School of Languages and Literature

Professor Cindy McClenagan, Dean

Professor Joshua Mora, Associate Dean

Professors Steve Michael, James Waller

Associate Professors Timothy Brady, Deborah Kuhlmann, Brent Lynn

Assistant Professors Laura Brandenburg, Troy Gregory, Erin Heath, Maria O’Connell, José Rubio, Karen Beth Strovas

Emeritus Professors Don L. Cook, Christa Smith

The School of Languages and Literature includes the department of English and modern languages: Spanish, Chinese, French, German, and Latin.

Purpose

The School of Languages and Literature offers majors in English and Spanish, with English specializations available in American Literature, British Literature, and Professional Writing.  Minors are offered in Chinese, German, Latin, and Professional Writing.

Courses in both composition and literature seek to provide training in the techniques and skills necessary to produce acceptable, effective written expression. While the latter are designed to acquaint students with prose and poetry of recognized merit, the study of composition, literature, and language develop in students an intelligent understanding and appreciation of the written and spoken word as an integral part of life.

Entering freshmen whose ACT score in English is 16 or lower are required to enroll in ACAC 0330  before attempting ENGL 1301 . Credit may be given for satisfactory scores on the English sections of ACT, SAT I, CLEP, or Advanced Placement (AP). (See the ” Credit by Examination  ” section of the catalog for more information.)

Spanish is important because of the proximity of our Spanish-speaking neighbors. It is necessary to form close, clear, cultural, and commercial ties with them. The courses in Spanish are planned to give the students an insight into Latin America, its Spanish origins, and its diversified national developments, as well as a foundation for efficient communication skills in the Spanish language.

German courses are designed to give the student a reading and speaking knowledge of the German language and an introduction to German literature. Since language is a vital expression of the mentality of a people, such training will help the student to understand better the nature of the German people. Courses also prepare students to become acquainted with German contributions to the fields of art, science, and philosophy.

French has long been the language of choice for students of the arts and literature. The courses offered will meet foundation requirements as well as the B.A. degree requirements.

Both Latin and Mandarin Chinese were recently added to the collection of foreign languages offered by the School of Languages and Literature. The traditional appeal of Latin, as well as the growing interest in Mandarin Chinese and the Chinese culture, makes these courses worthy additions to our foreign language offerings.

***CHIN, FREN, GERM, LATN, and SPAN 1301 and CHIN, FREN, GERM, LATN, and SPAN 1302 may be taught at external campuses as three-hour courses without additional emphasis given to the communicative aspect.***

Programs

• Chinese, Minor
• English, American Literature Specialization, B.A.
• English, B.A.
• English, British Literature Specialization, B.A.
• English, Minor
• English, Professional Writing Specialization, B.A.
• English/Language Arts (grades 7-12), B.A.
• German, Minor
• Latin, Minor
• Professional Writing, Minor
• Spanish (grades 6-12), B.A.
• Spanish, B.A.
• Spanish, Minor