School of Language and Literature

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For more information about degree offerings by the faculty of languages, visit the School of Language and Literature webpage.

Students who fulfill the requirements for a major in the School of Language and Literature acquire greater awareness of and appreciation for other cultures; develop proficiency in a target language and a basic understanding of its linguistic structure; gain a deeper understanding of textual analysis and literary genres, styles, and periods; engage with current scholarship; and prepare themselves to participate in a global society. Majoring in a language provides students with a strong pre-professional background for graduate studies in the arts and humanities as well as for careers in business, teaching, and government.

The first and second-year language courses offered by the School of Language and Literature are designed to help students throughout the University develop intermediate-level proficiency in a second language, as specified in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines. Students enrolled in these courses likewise gain insights into other cultures.

Placement in Language Courses

Prior to coming to campus to enroll, incoming students with previous classroom or life experience in Chinese, French, German, or Spanish who intend to continue studying the same language must take its placement exam. This policy also applies to native speakers of a Romance language who intend to take courses either in their native tongue or in another language taught by the department. The placement examination does not grant academic credit, nor can it be used to test out of the language proficiency requirement.

Delayed Proficiency Credit

By petitioning the School of Language and Literature, students who begin their language study in a course above the level of first semester and complete it with a grade of C or higher receive credit for the previous course as well, up to and including fourth semester. Such credit may not exceed four hours. Students with previous college, AP, or IB credit in a language are not eligible for delayed proficiency credit in that language, nor are native speakers who choose to study their native language. Delayed proficiency credit is awarded toward the completion of a College’s language proficiency requirement, but it is not granted if the language is being taken as an elective.

Beginning and Intermediate Language Courses

Students whose College requirements or personal goals include one or two years of language study may select from Chinese, French, German, ancient Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The first course in each language sequence has no prerequisite and assumes no prior knowledge of the language. Each subsequent course in the beginning and intermediate sequences has as its prerequisite a grade of C or higher in the previous course or its equivalent, or departmental approval through placement. Students who elect to repeat a 1000- or 2000-level language course for a higher grade may do so only in the most advanced course they have taken in the sequence, and they may not take language courses out of sequence.

Study Abroad

As a significant component for the college experience, every language student is encouraged to participate in a study abroad program to acquire cultural literacy and fluency in a foreign language. For more details on TU’s programs abroad, visit the Center for Global Education (CGE) webpage or call 918-631-3229.

Related Studies

Courses in comparative literature are taught in English and have no prerequisites. These draw from various traditions and time periods and provide strategies for relating literature to such areas as psychology, philosophy, politics, cinema, and the literatures of other cultures. The faculty of the School of Language and Literature also offers a variety of courses in areas such as linguistics, classics, film studies, and women’s and gender studies. Many of these are taught in English and are appropriate for students in a wide range of fields.

Language Majors

Major programs are offered in Chinese studies , French , German , Russian studies , and Spanish . The curriculum of a language major provides a wide range of experiences inside and outside the classroom. Many students combine their language major with a concentration in an additional field. Such a concentration may be a minor, a certificate program, or a second major.

Students seeking secondary teacher certification in a language should consult their academic advisors to determine subject area courses that are appropriate and the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding alternative certification.

Learning Objectives

Students will

• Demonstrate language skills (i.e., reading and listening comprehension, speaking, and writing) that aid in the communication and understanding among persons and groups of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Specifically, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate competent listening comprehension by responding appropriately to statements and questions made.
• Demonstrate competent speaking ability by responding appropriately and using appropriate word choices and grammar.
• Demonstrate competent reading comprehension by appropriately responding and reacting to material read, including extended authentic texts in advanced courses.
• Demonstrate competent writing ability by using correct vocabulary and grammar while producing more complex, organized documents in advanced courses.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and creative insights in the disciplined study of cultural media (such as literature and film) and linguistics. Specifically, students will be able to:
• Consistently combine knowledge of the text or topic with critical analysis and creative insights.
• Demonstrate fluency and coherence when presenting ideas in writing and in speech. Specifically, students will be able to: 
• Consistently present ideas in a coherent fashion and with a fluency in the language appropriate for the course level.

Student-designed Areas of Concentration

Students may design a Bachelor of Arts in classics or linguistics. For information on student-designed areas of concentration, see Student-Designed Area of Concentration .

Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies

The Chinese studies major  is an interdisciplinary program drawing from the disciplines of political science, history, literature and language, business, and economics to prepare students for a variety of professional careers and academic programs related to China.

Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies

The Russian studies major  is an interdisciplinary program in Russian language, literature and culture, history, and politics. The major provides students with the knowledge of historical and contemporary Russia, as well as with the ability to use the Russian language.

Bachelor of Science in International Business and Language

Career goals that include both language and business may be realized through the Bachelor of Science in International Business and Language (B.S.I.B.L.)  degree offered through the Collins College of Business. This single major combines specialized training in international business with the Chinese studies, French, German, Russian studies, or Spanish major curriculum.

Dual Degree in International Engineering and Language Program

The Kendall College of Arts and Sciences  and the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences  have partnered to offer the International Engineering/Science and Language  dual degree program. This program offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in a language offered by the School of Language and Literature and a Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering or science discipline in five years.

Programs

• French, B.A.
• German, B.A.
• Spanish, B.A.

• Ancient Greek Minor
• Chinese Minor
• Classics Minor
• French Minor
• German Minor
• Latin Minor
• Linguistics Minor
• Russian Minor
• Spanish Minor

Courses

• CHIN 1004 Beginning Chinese I
• CHIN 1014 Beginning Chinese II
• CHIN 2003 Intermediate Chinese I
• CHIN 2013 Intermediate Chinese II
• CHIN 3003 Advanced Chinese I
• CHIN 3013 Advanced Chinese II
• CHIN 3113 Chinese through Literature I
• CHIN 3133 Untimely Meditations: A Chinese Perspective
• CHIN 3143 Modern Poetry and Prose
• CHIN 3903 Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture
• CHIN 4123 Chinese Microblogging
• CHIN 4143 Contemplative Cinema: The Chinese Contribution
• CHIN 4303 Topics in Chinese Media
• CHIN 4993 Independent Study

• CPLT 2043 American Culture on Film
• CPLT 2253 African Film
• CPLT 2293 Thinking with Science Fiction
• CPLT 2313 Gangster Films
• CPLT 2333 Aesthetics of French Cinema
• CPLT 2343 The Dilemma of Modernity
• CPLT 2403 Introduction to Creative Writing
• CPLT 2513 Colossus of the South: Brazil
• CPLT 2613 Argentine Culture on Film
• CPLT 2713 The Faust Myth in German Literature and Film
• CPLT 2813 The Hero’s Journey: From Beowulf to Bilbo
• CPLT 3023 French Feminism
• CPLT 3053 Introduction to Literary Analysis
• CPLT 3723 Masterpieces of Russian Literature

• FR 1004 Beginning French I
• FR 1014 Beginning French II
• FR 2003 Intermediate French I
• FR 2013 Intermediate French II
• FR 3023 Advanced French
• FR 3033 Approaches to the Analysis of French Texts
• FR 3403 French Translation I
• FR 3423 Business French
• FR 3693 Cinéma et Culture
• FR 3991-3 Independent Study
• FR 4113 Topics in Francophone Literary and Cultural Studies
• FR 4123 Topics in Literary and Cultural Studies of France
• FR 4143 Genres and Periods
• FR 4303 Topics in French Language and Linguistics
• FR 4403 French Translation II
• FR 4991-3 Independent Study

• GERM 1004 Beginning German I
• GERM 1014 Beginning German II
• GERM 2003 Intermediate German I
• GERM 2013 Intermediate German II
• GERM 3003 Advanced German
• GERM 3023 German Film
• GERM 3053 Introduction to Critical Reading
• GERM 3173 Masterpieces of German Literature I
• GERM 3183 Masterpieces of German Literature II
• GERM 3213 Genre
• GERM 3993 Independent Study
• GERM 4313 History of the German Language
• GERM 4413 Individual Authors
• GERM 4513 Special Topics
• GERM 4991-3 Independent Study

• GRK 1004 Beginning Greek I
• GRK 1014 Beginning Greek II
• GRK 2003 Intermediate Greek I
• GRK 2013 Intermediate Greek II
• GRK 3013 Attic Prose
• GRK 3103 Homer
• GRK 3203 Tragedy

• HEBR 1004 Beginning Hebrew I
• HEBR 1014 Beginning Hebrew II
• HEBR 2003 Intermediate Hebrew I
• HEBR 2013 Intermediate Hebrew II

• LANG 2023 Foundations of Linguistics
• LANG 2213 Language, Gender, and Society
• LANG 2991-3 Independent Study
• LANG 3011 Service Learning Project
• LANG 4003 Methods of Teaching Languages
• LANG 4313 Special Topics in Linguistics
• LANG 4373 Linguistic Analysis
• LANG 4973 Senior Project

• LAT 1004 Beginning Latin I
• LAT 1014 Beginning Latin II
• LAT 2003 Intermediate Latin I
• LAT 2013 Intermediate Latin II
• LAT 2993 Independent Study
• LAT 3023 Advanced Latin Texts I
• LAT 3033 Advanced Latin Texts II
• LAT 3683 Advanced Latin Grammar and Composition
• LAT 3993 Independent Study
• LAT 4991-3 Independent Study

• PORT 1004 Beginning Portuguese I
• PORT 1014 Beginning Portuguese II
• PORT 2003 Intermediate Portuguese I
• PORT 2013 Intermediate Portuguese II
• PORT 3463 Business Portuguese

• RUSS 1004 Beginning Russian I
• RUSS 1014 Beginning Russian II
• RUSS 2003 Intermediate Russian I
• RUSS 2013 Intermediate Russian II
• RUSS 2886 Intensive Russian Workshop
• RUSS 2991-3 Independent Study
• RUSS 3003 Russian Conversation and Grammar
• RUSS 3013 Russian Culture

Return to: The Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences