Academic Programs Catalog

The Minor in Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, administered by the Department of Romance and Classical Studies, provides a general foundation for the range of subspecialties that together inform us about the classical past and its impact on contemporary society. Students gain an appreciation for diverse ways in which the classical and ancient Mediterranean world continues to influence our lives today and are given the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect of the classical past.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Romance and Classical Studies.

Requirements for the Minor in Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Complete a minimum of 18 credits from the following. At least one course must be at the 300- or 400-level. 

The forward-looking mission of the French and Francophone Studies Program is sensitive to the vital role that languages and cultural awareness play in preparing students to be future leaders in their fields and socially and globally responsible citizens. The French and Francophone Studies Program has mission is: to help students advance their knowledge of the French language, and the cultural heritages and the literary traditions of France and the Francophone world and to pursue original research in these areas; to lead students to develop complex reasoning skills, synthesize, integrate, and apply disciplinary knowledge to understand broader social, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary issues; to guide undergraduate and graduate students to appreciate and study these subjects and to mentor them throughout their academic and professional careers.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in French

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in French.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the French major is met by completing French 320 or 340. Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. (1) below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following French courses (30 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	The following courses (15 credits):
   		FRN	310	Stepping into the 20th Century and Beyond			3
   		FRN	320	Exploring Diversity and Minorities in the Francosphere			3
   		FRN	330	Progressing in French Pronuniciation			3
   		FRN	340	Connecting with the Literatures of the Francosphere			3
   		FRN	350	Connecting with the Cultures of the Francosphere			3
   		Note: FRN 391 Special Topics in Study Abroad may substitute for one of the 300-level required courses.
   	(2)	Complete an additional 15 credits from the following in French courses at the 400-level to meet the requirement of 30 credits in courses in the major:
   		FRN	420	French for Professional Uses			3
   		FRN	430	Perspectives in the French Language			3
   		FRN	440	Perspectives in Literature and the Arts of the Francosphere			3
   		FRN	450	Perspectives in the Cultures of the Francosphere			3
   		FRN	491	Special Topics in Study Abroad			3
   		A maximum of 9 credits may be earned in each of the 400-level courses above to enable students to focus on a concentration.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in French Education degree connects the learning of the French language and cultures to the training necessary to become a passionate and competent French teacher. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and immersion education allows students to creatively articulate meaningful links that they can share with their future students.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in French Education
 

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in French Education. 
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the French Education major is met by completing French 340 and 350.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following French courses (30 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (15 credits):
   		FRN	310	Stepping into the 20th Century and Beyond					3
   		FRN	320	Exploring Diversity and Minorities in the Francosphere					3
   		FRN	330	Progressing in French Pronuniciation					3
   		FRN	340	Connecting with the Literatures of the Francosphere (W)					3
   		FRN	350	Connecting with the Cultures of the Francosphere (W)					3
   		Note: FRN 391 Special Topics in Study Abroad may substitute for one of the 300-level required courses.
   	(2)	Complete an additional 15 credits from the following in French courses at the 400-level to meet the requirement of 30 credits in courses in the major:
   		FRN	420	French for Professional Uses					3
   		FRN	430	Perspectives in the French Language					3
   		FRN	440	Perspectives in Literature and the Arts of the Francosphere					3
   		FRN	450	Perspectives in the Cultures of the Francosphere					3
   		FRN	491	Special Topics in Study Abroad					3
   		A maximum of 9 credits may be earned in each of the 400-level courses above to enable students to focus on a concentration.
   b.      The following Professional Education Courses in the Department of Teacher Education (36 credits):
   	All of the following courses from the shared professional sequence (18 credits):
   	CEP	240	Introduction to Exceptional Learners						3
   	TE	101	Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education						3
   	TE	102	Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education						3
   	TE	150	Reflections on Learning						3
   	TE	302	Literacy and Adolescent Learners in School and Community Contexts						3
   	TE	341	Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners						3
   	TE	334	Clinical Experiences in World Language Education I						3
   	TE	434	Clinical Experiences in World Language Education II						3
   	TE	435	Seminar in World Language Education I						3
   	TE	436	Seminar in World Language Education II						3
   	TE	437	Student Teaching Internship in World Language Education						6

The Minor in French, which is administered by the Department of Romance and Classical Studies, will provide students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of the French language and French and Francophone cultures.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in French.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in French.

Requirements for the Minor in French

The Minor in Italian, which is administered by the Department of Romance and Classical Studies, will provide students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of Italian language and cultures. Graduates with a minor in Italian will see an advantage in their job search as they will be able to demonstrate to employers a recognized level of achievement in Italian and to combine their interest in Italy with their career goals.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in Italian.

Requirements for the Minor in Italian

The Spanish language program fosters the study of the human experience as expressed in the language, dialects, literatures, and cultures of Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Students have the opportunity to take courses across the curriculum or focus on a specific area of interest. Areas of focus are: the Spanish language, the Literature of Spain, the Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean and Spanish Linguistics.  The MSU Spanish program connects the learning of the Spanish language to the acquisition of practical skills that are immediately useful in real-world settings. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and immersion education allows students to creatively articulate meaningful links with other specializations and offers them various ways to confidently define their future career paths. Students who major or minor in Spanish are introduced to unique opportunities for self-enrichment, professional growth and academic success through study abroad programs (in Spain, Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina), through undergraduate research opportunities with faculty deeply dedicated to mentoring, teaching and research, and through numerous extra-curricular activities and opportunities for service fostering the development of leadership and organizational skills.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Spanish major is met by completing Spanish 320 and 350. Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. (1) below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following Spanish courses (36 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (27 credits):
   		SPN	310	Basic Spanish Grammar			3
   		SPN	320	Cultural Readings  and Composition (W)			3
   		SPN	330	Phonetics and Pronunciation			3
   		SPN	342	Media and Conversation			3
   		SPN	350	Introduction to Reading Hispanic Literature (W)			3
   		SPN	412	Topics in Hispanic Culture			3
   		SPN	420	Spain and its Literature			3
   		SPN	432	Latin America and its Literature			3
   		SPN	440	The Structure of Spanish			3
   		See the Department for an approved list of courses which may be used to substitute for Spanish 412.
   	(2)	Three of the following courses (9 credits):
   		SPN	452	Topics in Spanish Language I			3
   		SPN	462	Topics in Spanish Literature			3
   		SPN	472	Topics in the Literatures of the Americas			3
   		SPN	482	Topics in Spanish Linguistics			3
   		SPN	491	Special Topics in Spanish			3
   		Each course may be repeated for up to 9 credits.
   	(3)	Spanish electives:  Additional credits in 400–level Spanish courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 36, but not more than 40, credits in the major.
   b.	Intensive contact with Spanish is required in order to learn the language. Students majoring in Spanish are expected to study abroad for at least eight weeks, but should a student be unable to meet that expectation, one  of the following options must be approved:
   	(1)	internship for at least eight weeks in a Spanish-speaking environment.
   	(2)	service learning for at least eight weeks in a Spanish-speaking environment.
   	Majors and teaching minors are strongly encouraged to take their second Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities course in Spanish, if this option is available.
   	Any student who cannot complete the required experiential component must enroll in Spanish 492 Senior Writing Project for 1 credit. The completion of the experiential requirement or Spanish 492 satisfies the capstone course requirement for the Spanish major.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish Education degree fosters the study of the human experience as expressed in the language, dialects, literatures, and cultures of Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Students have the opportunity to take courses across the curriculum or focus on a specific area of interest such as the Spanish language, the Literature of Spain, the Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean and Spanish Linguistics. The Spanish Education degree connects the learning of the Spanish language and cultures to the training necessary to become a passionate and competent Spanish teacher. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and immersion education allows students to creatively articulate meaningful links that they can share with their future students.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish Education

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Education.
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Spanish Education major is met by completing Spanish 320 and 350.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following Spanish courses (36 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (27 credits):
   		SPN	310	Basic Spanish Grammar					3
   		SPN	320	Cultural Readings and Composition (W)					3
   		SPN	330	Phonetics and Pronunciation					3
   		SPN	342	Media and Conversation					3
   		SPN	350	Introduction to Reading Hispanic Literature (W)					3
   		SPN	412	Topics in Hispanic Culture					3
   		SPN	420	Spain and its Literature					3
   		SPN	432	Latin America and its Literature					3
   		SPN	440	The Structure of Spanish					3
   		See the department for an approved list of courses which may be used to substitute for Spanish 412.
   	(2)	Three of the following courses (9 credits):
   		SPN	452	Topics in Spanish Language I					3
   		SPN	462	Topics in Spanish Literature					3
   		SPN	472	Topics in the Literatures of the Americas					3
   		SPN	482	Topics in Spanish Linguistics					3
   		SPN	491	Special Topics in Spanish					3
   				Each course may be repeated for up to 9 credits.
   	(3)	Spanish electives:  Additional credits in 400–level Spanish courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 36, but not more than 40, credits in the major.
   b.	Intensive contact with Spanish is required in order to learn the language. Students majoring in Spanish are expected to study abroad for at least eight weeks, but should a student be unable to meet that expectation, one of the following options must be approved:
   	(1)	internship for at least eight weeks in a Spanish-speaking environment.
   	(2)	service learning for at least eight weeks in a Spanish-speaking environment.
   	Majors and teaching minors are strongly encouraged to take their second Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities course in Spanish, if this option is available. Any student who cannot complete the required experiential component must enroll in Spanish 492 Senior Writing Project for 1 credit. The completion of the experiential requirement or Spanish 492 satisfies the capstone course requirement for the Spanish major.
   c.	The following Professional Education Courses in the Department of Teacher Education (36 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses from the shared professional sequence (18 credits):
   		CEP	240	Introduction to Exceptional Learners					3
   		TE	101	Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education					3
   		TE	102	Pedagogy and Politics of Justice and Equity in Education					3
   		TE	150	Reflections on Learning					3
   		TE	302	Literacy and Adolescent Learners in School and Community Contexts					3
   		TE	341	Teaching and Learning of (Bi)Multilingual Learners					3
   		TE	334	Clinical Experiences in World Language Education I					3
   		TE	434	Clinical Experiences in World Language Education II					3
   		TE	435	Seminar in World Language Education I					3
   		TE	436	Seminar in World Language Education II					3
   		TE	437	Student Teaching Internship in World Language Education					6

The Minor in Spanish, which is administered by the Department of Romance and Classical Studies, will promote study of the liberal arts and assist in creating more globally aware, internationally focused graduates with knowledge of the language as well as the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in Spanish.

Requirements for the Minor in Spanish

The Minor in Portuguese, which is administered by the Department of Romance and Classical Studies,  promotes study of the liberal arts and assist in creating more globally aware, internationally focused graduates with knowledge of the language as well as the cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Romance and Classical Studies.

Requirements for the Minor in Portuguese
Complete 15 credits from the following:

The Master of Arts degree in French and Francophone Studies provides students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of French and Francophone literatures, cultures, and linguistics while developing the skills necessary to engage these fields in a critical, professional way. The Master of Arts in French and Francophone Studies is the first step in any number of careers, teaching in secondary schools or community colleges, working in government or industry (interdisciplinary studies concentration), or pursuing further study in a doctoral program (both concentrations).

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must also meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree program in French on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor's degree in French, or have completed the courses in French that are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in French at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
2. A grade–point average of at least 3.00 in undergraduate French language and literature courses.
3. Letters of recommendation from three professors who are qualified to assess the applicant's ability to pursue advanced graduate study in French.
4. Academic writing samples in French and English.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in French and Francophone Studies

The program is available under Plan A (with thesis) and  Plan B (without thesis). A total of 33 or 34 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the graduate advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in French and Francophone Studies provides course work in the languages, literature, and cultures of France and the Francosphere.  Students who are enrolled in the program complete a concentration in literary and cultural studies or in interdisciplinary studies.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in French and Francophone Studies, an applicant must:

1. Have a master’s degree in French or equivalent, or a total of 30 credits of approved course work.
2. Have a grade-point average of at least 3.00 in graduate courses in French.
3. Have letters of recommendation from three professors who are qualified to assess the applicant’s ability to pursue advanced graduate study in French.
4. Have academic writing samples in French and English.
5. Have a reading knowledge of a language other than French and English. This requirement may be completed once admitted into the program through additional course work. Non-native speakers of French are also required to submit a language proficiency evaluation form.

Guidance Committee

Initially, the student’s guidance committee must consist of three or four tenure-stream Michigan State University faculty members. After the student has passed the Ph.D. examinations, the dissertation committee consists of at least four faculty members, two of which must be members of the Department of Romance and Classical Studies. The chair of the dissertation committee must be a tenure-stream faculty member in French.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in French and Francophone Studies

The Master of Arts degree program in Hispanic Literatures is designed primarily for students who plan to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree and to join the faculties of colleges or universities as scholars and teachers.  The program provides study in the language, literatures, and cultures of Spain and Latin America, with an emphasis on Spanish and Spanish–American literatures and scholarly investigation.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree program in Hispanic Literatures on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor's degree in Spanish, or have completed the courses in Spanish that are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
2. A grade–point average of at least 3.00 in undergraduate Spanish language and literature courses.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Hispanic Literatures

The program is available under Plan A (with thesis) or  Plan B (without thesis).  A minimum of 30 credits is required for the degree.  The student's program of study must be approved by the graduate advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Hispanic Cultural Studies provides study in the literature, language and cultures of Spain and Latin America.  Students will select a primary and a secondary area of emphasis.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Cultural Studies with regular status, all applicants must:

1. Possess a master’s degree in Spanish or Hispanic Studies or a total of 30 credit hours of satisfactorily approved course work.
2. A grade-point average of at least 3.25 in undergraduate Spanish language, literature and culture M.A. course work.
3. Submit letters of recommendation from three professionals who are familiar with their work and qualified to assess applicant’s ability to pursue advanced graduate study.
4. Demonstrate English language proficiency.
5. Submit all application materials as required by the Graduate School's Office of Admissions.

Guidance Committee

Of the four regular faculty required for the guidance committee, at least three must be members of the Spanish faculty.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Hispanic Cultural Studies

1. The student must complete 24 credits of graduate course work beyond the Master of Arts degree as approved by the student's guidance committee.
2. The following course:
   SPN    807    Literary Theory        3
   An approved equivalent of this course may be approved by the graduate advisor.
3. Demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages other than Spanish that have a body of literature or criticism relevant to the student’s area of specialization.
4. Teach at least one college-level course in Spanish and submit a detailed prospectus of the final dissertation project and a preliminary bibliography to the guidance committee.
5. Pass comprehensive examinations.
6. Submit a dissertation based on original research.
7. Successfully defend the dissertation.

The Master of Arts degree in Spanish as a Second or Bilingual Language provides the foundation and academic preparation to pursue advanced work in Spanish linguistics and further develop fluency in the Spanish language. Students will actively engage with scholarly work in the area of Spanish second language acquisition, sociolinguistics, syntax, and historical linguistics through reading, writing, and discussion. Students gain a cultural understanding and behavior as they study language acquisition and social patterns of language use.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree in Spanish as a Second or Bilingual Language, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor’s degree in Spanish or in Linguistics or a bachelor’s-equivalent degree in Spanish philology (international students) with course work in Spanish at the 400-level.
2. Completed Linguistics 401 or its equivalent. This may be completed during the first semester of the master’s program, if admitted. This course will not count towards the credit requirements for the degree.