Languages and Culture Studies, BA

Introduction

By providing insights into the linguistic, cultural, and intellectual lives of other peoples, language study and the investigation of foreign literatures and cultures foster in the student a broader, more informed perspective on the world. Students pursuing a major or a minor in Languages and Culture Studies will study linguistic structures, develop audio-lingual and writing ability, become familiar with literary texts, develop analytical abilities, and gain an appreciation of cultures and traditions different from their own. 

Program Organization

The program consists of three separate sections: Spanish, French, and Classics. Students are able to major in the program with a concentration in Spanish, French, Classics, or World Languages. Minors are available in Spanish, French, Latin, and both Classical and Modern Greek. The program also offers a focus on Hellenic Studies. Consult information below for individual program requirements. 

Admission to the Program

The program is open to any student with an interest in language, literature, or linguistics. A student should declare a major or minor during the sophomore year to allow time for fulfilling the necessary requirements. 

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the 64-credit General Studies requirement, the non-transfer student must satisfactorily complete 64 credits in the Languages and Culture Studies program and cognate courses to qualify for the B.A. degree in Languages and Culture Studies. All transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 credits in Languages and Culture Studies courses at Stockton regardless of how many credits were accepted by the program when students transferred to Stockton. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward the 64 program credits required for graduation. 

LANG 2601 World Languages and Cultures is a required core course for all Languages and Culture Studies majors. 

Credit Requirements for Major in Language

Concentration in Spanish

Students majoring in Spanish must fulfill eight core LANG/SPAN courses plus three topical electives in Spanish, one of which must be at the 4000 level. The 4000-level LANG Seminar must be taken at Stockton University. This concentration is designed for students who seek admission into the Post-Baccalaureate Education Program as well as for those students who wish to apply to graduate programs for advanced study in Spanish. The LANG/SPAN curriculum will develop students’ abilities in the five areas proposed by the National Standards in Language Education Project: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. The primary objective is to promote not only the intensive study in Spanish, with emphasis on meaningful interaction, but also the integration of the language within other fields of interest. This interdisciplinary approach, and the focus on the cultural diversity within the Spanish-speaking world, will help students attain at least the minimum Advanced Low Oral Proficiency level, as proposed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). 

Cognate Courses

Cognates for both concentrations in Spanish can include Beginning Spanish courses, LANG 1240 and LANG 1241. In addition, courses with a DANC, MUSC, THTR, LANG, LITT, HIST or PHIL acronym are cognate courses. For students who are planning to seek certification for K-12 teaching, certain EDUC courses, such as Technology for Educators, and/or Diversity in Families, Schools and Communities, can count as cognates. ESL courses are also acceptable cognates. 

B.A. in Language and Cultural Studies with a Spanish Language K-12 Education Concentration

The Spanish Language K-12 Education Concentration is designed for those students seeking to earn a B.A. in Languages and Culture Studies/Spanish and K-12 Certification in Spanish. Students who choose this major must meet the dual requirements for graduation in Languages and Culture Studies as well as the state requirements for Teacher Certification. While all bachelor’s degree programs require a minimum of 128 credits and a 2.00 cumulative GPA, the New Jersey Department of Education requires a 3.0 GPA. A grade of C or better is required in all content courses and a B- or better in all professional education courses. (For a list of all requirements, including Praxis Core and Praxis II tests, refer to the Teacher Education section of the Bulletin.)  The student is responsible for ensuring that all graduation and teacher certification requirements are fully met. Students should consult with their designated preceptors in LCST and EDUC on a regular basis.   

Note: 1) If a student wishes to opt out of the Spanish Language K-12 Certification Concentration, additional courses may be required to complete a B.A. in LCST. 2) Students should avoid taking 4000-level LANG seminars in the same semester as EDUC 4607 Methods of Teaching World Language (4 credits) and EDUC 4990 Full-Time Final Clinical Practice (12 credits). 

Sample Topical Electives may include:

• LANG 3215 Latin American Short Stories

• LANG 3244 Literary Analysis in Spanish

• LANG 3246 Translation Practicum in Spanish

• LANG 3255 Spanish/English Grammar

• LANG 3256 Hispanic Literature and Film

• LANG 3259 Latin American Theatre

• LANG 3261 Spain: Dictatorship and Democracy

• LANG 3321 Spainsh Digital Culture

• LANG 3750 Caribbean Literature in Spanish 

4xxx-Level LANG Seminars:

• LANG 4241 Cervantes

• LANG 4242 Spanish Golden Age Literature

• LANG 4244 Hispanic Essays

• LANG 4245 19th-20th Century Literature

• LANG 4246 Contemporary Latin American Poetry

• LANG 4248 Spanish Women Writers

• LANG 4250 Spanish Narrative & Aesthetics

• LANG 4649 20th-Century Latin American Novel

General Studies Courses

Students should work directly with Education preceptors to choose courses to meet certification and specialization requirements in the state of New Jersey. 

Concentration in French Studies

The study of French at Stockton University gives students the opportunity to acquire oral and written linguistic skills that have a practical as well as an intellectual application. The French faculty teaches all levels of language, culture, and literature courses in French. Students are encouraged to develop and to deepen their formal knowledge of the language and to become engaged with challenging ideas dealing with linguistic, cultural, or literary topics. All courses in the program are taught in French. Students seeking to acquire teaching certification will take the required courses set by the Education program. During their junior or senior year of French Studies, students are encouraged to study abroad either in Quebec or in France. The program also encourages interdisciplinary studies through courses in European arts and history. 

The concentration in French requires a minimum of 32 credits from the intermediate level or higher. Upon completion of LANG 2231, students may enroll in any 3000-level course. 

B.A. in Language & Cultural Studies with a French Language K-12 Education Concentration

The French Language K-12 Education Concentration is designed for those students seeking to earn a B.A. in Languages and Culture Studies/French with K-12 French Teacher Certification. Students of this concentration must meet both the requirements for graduation in Languages and Culture Studies and the State Requirements for Teacher Certification. While all bachelor’s degree programs require a minimum of 128 credits and a 2.00 cumulative GPA, the New Jersey Department of Education requires a 3.0. A grade of C or better is required in all content courses and a B- or better in all professional education courses. (For a list of all requirements, including Praxis Core and Praxis II tests, see the Teacher Education Section of the Bulletin.) The student is responsible for ensuring that all graduation and teacher certification requirements are fully met. Students should consult with their designated preceptors in LCST and EDUC on a regular basis. 

Note: If a student wishes to opt out of the French Language K-12 Certification Concentration, additional courses may be required to complete a B.A. in LCST. 

Program Cognates

Students must also take a minimum of 12 credits made up of cognate courses with the following acronyms: LANG, DANC, MUSC, THTR, ARTV, HIST, LITT, and PHIL. The program recommends that students take 12 of those credits from the list below.

• LANG/LITT 2100 European Literature I (4 credits)

• HIST 2120 Europe: 1400-1815 (4 credits)

• GAH 2346 Modern Europe (4 credits)

• GAH 2284 History of Paris (4 credits) 

• HIST 2121 Europe: 1815 to the Present (4 credits)

• GAH 3230 French New Wave Cinema (4 credits)

• HIST 3614 Revolution and Enlightenment (4 credits)

• ARTV 2176 Art History II (4 credits)

• ARTV 3610 Nineteenth-Century Art (4 credits) 

Classics

The study of the ancient world, and especially the languages and cultures of Greece and Rome, was once central to all liberal education. Other disciplines have moved into the ring, but an understanding of the ancient world is still crucial to the best work in history, literature, religion, and art and has connections with politics, psychology, and a host of other fields. The Classics major allows students to choose among four concentrations, all of which will include at least one ancient language component. Depending on the concentration chosen, the other requirements may consist of more language study or study of one ancient culture, Greek or Roman. The study of Classics is one way of preserving the past and also a way for students to use it in current study, whether to prepare for graduate study or a teaching career in languages or history. 

The Concentrations: Greek and Latin

Required Language Courses (up to 40 credits)

For those whose principal language is Greek:

• LANG 1290/91 Beginning Ancient Greek I and II

• LANG 2760/61 Intermediate Ancient Greek I and II

• LANG 3760 Advanced Ancient Greek I*

• LANG 3761 Advanced Ancient Greek II* (*course may be repeated for credit when topics vary)

• LANG 1220/1221 Beginning Latin I and II

• LANG 2710/11 Intermediate Latin I and II 

For those whose principal language is Latin:

• LANG 1220/1221 Beginning Latin I and II

• LANG 2710/11 Intermediate Latin I and II

• LANG 3710 Advanced Latin I*

• LANG 3712 Advanced Latin II* (*course may be repeated for credit when topics vary) and

• LANG 1290/91 Beginning Ancient Greek I and II

• LANG 2760/61 Intermediate Ancient Greek I and II 

Required Supplementary (Non-language) Courses (20 credits)

• LANG 4901 Senior Project

• LANG 2601 World Languages and Cultures 

For the concentrations (12 credits)

For those whose principal language is Greek

In History, Art History, Literature, or Philosophy, at least one of the following:

• Any Greek history course

• Any Greek philosophy course

• Any Literature course about ancient Greece

• Any ARTV course that includes ancient art 

For those whose principal language is Latin

In History, Art History, Literature, or Philosophy, at least three courses in the following:

• HIST 2110 The Ancient Roman World

• HIST 2113 Imperial Byzantium

• HIST 2119 History of Ancient Egypt or any other Roman history course
  Any ARTV course that includes ancient art

• Any Literature course about ancient Rome

• PHIL 2109 Ancient Greek Philosophy 

No specific number of cognate courses is required. The remaining credits may be program electives in HIST, PHIL, LANG, or LITT, when the subject is history/culture of Ancient Greece or Rome, or cognate courses (approved by the LCST preceptor), not directly related to ancient studies, such as anthropology, psychology, political science, or geography. The normal starting point for these additional courses should be from among the supplementary courses mentioned above, but another foreign language would also be a cognate. Students who test out of the lower levels of the languages may take a greater number of cognate credits. 

For those students who are planning to seek certification for secondary teaching, EDUC 4607 Methods of Teaching World Language (or equivalent) should be one of the cognates. 

Latin and Romance Language

This concentration is intended to show the modern continuation of the ancient language and civilization and will be especially helpful for those considering teaching certification. 

The remaining 24 (or more) credits must contain at least four courses in ancient Roman language, literature, philosophy, history, or art, one of which must be a Senior Project, and one of which must be LANG 2601 World Languages and Culture. Cognates needed to reach the 64 credits required for a major may be more of the same, more language courses, or any other approved subject. 

For students who are planning to seek certification for secondary teaching, EDUC 4607 Methods of Teaching World Language (or the equivalent) should be one of the cognates. 

Ancient Greek Language and Culture

This concentration is for those who want to focus on ancient Greece. 

For students who are planning to seek certification for secondary teaching, EDUC 4607 Methods of Teaching World Language (or its equivalent) should be one of the cognates. 

Latin Language, Roman Culture and Europe

This concentration is for those who want to start with ancient Rome but move on to later European history and would be good for those considering teaching social studies. 

For students who are planning to seek certification for secondary teaching, EDUC 4607 Methods of Teaching World Language (or equivalent) should be one of the cognates. 

All Classics majors are urged to include in their education, if they can, a semester of study in Italy or Greece, and General Studies courses, as available, in mythology (e.g., GAH 1401 Classical Myth and Legend), folklore or ancient daily life (e.g., GAH 1304 Daily Life in Ancient Rome). 

World Languages Concentration

Program Requirements (48 Credits)

The World Languages Concentration is for students who have an interest in language acquisition, but who do not wish to choose just one language of study. However, after having fulfilled the program credit hours, students can continue to accumulate credits in their primary language of study by using their cognate credits to pursue further study at the advanced levels. This major is also intended for students who seek teaching certification in World Languages. 

Foreign Language Minor

(20 credits) 

Requirements for French Minors

Students from all majors can earn a minor in French, Latin, or Greek. The requirements are as follows:

Five LANG-acronym courses for students entering at the Beginning II or a higher level of French, Latin or Greek (ancient or modern). This requirement does not include any beginning LANG I course.

• Transfer students with college credit in French, Latin, or Greek will be entering at the appropriate level of language instruction. A minimum of one 3000-level course taught in the target language must be completed at Stockton to satisfy the 20-credit requirement for a language minor. All the required courses for the minor must be completed in the same language. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward the minor. 

Minor in Ancient Greek and Latin (20 credit)

Students from all majors can earn a minor in Ancient Greek or Latin. The requirements are as follows.
Four language courses in the target language: Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II. The fifth course can be Advanced I/II or any course related to the ancient Greco-Roman worlds. These include Historical Studies (HIST), Literature (LITT), Philosophy and Religion (PHIL), Art History (ARTV), General Studies courses or similar. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward the minor. 

Minor In Foreign Language: Spanish (20 Credits)

Requirements for Spanish Minors

Students from all majors can earn a minor in Spanish. The requirements are as follows:

Five LANG-acronym courses for students entering at the Intermediate I or a higher level of Spanish.

• Transfer students with college credit in Spanish will be entering at the appropriate level of language instruction. A minimum of one 3000 level course taught in the target language must be completed at Stockton to satisfy the 20-credit requirement for a language minor. All the required courses for the minor must be completed in the same language. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses counted toward the minor. 

Graduation with Distinction

A Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in Languages and Culture Studies may be awarded to the student who does consistently distinguished work in his/her program studies. The award with distinction will be confirmed by majority vote of the Languages and Culture Studies program faculty. The minimum criterion is 70% A grades in program and cognate courses. 

Career Opportunities

Students majoring in specific languages can combine their studies with Education for public school teaching certification. In 1996, the State of New Jersey incorporated a World Language Education Program in its Core Curriculum Content Standards and Frameworks for K- 12 students. The need for professionally trained teachers of foreign languages is critical and will increase in the future. A major in Spanish also prepares students for graduate school. 

Combined with other majors, study in modern languages, at least at the level of the minor, can increase employment potential in many fields, especially within the greater metropolitan areas of the United States and in fields that involve working in different countries or branches of business. 

Full details about the curriculum are accessible on the Languages and Culture Studies website.