1
RIT College of Liberal Arts
Concentrations
and
Minors
in
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Department of Modern Languages & Cultures
Modern Language & Technology Center, Bldg. 1, RIT
REVISED JANUARY 2011
Note:
Students: allow yourselves enough time to complete your Liberal Arts concentration or minor. Do not wait until your junior year to begin your minor, or your senior year to begin your concentration.
You are strongly encouraged to begin your Foreign Language concentrations and minors early in your studies at RIT. It may take two years to finish a concentration and it may take three years to complete a minor, if you get out of sequence.
Modern Languages & Cultures Department Chair: Professor Hiroko Yamashita
Office 01-3239, Phone 475-6074, Email =
Staff Assistant: Ms. Rosemary Parker, , 01-3260, Tel. 475-2018
SILP/WORLD Languages Program Coordinator (currently Russian, Portuguese and Advanced Arabic): Professor Diane Forbes—01-3197, Tel. 475-6765,
Advisors to the minors & concentrations:
Japanese—Prof. Hiroko Yamashita
German—Prof. Wilma Wierenga
Spanish—Prof. Diane Forbes
French—Prof. Philippe Chavasse
Italian—Prof. Elisabetta D’Amanda
Chinese—Prof. Hiroko Yamashita
Arabic—Prof. Diane Forbes
Russian—Prof. Diane Forbes
ASL—Prof. Hiroko
Latino/Latina/Latin American—Prof. Forbes
(For possible future Portuguese concentration/minor see Prof. Forbes)
Consult the RIT Liberal Arts website () and the
Department of Modern Languages & Cultures website:
for information.
*ALWAYS consult with the concentration/minor advisor or another professor of your language for placement evaluation before registering for a course if it is your first RIT course in a language that you have studied previously elsewhere. Placement tests are available in most languages. You must consult the advisor of Russian and Portuguese in order to register as a beginner in level 1 and if placement is needed at higher levels.
You can declare a foreign language concentration online, follow the steps on the Liberal Arts website . You must see the language’s advisor to fill out a Minor Authorization Form to declare a foreign language minor.
You may transfer only one course into a concentration* and you may transfer only two courses into a minor*, if needed, and only with the permission of the language advisor. You will need a Concentration/Minor Course Substitution Form. (*See language advisor about transferring Study Abroad credits.)
When in doubt about registering for a foreign language course, always consult the language advisor or the course professor, not staff from other colleges or departments. Go directly to the source. All (and only) Beginning level 1 foreign language courses count as Arts of Expression courses.
Foreign Language Concentrations
This concentration is currently offered in Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
The concentration consists of two courses in the same language above Beginning Level I and one related culture course. (If you have prior study of the language, you start with the course which is at your current level of proficiency as determined by placement test.)
True beginners must start with Beginning level 1 (in the language of your choice). Beginning level 1 counts as Arts of Expression or a Liberal Arts Elective. The concentration and minor start with Beginning level II (or higher). If you have studied the language previously in high school, in another college, or you have some other experience in speaking the language, you must consult the language advisor or another professor in that language for placement evaluation before you register.
Important Information:
- Evening students may not declare this concentration.
- Fluent native speakers of a language offered at RIT may not choose a concentration in that language.
- Residency requirement: two out of the three required courses of the concentration must be taken at RIT: only one course may be transferred into the concentration if necessary, with faculty approval. RIT courses are preferred.
- Students with prior knowledge of the language must see an instructor for placement at the appropriate level.
This interdisciplinary concentration allows students to study the language and aspects of culture of one particular country or language area. Students will choose two sequential language courses beyond Beginning I and one related culture course. The goal of this concentration is to introduce students to the language, the customs, and some cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, music) of one particular country or area. Students will also become aware of the relationship between language and culture and of the differences between their own language and culture and those of the country/countries studied. Finally, with the acquisition of cultural literacy and communicative competence in a foreign language, students will become highly attractive candidates for careers in an increasingly global marketplace.
Prerequisite to the concentration or minor:
0525-390Beginning ASL I or equivalent for ASL
0525-400Beginning Arabic I or equivalent for Arabic
0525-420 Beginning Chinese I or equivalent for Chinese
0525-440Beginning French I or equivalent for French
0525-460Beginning German I or equivalent for German
0525-500Beginning Italian I or equivalent for Italian
0525-480Beginning Japanese I or equivalent for Japanese
0525-540Beginning Russian I or equivalent for Russian
0525-560Beginning Spanish I or equivalent for Spanish
Concentration Courses: three required (two language level Beg. II or above, one culture). *Beg. level I counts as a Liberal Arts elective or Arts of Expression course.
______
Arabic:Students with some proficiency in the language will be placed according to that proficiency: see professor for placement. (Advanced Arabic courses are in the WORLD Languages Program, see Prof. Forbes.) This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Arabic.
Prerequisite: Beginning Arabic I or equivalent.
Language: (2 required)
0525-401 Beginning Arabic II
0525-402 Beginning Arabic III
0525-403 Intermediate Arabic I
0525-404 Intermediate Arabic II
0525-405 Intermediate Arabic III
0525-406 Advanced Arabic I
0525-407 Advanced Arabic II
0525-408 Advanced Arabic III
Culture Course: ( 1 required)
0505-487 Art of Islam: The Arabic Tradition (winter terms)
0505-487 Art of Islam: Persian/Turkish/Mughal
Traditions (spring terms)
0510-484 Islamic Culture/Middle East
American Sign Language:
Students with some proficiency in ASL must see Prof. Yamashita or the instructor for placement. This concentration is not open to fluent signers of ASL.
Prerequisite: Beginning ASL I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-391 Beginning ASL II
0525-392 Beginning ASL III
Culture Course: ( 1 required)
0504-545 Deaf Literature
0507-463 Deaf History
0515-529 Deaf Culture in America
______
Chinese:Students with some proficiency must see professor for placement (01-3219). This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Mandarin Chinese.
Prerequisite: Beginning Chinese I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-421 Beginning Chinese II
0525-422 Beginning Chinese III
0525-423 Intermediate Chinese I
0525-424 Intermediate Chinese II
0525-425 Intermediate Chinese III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0505-469 Art of China, Korea and Japan
0507-485 Foundations of Asian Civilizations
0507-486 20th-Century China and Japan
0507-487 Communist China
0513-441 Politics in China
0513-496 Government & Politics of East Asia
French:Students with some proficiency must see Prof. Philippe Chavasse (01-3233) for placement. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of French.
Prerequisite: Beginning French I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-441 Beginning French II
0525-442 Beginning French III
0525-443 Intermediate French I
0525-444 Intermediate French II
0525-445 Intermediate French III
0525-446 Advanced French I
0525-447 Advanced French II
0525-448 Advanced French III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0504-487 Literature of French Black Africa and the Caribbean
0504-499 The View From Paris (Literature)
0525-458 French Films & Hollywood
0525-459 Modern French Society
0510-457 Divided Europe
0504-435 Caribbean literature
0507-469 ST: The History of Paris
2039-550 Art History of Paris* (*With permission of language advisor)
German:Students with some proficiency must see Prof. Wilma Wierenga (01-3223) for placement. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of German.
Prerequisite: Beginning German I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-461 Beginning German II
0525-462 Beginning German III
0525-463 Intermediate German I
0525-464 Intermediate German II
0525-465 Intermediate German III
0525-466 Advanced German I
0525-467 Advanced German II
0525-468 Advanced German III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0525-479 ST: Modern German Culture Through Film
0525-477 Contemporary German Culture (offered alternating summers in Germany)
0505-459 Era of Haydn and Mozart
0505-465 Special Topics: Mozart’s Operas
0505-482 Beethoven
0505-483 Bach and the Baroque
0505-484 Romanticism in Music
0505-486 German Theater and Drama in the Modern Age
0507-488 Modern Germany (History)
0507-450 Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler
Italian:Students with some proficiency must see Prof. Elisabetta D’Amanda for placement. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Italian.
Prerequisite: Beginning Italian I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-501 Beginning Italian II
0525-502 Beginning Italian III
0525-503 Intermediate Italian I
0525-504 Intermediate Italian II
0525-505 Intermediate Italian III
0525-506 Advanced Italian I
0525-507 Advanced Italian II
0525-508 Advanced Italian III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0504-477 Survey of Italian Literature (every other year)
0504-500 Topics in Italian Literature (every other year)
0525-519 Contemporary Italian Culture (offered each
summer in Italy)
(With department approval, the following two CIAS Art History courses plus one additional credit work per course):
2039-316-70 Florence & Rome 1400-1470
2039-317-70 Florence & Rome 1470-1520
Japanese: Students with some proficiency must see Prof. Yukiko Maru Leary (01-3229) for the Placement Test. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Japanese.
Prerequisite: Beginning Japanese I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-481 Beginning Japanese II
0525-482 Beginning Japanese III
0525-483 Intermediate Japanese I
0525-484 Intermediate Japanese II
0525-485 Intermediate Japanese III 0525-498 Professional Japanese
0525-498 Japanese Culture in Print
0525-486 Advanced Japanese I
0525-487 Advanced Japanese II
0525-488 Advanced Japanese III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0525-496 Structure of Japanese Language
0525-497 Languages in Japanese Society
0505-469 Art of China, Korea and Japan
0501-412 Modern Japan in History, Fiction, and Film 0507-485 Foundations of Asian Civilizations (History)
0507-486 20th Century China and Japan (History)
0507-489 Japan in the Modern World (History)
0513-496 Government & Politics in East Asia
0507-468 The U.S. and Japan
0507-469 Conflict in Modern East Asia
______
Russian: All students beginning the study of Russian must see Prof. Diane Forbes (01-3197) for screening. Russian is part of the WORLD Languages Program, and meets as a regular class 3 times a week, plus one lab hour. Students with some proficiency will be placed according to that proficiency. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Russian. Non-fluent heritage speakers will be placed at their level of proficiency. A GPA of 2.85 or higher is required to register for Beginning Russian I, with signature from Prof. Forbes.
Prerequisite: Beginning Russian I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-541 Beginning Russian II
0525-542 Beginning Russian III
0525-543 Intermediate Russian I
0525-544 Intermediate Russian II
0525-545 Intermediate Russian III
0525-546 Advanced Russian I
0525-547 Advanced Russian II
0525-548 Advanced Russian III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0504-457 Tolstoy
0504-456 Dostoevsky
0504-_Dangerous Texts(when offered at 400 or 500 level)
0507-448 History of Russia to 1917
0507-449 History of Russia Since 1917
0513-443 Politics of Russia
0513-444 The Cold War and Beyond
0505-452 Special Topics: Russian Art I
0505-452 Special Topics: Russian Art II
0505-435 Russian Art 10th-20th Century
0507-450 Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler
Spanish: Students with some proficiency must see Prof. Diane Forbes (01-3197) for placement into a course. This concentration is not open to fluent native speakers of Spanish.
Prerequisite: Beginning Spanish I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-561 Beginning Spanish II
0525-562 Beginning Spanish III
0525-563 Intermediate Spanish I
0525-564 Intermediate Spanish II
0525-565 Intermediate Spanish III
0525-566 Advanced Spanish I
0525-567 Advanced Spanish II
0525-568 Advanced Spanish III
Culture Course: (1 required)
0525-595 ST: The Caribbean & Globalization
0525-595 ST: Literature of Trauma and Survival
0525-595 ST: Hispanic Caribbean Film
0510-442 Cultures of Latin America
0510-444 Grass Roots Movements in the Global Economy
0504-461 Latin American Literature
0504-447 Magical Realism (0504-452?)
0504-479 Latino Experience in Literature
? 0509-450 Philosophy/Latin American Literature
(With department approval: CIAS Art History: Latin American Art History I & II plus one additional credit per course, with approval of language advisor)
______
Latino/Latina/Latin American Concentration
Advisor= Prof. Diane Forbes (01-3197)
This concentration enables students to explore the rich social, historical, literary and cultural heritage in the Western Hemisphere that emanates from the Caribbean and Central and South America and manifests itself in the history, anthropology, languages, and literatures of the Latin American countries and the Latino/Latina populations in the United States. While knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese will significantly deepen the cultural understanding of the concentrator, language courses are an option rather than a required component of the concentration.
Prerequisite: None
Courses: choose three
ONE of the following Spanish or Portuguese language courses MAY be used for the concentration but is not required. The student should consult with Prof. Forbes for placement at the proper level.
OPTIONAL (ONE):
0525-561 Beginning Spanish II
0525-562 Beginning Spanish III
0525-563 Intermediate Spanish I
0525-564 Intermediate Spanish II
0525-565 Intermediate Spanish III
0525-566 Advanced Spanish I
0525-567 Advanced Spanish II
0525-568 Advanced Spanish III
0525-521 Beginning Portuguese II
0525-522 Beginning Portuguese III
0525-523 Intermediate Portuguese I
0525-524 Intermediate Portuguese II
0525-525 Intermediate Portuguese III
0525-526 Advanced Portuguese I
0525-527 Advanced Portuguese II
0525-528 Advanced Portuguese III
TWO OR THREE REQUIRED:
0525-595 ST: The Caribbean & Globalization
0525-595 ST: Literature of Trauma and Survival
0525-595 ST: Hispanic Caribbean Film
0510-442 Cultures of Latin America
0510-444 Grass Roots Movements in the Global Economy
0504-461 Latin American Literature
0504-447 Magical Realism (0504-452?)
0504-479 Latino Experience in Literature
? 0509-450 Philosophy/Latin American Literature
(With department approval: CIAS Art History: Latin American Art History I & II plus one additional credit per course, with approval of language advisor)
*Portuguese:*We hope to be able to offer a concentration and minor in Portuguese in the near future. All students beginning the study of Portuguese must see Prof. Diane Forbes (01-3197) for permission to register. Portuguese is part of the WORLD Languages Program, and meets as a regular class three times a week, plus one lab hour. Students with some proficiency will be placed according to that proficiency. Fluent native speakers of Portuguese may not take courses in this language. A GPA of 2.85 or higher is required to register for Beginning Portuguese I, plus signature of Prof. Forbes.
Prerequisite: Beginning Portuguese I or equivalent
Language: (2 required)
0525-521 Beginning Portuguese II
0525-522 Beginning Portuguese III
0525-523 Intermediate Portuguese I
0525-524 Intermediate Portuguese II
0525-525 Intermediate Portuguese III
0525-526 Advanced Portuguese I
0525-527 Advanced Portuguese II
0525-528 Advanced Portuguese III
Culture: (1 required) –0510-442 Cultures of Latin America (Anthropology)
______
MINORS:
You have a choice between two types of minors: Language (=5 sequential language courses) or Language/Culture (=3 sequential language courses + 2 related culture courses). In each case, Beginning level 1 is prerequisite to the minor and can count only as a Liberal Arts elective or Arts of Expression course.
Foreign Language Minor
This minor is offered in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
Minor advisors:
Arabic=Prof. Forbes
Chinese=Prof. Yamashita
French= Prof. Chavasse
German= Prof. Wierenga
Italian= Prof. D’Amanda
Japanese= Prof. Yamashita
Russian=Prof. Forbes
Spanish= Prof. Forbes
Important Information:
- Evening students may not declare this minor.
- Fluent native speakers of a language offered at RIT may not choose a minor in that language.
- Residency requirement: three out of the five required courses must be taken at RIT: only two courses may be transferred in, if necessary, with faculty approval. Thus this minor (5 courses) is not open to students with substantial transfer credit in a language or significant prior knowledge of a language.
*The Foreign Language Minor consists of five language courses beyond Beginning Level I. This minor provides two full years of foreign language instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. Students will also become aware of the relationship between language and culture and of the differences between their own language and culture and those of the country/countries studied. Finally, with the acquisition of cultural literacy and communicative competence in a foreign language, students will become highly attractive candidates for careers in an increasingly global marketplace.
French LanguageSpanish Language
Prerequisite:Prerequisite:
0525-440 Beginning French I0525-560 Beginning Spanish I
Five courses required:Five courses required:
0525-441 Beginning French II0525-561 Beginning Spanish II
0525-442 Beginning French III0525-562 Beginning Spanish III
0525-443 Intermediate French I0525-563 Intermediate Spanish I
0525-444 Intermediate French II0525-564 Intermed. Spanish II
0525-445 Intermediate French III0525-565 Intermed. Spanish III
0525-446 Advanced French I0525-566 Advanced Spanish I
0525-447 Advanced French II0525-567 Advanced Spanish II
0525-448 Advanced French III0525-568 Advanced Spanish III
German LanguageJapanese Language
Prerequisite:Prerequisite:
0525-460 Beginning German I0525-480 Beginning Japanese I
Five courses required:Five courses required:
0525-461 Beginning German II0525-481 Beginning Japanese II
0525-462 Beginning German III0525-482 Beginning Japanese III
0525-463 Intermediate German I0525-483 Intermed. Japanese I
0525-464 Intermediate German II0525-484 Intermed. Japanese II
0525-465 Intermediate German III0525-485 Intermed. Japanese III
0525-466 Advanced German I0525-486 Advanced Japanese I
0525-467 Advanced German II0525-487 Advanced Japanese II
0525-468 Advanced German III0525-488 Advanced Japanese III
Italian LanguageChinese Language
Prerequisite:Prerequisite:
0525-500 Beginning Italian 10525-420 Beginning Chinese I
Five courses required:Five courses required:
0525-501 Beginning Italian II0525-421 Beginning Chinese II
0525-502 Beginning Italian III0525-422 Beginning Chinese III
0525-503 Intermediate Italian I0525-423 Intermed. Chinese I
0525-504 Intermediate Italian II0525-424 Intermed. Chinese II
0525-505 Intermediate Italian III0525-425 Intermed. Chinese III
0525-506 Advanced Italian I0525-426 Advanced Chinese I
0525-507 Advanced Italian II0525-427 Advanced Chinese II
0525-508 Advanced Italian III0525-428 Advanced Chinese III
Arabic LanguageRussian Language
Prerequisite:Prerequisite:
0525-400 Beginning Arabic I0525-540 Beginning Russian I
Five courses required:Five courses required:
0525-401 Beginning Arabic II0525-541 Beginning Russian II
0525-402 Beginning Arabic III0525-542 Beginning Russian III
0525-403 Intermediate Arabic I0525-543 Intermed. Russian I
0525-404 Intermediate Arabic II0525-544 Intermed. Russian II
0525-405 Intermediate Arabic III0525-545 Intermed. Russian III
0525-406 Advanced Arabic I0525-546 Advanced Russian I
0525-407 Advanced Arabic II0525-547 Advanced Russian II
0525-408 Advanced Arabic III0525-548 Advanced Russian III
*We hope to be able to offer a Minor in Portuguese Language in the near future.
Foreign Language/Culture Minor
This is an interdisciplinary minor.
This minor is currently offered in Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
Minor advisors:
Arabic=Prof. Forbes
Chinese=Prof. Yamashita
German= Prof. Wierenga
Italian= Prof. D’Amanda
Japanese= Prof. Yamashita