B.A. in Global Languages and Cultures, Track in French or Spanish for the Professions

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 33-37

Foundation Requirements (5-9 credits)

All students must complete the following two courses or demonstrate proficiency as determined by the department.

If you took FREN 102 - Elementary French II OR SPAN 102 - Elementary Spanish II at Geneseo OR placed into 213 via the placement exam score: 

• FREN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture, and Communication Credit(s): 4 OR SPAN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture and Communication Credit(s): 4 + LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages Credit(s): 1 (pre or co-requisite) 

If you took FREN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture, and Communication OR SPAN 213 - Intermediate Grammar, Culture and Communication at Geneseo OR placed into 301 via the placement exam score:

• FREN 301 - Written Expression Credit(s): 4 or SPAN 301 - Oral and Written Communication Credit(s): 4 + LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages Credit(s): 1 (pre or co-requisite) 

Global Languages and Cultures Study (16 credits)

All students must take four courses, 16 credits of language and culture study, in a single language, French or Spanish.

• Any four (4) courses FREN OR SPAN courses at the 300 or 400 level.

Specialization (12 credits)

All students must select one area of specialization that meets the 12-credit requirement. For example: 3 courses at 4 credits or 4 courses at 3 credits.

• Major in Global Languages and Cultures with Specialization in French or Spanish for the Professions + Area Focus: 12 credits in one of the following areas of focus (students may take courses outside of the Department):

Area of focus in Global (Applied) Linguistics - 13 credits 

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, prerequisite courses may be needed. 

• ANTH 231 - Language and Gender Credit(s): 3
• ANTH 305 - Linguistic Methods Credit(s): 3
• ANTH 328 - Language Socialization Credit(s): 3
• EDUC 277 - Methods of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Credit(s): 4

Area of focus in Global Public Health - 12 credits 

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, prerequisite courses may be needed.

• ANTH 238 - Ethnomedicine in Latin America and the Caribbean Credit(s): 3
• ANTH 311 - Language of Healing Credit(s): 3 (PreReq: ANTH 120 or ANTH 202)
• ANTH 313 - Global Health Issues Credit(s): 3 (PreReq: ANTH 100 or ANTH 202)
• ANTH 317 - Human Osteology Credit(s): 3 (PreReq: ANTH 105 or BIOL 103)
• ANTH 322 - Anthropology of Borderlands Credit(s): 3  (Spring course with Study Away travel during spring break)
• ANTH 326 - Race, Racism and Antiracism in the Americas Credit(s): 3
• ANTH 336 - Forensic Anthropology Credit(s): 3 (PreReq: ANTH 105 or BIOL 103)
• ANTH 343 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Women’s Health Credit(s): 3 (PreReq: ANTH 100 or ANTH 202)

Area of focus in Global Translation -  12 credits

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, prerequisite courses may be needed.

• ENGL 207 - Creative Writing Approaches to Contemporary Global Challenges: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
• RUSS 205 - Russian for Reading Knowledge Credit(s): 4
• COMN 317 - Culture and Communication Credit(s): 4
• COMN 462 - International Mass Communication Credit(s): 4

Area of focus in Global Business  - 12 credits 

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, prerequisite courses may be needed.

• INTD 205 - Business Communications Credit(s): 3
• FNCE 316 - International Finance Credit(s): 3
• ECON 364 - International Trade and Economic Policy Credit(s): 3
• ECON 365 - International Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
• FREN 335 - French for the Professions: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
• SPAN 335 - Spanish for the Professions: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4

Area of focus in Global Politics  - 12 credits 

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor, prerequisite courses may be needed.

• PLSC 140 - International Politics Credit(s): 3
• PLSC 382 - U.S. Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
• PLSC 440 - International Law Credit(s): 3
• PLSC 443 - International Organizations Credit(s): 3

Area of focus: Proficiency in another Global Language  - 12 credits

Courses should be chosen in consultation with your advisor.

[Language] 213

[Language] 301 

[Language] 300- or 400-level course

Individualized Area of focus  -   12 credits

Courses will be determined in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Applied Learning Experience (1 credit)

All students must complete one of the following before graduation:

• Study abroad: To fulfill this requirement, the student will need to submit a self-reflective essay in Spanish or French (approximately 3-4 pages, typed) discussing how the study abroad experience went, what they thought about the program, what was learned, what personal and academic growth occurred, etc. The self-reflective essay must be submitted to a designated departmental faculty member within one month after the completion of the study abroad program.
• Opportunities at Geneseo or in the community: In consultation with their advisor, students will participate in an activity in which they are using French or Spanish in an impactful way. Some examples could be, but are not limited to: Language-based service learning, internships, conference presentations (such as G.R.E.A.T Day), or faculty-mentored, independent undergraduate research.

Minimum Competence Requirement

A grade of C- or better is required for each of the following courses: all 300- and 400-level courses in fulfillment of the requirements for the major.

Department Writing Requirement

During their Junior year, students will write a 500- to 600-word essay in the target language under examination conditions. Students will have 2 hours to write on a topic provided at the time of the examination. Students may use bilingual dictionaries and/or dictionaries of the target language. Written proficiency must be at or above the Advanced Low Level of Proficiency as described in the Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. To take the exam, students must enroll in SPAN 401.  NOTE: The exam can only be attempted once per semester. 

Sample Course Map

Global Languages: Specialization in French or Spanish for the Professions

• First Year
  
  • Fall - 16 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 101 or 102 or 213 or 301. Credit(s): 4.  Co-req. LANG 150 - Introduction to World Languages - Credit(s): 0
    • WRTG 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) - Credit(s): 4
    • Natural Science with lab - Credit(s): 4
    • Global Society: CGC - Credit(s): 3  (this could be met via 213)
  • Spring - 14 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 102  or 213 or 301 - Credit(s): 4
    • Global Society: CAI - Credit(s): 3
    • Global Society: WCV - Credit(s): 4 (this could be met via one of our civ courses in non-Western)
    • Math or Quantitative Methods - Credit(s): 3
• Second Year
  
  • Fall - 16 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 301 or  300-level - Credit(s): 4
    • Global Society: SST - Credit(s): 3
    • Global Society: DPP - Credit(s): 3
    • Elective - Credit(s): 3
    • Elective - Credit(s): 3
  • Spring - 15 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
    • Electives - Credit(s): 11
• Third Year
  
  • Fall - 15 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level  – Credit(s): 4
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level - Credit1(s): 4
    • Professional Specialization course - Credit(s): 3
    • Elective - Credit(s): 4
  • Spring - 14
    
    • Study Abroad - Credit(s): 16 OR
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level (* see above) - Credit(s): 4
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
    • Professional Specialization course - Credit(s): 3
    • Elective - Credit(s): 3
• Fourth Year
  
  • Fall - 15 Credit Hours
    
    • FREN or SPAN 300-level - Credit(s): 4
    • Professional Specialization course course - Credit(s): 3
    • Electives - Credit(s): 8
  • Spring - 15 Credit Hours
    
    • Integrated & Applied Learning - Credit(s): 4
    • Professional Specialization course - Credit(s): 3
    • Electives - Credit(s): 8 

The Global Languages and Cultures major is designed for students who are interested in increasing their language and cultural competency while preparing themselves for careers in today’s global marketplace.

Through the Global Language and Culture study component, students will achieve intermediate high/advanced low level of proficiency while becoming familiar with historical and contemporary global issues from a cultural, linguistic, and literary perspective. 

Through the Specialization component, students focus their studies on topics that combine their knowledge of French or Spanish with classes both within and outside of the department. This innovative, interdisciplinary major provides solid preparation for graduate study and a wide variety of careers at home and abroad. 

Students pursuing the B.A. in Global Languages and Cultures will complete a minimum of eight classes in three areas (Foundation Requirement, Global Languages and Cultures Study, Specialization) and participate in one Applied Learning Experience (1 credit) for a total of 33-37 hours (depending upon placement). Beyond 301, there are no specific requirements. Students will choose from the 300- or 400-level courses offered by the department to complete their program.   The specialization courses may be taken inside or outside of the department, depending upon the specialization chosen.

Program Page in Undergraduate Bulletin