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ApplyBA in Spanish | BA in Spanish with Teaching Certification | Minor in French or Spanish or German or Middle Eastern Studies (Arabic) | Course Descriptions
Chair: Rhonda Callaway (936) 294-1414
Faculty: Debra D. Andrist, Shirin Edwin, Montserrat Feu-Lopez, James Frankki, David Ross Gerling, Frieda Koeninger, Enrique Mallén, Kay Raymond, Joaquin Rodríguez-Barberá, Rafael Saumell-Muñoz, Manuel Triano-López
Information: (936) 294-1441; ABIV 315; foreignlanguages@shsu.edu
Website: www.shsu.edu/~fol_www
Foreign language study not only enables communication across languages and cultures but opens doors to insights about different cultures and their diverse perspectives of life. Knowledge of languages and cultures provides exciting opportunities for travel and careers.
Academic Programs
- BA in Spanish
- Minors in French, German, Middle Eastern Studies and Spanish
- Courses in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese
Highlights
All languages:
Cultural celebrations
Foreign film festivals
Study Abroad
French
National French Week: November
French Film Club
German
Oktoberfest: October
German Film Club
Spanish
Grito de Dolores: September
Día de la Raza: October
Día de los Muertos: November
Navidad: December
Semana Santa: spring
Suggested Minors
SHSU offers a wide range of courses and area studies particularly applicable to language study minors for individual interests and career goals, especially in Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Professions, History, International Business, Journalism, Mass Media, Music, and Political Science.
Career Opportunities
Professionals with competence in one or more foreign languages are needed in almost all professions: agriculture, business, computer science, criminology, education, the fine arts, government service, industry, international business, medicine, mass media, science, and related areas. The Department of Foreign Languages prepares students for professions requiring a foreign language as a major skill, for graduate school and functions as a service area in career preparation.
Student Organizations and Activities
The Foreign Languages Program sponsors many activities designed to enhance the language student’s linguistic and cultural experiences at Sam Houston State University.
The Foreign Languages Program sponsors Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society and Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society. Students also may participate in the Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish Clubs.
Internships and Study Abroad
Students have the opportunity to study abroad. Students and faculty come together as a community of scholars to study language and different aspects of culture and interact with the community during the summer. SHSU offers courses in countries like Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Qatar, Spain, and Switzerland. Students may take intermediate and advanced courses and courses at all levels in not only language but in such disciplines as Art, Business, Family & Consumer Sciences and Agriculture.
Full semester study abroad experiences in many target-language areas are available through SHSU agreements with universities throughout the world; for more information visit International Programs.
Various credit-bearing internships are also available; for more information visit the Department of Foreign Languages office or the FOL website https://www.shsu.edu/~fol_www/.
Scholarships
Scholarships: Students in languages may apply for the Foreign Languages Scholarship, for the Mozelle Powell Spanish Scholarship, and/or for the Seola Arnaud & R.V. Edwards, Jr. Endowed French Scholarship. For more information, apply on line at Scholar X and contact the Department of Foreign Languages office or visit Foreign Languages. Information on University scholarships may be obtained at the Office of Academic Scholarships or by telephone (936) 294-1672.
Department Specific Requirements
A major in Spanish requires a total of 36 hours of coursework. These include SPAN 1411, SPAN 1412, SPAN 2311, SPAN 2312, plus 22 hours of advanced courses (12 hours of which must be taken in residence.)
Foreign language majors and language students in the teacher certification program must take at least one history or geography course dealing with the country or countries whose language they are studying in order to promote interdisciplinary and international education. Students are required to have a 3.0 or the equivalent in their advanced major/minor teaching areas prior to being permitted to take the certification examinations.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts - Major in Spanish
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Spanish | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | 1st year |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Course | 3 | |
| HIST or GEOG (Related to major/with department approval) | 3 | |
| Major Core | ||
| SPAN 1411 | 4 | |
| SPAN 1412 | 4 | |
| SPAN 2311* | 3 | |
| SPAN 2312 | 3 | |
| Major | ||
| SPAN 3361 and (3000 - 4000 level courses) | 22 | |
| Minor (required) | ||
| SPAN 3361 Open but with approval of Department | 18-27 | |
| Electives (with department approval) | 9-18 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
| Notes | ||
| Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. | ||
| * Course may satisfy both requirements. | ||
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Spanish with Teaching Certification
| Bachelor of Arts - Major in Spanish with Teaching Certification | ||
|---|---|---|
| SHSU Course Number | Hours | Recommended Sequence |
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | 1st year |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | 1st or 2nd year |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| PHIL | 3 | |
| Fine Arts course | 3 | |
| HIST or GEOL (Related to major/with department approval) | 3 | |
| Major Core | ||
| SPAN 1411 | 4 | |
| SPAN 1412 | 4 | |
| SPAN 2311* | 3 | |
| SPAN 2312 | 3 | |
| Major | ||
| SPAN (3000-4000 level courses) | 22 | |
| Education Courses | ||
| CISE 3374 | 3 | |
| CISE 3383 | 3 | |
| CISE 4364 | 3 | |
| CISE 4392 | 3 | |
| CISE 4380 | 3 | |
| CISE 4396 | 3 | |
| CISE 4397 | 3 | |
| Electives (with department approval) | 10 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
| Notes | ||
| Students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42 advanced hour requirement. All students must complete at least 120 hours to graduate. | ||
| * Course may satisfy both requirements. | ||
Minor in (Arabic) Middle Eastern Studies, French or German or Spanish
A minor in French or Spanish requires a total of 23 hours of coursework. These include FREN/SPAN 1411, FREN/SPAN 1412, FREN/SPAN 2311, FREN/SPAN 2312, plus nine hours of advanced courses (six hours of which must be taken in residence.) The German minor requires GERM 1411, GERM 1412, GERM 2311, GERM 2312, GERM 3368, GERM 3380, and GERM 4360. The Middle Eastern Studies minor includes a track A (Arabic language) and a track B (non-language).
Track A
- Three courses of Arabic: ARAB 1412, ARAB 2311, ARAB 2312: 9 credit hours
- Two of the following courses:
POLS 3375: Politics of the Middle East
HIST 3336: The Middle East Since 1700
SOCI 3336: Social Change and Development: 6 credit hours - One of the following courses:
FACS 4445: Middle and Far Eastern Foods
SOCI 3342: Sociology of Religion
ARAB 3380: The Contemporary Arab World: 3 credit hours
TOTAL HOURS: 18-19 credit hours
Track B
- Three of the following courses:
HIST 3335: The Middle East from 500-1700
HIST 3336: The Middle East Since 1700
POLS 3375: Politics of the Middle East
SOCI 3336: Social Change and Development: 9 credit hours - Three of the following courses:
FACS 4445: Middle and Far Eastern Foods (4 credit hours)
ARAB 4375: Special Topics in Arabic Studies
POLS 4381: Problems in Political Science
HIST 4375: Readings in History
SOCI 3342: Sociology of Religion: 9-10 credit hours
TOTAL HOURS: 18-19 credit hours
Students may take POLS 4381 or HIST 4375 or ARAB 4375 more than once for credit toward the minor if the topics are different. Topics in these courses must be on the Middle East. Departments will offer the courses with a Middle East focus once a year. In addition, ARAB 1311, ARAB 1312, ARAB 2311, or ARAB 2312 may be substituted for any six hours in block 2 classes of Track B.
Foreign Language Requirement: The 12-14 semester hour requirement consists of four courses in one language: 1411, 1412, 2311, and 2312. These courses must be taken in sequence. No two courses in the series may be taken concurrently without the written approval of the Department Chair. The requirement reads “12-14 hours” to accommodate transfer students from institutions that award only 3 hours credit for each semester of the first year.
Credit-by-Examination/Placement Examination: The University offers a CLEP subject exam in order to determine the amount of credit to be given for courses which need not be taken because of adequate performance on the examination. Inquiries should be directed to the Office of Testing.
