language, and may be completed as part of the major, while also requiring completion of a professional education sequence provided by the College of Education.

Also available is a certificate in teaching English as a second language/teaching English as a foreign language. Candidates for the bachelor of arts degree must successfully complete the University requirement of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit, including General Education course work, as well as the requirements for the departmental major. A minor is encouraged but not required for the degree.

The College of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with departments, assigns each student a faculty academic advisor. Majors and minors in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics are encouraged to maintain good contact with their advisors, and are expected to work with their advisors prior to registration each semester. Students who do so are more likely to meet their goals and succeed academically. Students can find their assigned advisors by consulting the department, the college, or their DARS.


Departmental Opportunities

The department sponsors numerous and varied activities such as conversation tables, international films, lectures, and field trips to museums, art exhibits, musical performances, restaurants, and cultural sites in Indiana and Illinois, including Indianapolis and Chicago. The department also works in close cooperation with the Hispanic Student Association and participates in Indiana State University’s International Week and Multicultural Mania programs, as well as the Terre Haute Ethnic Fest. Such activities provide students with opportunities for interaction with native speakers in all language areas. In addition to sponsoring the foreign language honor society, Phi Sigma Iota, and the national classics honorary society, Eta Sigma Phi, the department also offers competitive scholarships for language majors and minors.

Students in languages and literatures, may volunteer as language instructors at local elementary schools, where they work with teachers and students in a specific language. Similarly, the department helps students locate and complete foreign language and English-as-a-second-language internships, for which students earn credit as well as gain valuable professional experience.

All majors are required to study abroad, and minors are strongly encouraged to do so. The department works closely with the Study Abroad Office to provide a large number of quality study abroad opportunities ranging from summer programs to a single semester or a full academic year in over 25 countries throughout the world. Many of these programs cost only the equivalent of tuition, room, and board at ISU, making study abroad an affordable experience. Courses completed in study abroad programs are transferred to the University as transfer courses. They can be used to satisfy the specific course requirements of each concentration within the 31 hours of the degree program. The study abroad requirement is not in addition to the 31-hour requirement.

The department offers students a state-of-the-art, computerized language laboratory featuring networked computers with Internet access to on-line audio and video, as well as CD-ROM and DVD capabilities. In addition, the laboratory offers a wide range of visual and audio material on VHS, DVD, cassette, CD-ROM, and cable television. The department’s innovative new on-line Virtual Language Laboratory allows students to complete laboratory assignments from anywhere, on or off campus, via streamed audio on the Internet.

 


LANGUAGE PLACEMENT AND LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TESTING

Students who have not formally satisfied the General Education Basic Studies foreign language requirement are placed into level 101 or level 102 language classes based on their academic work in high school.

Students who have satisfied the General Education Basic Studies foreign language requirement and who wish to take further course work in a language are encouraged to take the Language Placement Examination in order to determine the level of language course work most appropriate for them. Depending upon the level of placement, students may receive credit for their knowledge of the language, some of which may count toward General Education Liberal Studies. Students who take the Language Placement Examination and complete a course above the 101 level with a sufficiently high grade may receive credt for lower-level courses.  The placement examination is administered through the University Testing Office.

Students wishing to take a language course in their native language or in a language in which they have achieved fluency must petition the department to receive course credit.  Credit will be granted only if it is determined by the department that the course covers materials or develops skills that the student has not yet mastered.  No mastery credit will be awarded to students for courses in their native language (credit for 101, 102, 201, or 202) upon completion of a higher level course.

The department administers the English as a Second Language Proficiency Test to international students who wish to place out of English as a Second Language 103A or 103B.

 

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