Modern Languages and Cultures

Return to: Colleges, Schools & Departments

Study Abroad Opportunities

The Department of Modern Languages has a unique and vital role to play in preparing students to study abroad. The ability to speak the language and to appreciate the cultural life of another nation greatly enhances the experience. The Department actively encourages all students to plan to study abroad as part of their academic programs.

Academic year, semester and summer programs are available. Most language majors take advantage of study abroad to enhance their command of language and culture.

Students who plan to study abroad generally do so their junior year, after completing the Undergraduate Curriculum requirements and acquiring basic knowledge of the foreign language they are studying. Students can stay for one or two semesters and take courses for their major. Any course at the 201 level or higher completed abroad in the local language counts toward a major or minor, provided it is not a repetition of a course taken in Glenside. Locations for study include Granada, Mallorca Barcelona, Chile, and Cuba for Spanish; Rome, Florence, and Perugia for Italian and Paris for French.

In addition to language courses, students can select courses from literature, culture, cinema, history, political science, economics, philosophy and other disciplines. Study in other countries also can be arranged. Visit the Arcadia University website for more information.

Since it is important that students plan ahead for study abroad, they should consult with their advisers as soon as possible and make their intentions known to the Department Chair and the the Office of Study Away ((215) 572-8514), which is located on the first floor of Taylor Hall.

About the Program

• Preparation for graduate study
• Preparation for teaching
• Preparation for careers in business, media & communication, social services, healthcare, education or government
• Minors in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Linguistics
• Courses in American Sign Language, Japanese and Russian
• Internships in the Hispanic community in Philadelphia
• Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world

Objectives

Proficiency in a language in addition to English is an increasingly important tool for a career in business, communications, social services, healthcare, education or government.

Modern Languages and Cultures programs focus on the study of language, culture, literature and film within each international language group. Students who pursue a major in Spanish, Italian or French can take advantage of a wide range of courses in the language, culture and literature of Spain, Latin America, Italy, and France, and Francophone countries respectively.

Modern Languages and Cultures programs include a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Spanish Cultural Studies, Italian Cultural Studies, French and Francophone Studies, and minors in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Linguistics. Also available are courses at the beginning level in American Sign Language and Russian.  Intermediate courses are offered in Japanese. Modern Language courses emphasize both language proficiency and cultural understanding. Fluency and accuracy of language are the basis for effective communication. At the same time, students can begin to relate to the cultural aspects of the language they are studying through authentic written materials. Classes are taught in the target language, and small-group activities involve students in active learning.

Critical thinking is encouraged from beginning courses through advanced courses in literature, culture, cinema, history, political science, economics, philosophy and other disciplines. Students who intend to continue a language studied previously (in high school or elsewhere) take a placement test and enroll in the course designated by the Department. The completion of the 101-201 level sequence (or its equivalent) is required for all courses above 201.

The Department supports chapters of Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honor society, and Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society and Gamma Kappa Alpha, the national Italian honor society. Students of Spanish, French, and Italian are involved in the multicultural community at Arcadia University in many ways.

Programs

• French and Francophone Studies, B.A.
• Italian Cultural Studies, B.A.
• Spanish Cultural Studies, B.A.
• Spanish, B.A.

• French, Minor
• Italian, Minor
• Linguistics, Minor
• Spanish, Minor

Courses

• AS 102 Beginning American Sign Language II

• FR 101 Beginning French I
• FR 102 Beginning French II
• FR 201 Intermediate French I
• FR 202 Intermediate French Language and Culture
• FR 203 French Conversation I
• FR 204 French Conversation II
• FR 242 The Culture of French Business
• FR 285 Selected Topics in French
• FR 305 Contemporary France
• FR 306 Francophone Culture and Civilization
• FR 314 Readings in French
• FR 325 Francophone Cultures Through Film
• FR 326 Advanced French Through Cinema
• FR 385 French Literary Movements
• FR 389 Independent Study: French
• FR 490 French Senior Thesis I
• FR 491 French Senior Thesis II

• GM 101 Beginning German I
• GM 102 Beginning German II
• GM 201 Intermediate German I
• GM 202 Intermediate German Language and Culture I
• GM 203 German Conversation
• GM 285 Special Topics in German
• GM 326 German Culture Through Film

• IT 101 Beginning Italian I
• IT 102 Beginning Italian II
• IT 201 Intermediate Italian I
• IT 202 Intermediate Italian Language and Culture
• IT 203 Italian Conversation and Diction I
• IT 204 Italian Conversation and Diction II
• IT 216 Italian through Art
• IT 226 Italian Language and Culture through Cinema
• IT 231 The Mafia and Beyond
• IT 232 The Italian American Experience
• IT 285 Special Topics in Italian
• IT 314 Introduction to Italian Literature
• IT 315 La Divina Commedia: Inferno
• IT 389 Independent Study: Italian
• IT 490 Italian Senior Thesis I
• IT 491 Italian Senior Thesis II

• JA 101 Beginning Japanese I
• JA 102 Beginning Japanese II
• JA 201 Intermediate Japanese I
• JA 202 Intermediate Japanese Language and Culture
• JA 203 Japanese Conversation
• JA 205 Japanese Culture
• JA 215 Introduction to Japanese Literature

• LING 101 Introduction to Linguistics
• LING 200 Phonetics and Phonology
• LING 205 Sociolinguistics
• LING 207 Second Language Acquisition
• LING 308 Psycholinguistics

• ML 370 Career Internship in Modern Languages

• RU 101 Beginning Russian I
• RU 102 Beginning Russian II

• SP 101 Beginning Spanish I
• SP 102 Beginning Spanish II
• SP 201 Intermediate Spanish I
• SP 202 Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture
• SP 203 Spanish Conversation I
• SP 204 Spanish Conversation II
• SP 233 Spanish Composition
• SP 235 Spanish through Translation
• SP 240 Spanish for Medical Careers
• SP 241 Spanish for Social Services
• SP 242 Spanish for Business
• SP 270 The Hispanic Experience in Philadelphia
• SP 285 Selected Topics in Spanish
• SP 305 Spanish Culture and Civilization
• SP 306 Latin American Culture and Civilization
• SP 307 Spanish Pop Culture
• SP 314 Contemporary Spanish Literature
• SP 315 Contemporary Latin American Literature
• SP 324 Survey of Spanish Literature
• SP 325 Survey of Latin American Literature
• SP 326 The Hispanic World Through Film
• SP 327 Iconic Women of Spain
• SP 333 Advanced Spanish Composition
• SP 389 Independent Study: Spanish
• SP 490 Senior Thesis
• SP 491 Senior Thesis II

• FR 310 French Women Writers and Other Troublemakers

Return to: Colleges, Schools & Departments