Modern Languages

Department Chair - Amy Sellin

Associate Professor - Kathleen Aguilar
Assistant Professors - Nathan C. Guss and Amy Sellin
Visiting Instructor - Ellen Hartsfield

The Department of Modern Languages offers its students thorough training in French, German, and Spanish and also offers courses in Japanese, Latin, and Navajo. Our programs enable students to interact and communicate effectively with native speakers globally, to master learning as inquiry, to realize critical thinking as problem solving, and to be active contributors in their communities and in the world. Our programs offer students the opportunity to achieve high competence in written and spoken French, German, and Spanish; to understand language-specific literatures, histories, and cultures; and to apply this literary, historical, and cultural knowledge in the study of other disciplines.

Students in Modern Languages at Fort Lewis College have a variety of study options. To meet the demands for greater linguistic competency in our increasingly global world, the Department offers the Dual Language major option for Spanish and French or Spanish and German. A number of our students also complete a Student-Constructed Major in French, which usually includes a semester studying abroad in France. (See guidelines for the Student Constructed Majors , or speak to a Modern Languages faculty member for more information.) Also, as a means of preparing our students for professions in Spanish, the Department offers a variety of other major options. Together with the traditional Spanish major, we have interdisciplinary options in Latino Studies, Latin American Studies, and Spanish for Secondary Teachers. In addition, the Spanish Certificate Program offers a comprehensive plan of study to provide students the tools to communicate effectively in Spanish in the business world or in health and social services.

A final important facet of language studies is study abroad. Fort Lewis College students have a wealth of study abroad options available to them. The International Programs Office offers various programs during the academic year, and the Department offers Innovative Month programs during the summer, organized by Modern Languages faculty.

Note: Language auxiliary requirements for other departments may be met with transferred American Sign Language courses. Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.

Guidelines for Granting Credit for Foreign Language Competence

Fort Lewis College has three methods of granting credit for foreign language competence. One method is based upon the transfer of college credits from a regionally accredited college or university. The second method is by examination. A student may pass subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB). Also, a student may challenge a foreign language course for credit through the Credit by Examination procedure, provided the challenged course is not more than two semesters below the student’s present level. Except for transfer credits, credit will be granted for competence in a foreign language only for courses taught at Fort Lewis College.

Further information concerning foreign language competence is available through the Department of Modern Languages.

Student-Constructred Major in French

Students interested in completing a student-constructed major should speak to a Modern Languages faculty member for more information and should refer to the guidelines for

Student Constructed Majors

Coordinator - Timothy P. Farrell

The Student Constructed Major (SCM) allows a student to design a major to meet specific needs and purposes that cannot be met in any other way. The SCM is interdisciplinary in nature and differs substantially from established curriculum course combinations and emphases already available through major, minors, and electives. The major may include course offerings from any of the schools (Behavioral and Natural Sciences; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; or Business Administration) and courses from the Teacher Education Department.

The Student Constructed Major is designed in consultation with the SCM Coordinator, who will guide the student to the appropriate faculty advisor depending on subject and/or course content of the major. The formal contract for the Student Constructed Major must be submitted prior to petitioning for graduation (80 credits, approximately the end of the first term of the junior year). The SCM contract must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor, the SCM coordinator, the Registrar (or designee), the Dean of the appropriate school, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee). On the final transcript, the major will appear as “Student Constructed Major -“ followed by the title of the Student Constructed Major.

Student Constructed majors are comprised of a minimum of 44 credits of course work. The coursework must include at least two credits of an appropriate departmental senior seminar (496) or a senior year independent study (499). Forty percent of courses must be numbered 300 or above. EGC courses (Education for Global Citizenship) may not be used to satisfy any major requirements.

Students interested in a Student Constructed major must begin the process through the Registrar’s Office, 160 Miller Student Services, 970-247-7350.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE WITH A STUDENT CONSTRUCTED MAJOR:

General Education - Credits: 39

See General Education Requirements .

Specific Requirements for the Major:

Minimum of 44 credits of course work (must include at least two credits of a 496 Senior Seminar or a 499 Independent Study taken during the senior year) - Credits: 44

Free Electives (variable)

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION - CREDITS: 120

Note to transfer and former students: If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.

Professional Certificate in Spanish

A professional certificate in Spanish is available. Please see the certificate coordinator, Kathleen Aguilar, or visit the Modern Languages website for more information:
http://www.fortlewis.edu/modernlanguages/.

Study Abroad

Several programs in many parts of the world are available to students. For more information contact the International Programs Office or a faculty member of the Department of Modern Languages.