Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

World Languages and Cultures

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Department Chairperson: Dr. Norval Bard
World Languages and Cultures Faculty

Mission Statement

Modern Language programs prepare students to be informed global citizens by developing the linguistic and cultural skills needed to interact in personal and professional contexts throughout the world. Our programs provide instruction in a highly interactive and challenging environment while strongly advocating international experience.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers majors and/or minors in Chinese, French, French and Francophone Studies, German, German Studies, Japanese, Spanish and Professional Spanish. Additionally, the Department offers a full range of courses in Latin, and some courses in Arabic and Ancient Greek. The Department is also the home for the TESOL minor, and we offer supporting courses for students looking into teacher licensure.

Degree offered: B.A.

Study of a second language enables students to fulfill the goals of a traditional liberal arts education while preparing them to meet the professional and societal challenges of the future. North Central College’s commitment to fostering intercultural awareness across the curriculum makes language study particularly relevant for students in various disciplines, including Art, Business, English, History, Global Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology and Anthropology and Theatre. Many graduate programs in these fields require competency in a second language, and an increasing number of employers are actively seeking graduates who can demonstrate proficiency in another language.

Licensure for the teaching of language at the secondary level is available in Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The Department of World Languages and Cultures also offers courses that support the minor in English Language Learning (ELL) that language students may find interesting.

Upon completion of the major program, students should possess the speaking, writing and reading skills necessary to function effectively in a broad range of personal and professional contexts. Students will also have a fuller understanding of and appreciation for the social, political and ethnic history of another culture. The language programs at North Central College provide many opportunities for students to develop their language skills in informal settings outside the classroom. Language tables, film festivals, field trips to museums, exhibits, theaters, concerts and restaurants throughout the greater Chicago area are important components of our programs.

Students who would like to continue a language previously studied must take a placement exam. New first-year and transfer students without college-level foreign language course work who studied Chinese, French, German, Japanese or Spanish prior to enrolling at NCC may receive credit for work completed in high school. To receive credit, students may choose one of the following options: (1) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) (see CLEP Guidelines ), or (2) Advanced Placement Test (AP) (see AP Guidelines ). Note: Students who receive credit for work completed in high school and who wish to major or minor in language are strongly encouraged to take additional course work beyond the minimum major/minor requirements.

Note: Once CHNS 202, FREN 202, GRMN 202, JAPN 202 or SPAN 202 or a higher course has been successfully completed, courses below the level of 202 in the same language may not be taken for credit except with consent of the Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Study Abroad is encouraged by the Department to enrich the academic and personal experiences of our students. The College currently sponsors the following study abroad opportunities that are directly related to our programs: Chinese: Beijing, Shanghai (China), Taichung (Taiwan); French: Angers (France); German: Universität Erfurt (Germany); Japanese: Chiba, Kyoto, Morioka, Nagoya,Tokyo (Japan); Spanish: Granada, Seville (Spain), San José (Costa Rica), Viña del Mar (Chile); Classical Civilization: Athens (Greece). Other opportunities may be arranged through the Center for Global Education .

Programs

    MajorMinor

    Courses

      ArabicChineseChinese StudiesFrenchFrench and Francophone StudiesGermanGerman StudiesGreekHispanic StudiesJapanesePage: 1 | 2

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