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Introduction
Professional and Career Opportunities
The Programs
Acceptance into Majors and Minors
Advisement
Availability of Courses
Transfer Policy
Teacher Certification
Study Abroad Options
East European Studies Minor
World Literature Minor
Languages Across the Curriculum
East European Studies - Minor
World Literature - Minor
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Modern Languages and Literatures
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
College of Arts and Sciences
910 Clemens Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4620
(716) 645-2191
Fax: (716) 645-5981
Web: Modern Languages and Literatures
Maureen Jameson, Interim Chair
(716) 645-6000, ext. 1172
E-mail: jameson@acsu.buffalo.edu
Fluency in foreign languages is a vital skill for university students to acquire in today's world, whether in preparation for negotiating business deals, conducting research, or forging friendships. In the process of acquiring that fluency, students explore the relationship between cultures, discover different ways of thinking and of viewing the world, learn to understand their own experiences better and take major steps toward becoming full citizens in an increasingly interconnected world. In accordance with these principles, the programs in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (MLL) are designed to develop in students a high level of linguistic proficiency in foreign languages and to deepen their knowledge of and interest in foreign literatures and cultures.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures administers programs in: French, Humanities, Italian, Latina/Latino Studies, Polish, and Spanish (see index for individual listings). The department also administers programs in American Sign Language, Arabic, Danish, Finnish, Irish Gaelic, modern Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Portuguese, Swahili, Thai, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Yoruba, which are offered through its World Languages Institute. Languages spoken by 2.5 billion people around the world are represented in the department offerings.
The Department of Education reports that U.S. corporations are beginning to place greater value on second language proficiency and awareness of other cultures in potential employees. Language fluency as well as the research and analytical skills developed through the study of foreign languages are also assets for individuals who enter a variety of careers, including those in arts management, banking, diplomacy, education, law, library science, medicine, science, social work, travel and tourism, etc. Foreign language study is essential for many government posts.
Many students who complete the department's undergraduate programs continue their studies in graduate and professional schools with financial support in the form of Fulbright awards, fellowships and teaching assistantships.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers undergraduate majors and minors in French, Italian and Spanish, the languages most commonly taught in high schools. It also offers special majors and minors in Humanities, Latina/Latino Studies, and Polish, as well as an East European studies minor and a world literature minor.
Acceptance into majors or minors is based on the completion of a designated number of 200-level courses with a minimum GPA in those courses. Students who do not meet the criteria for acceptance into a given program may be admitted on a provisional basis while they work to fulfill requirements. Application to the majors in French, Italian and Spanish is made when the student brings a copy of their current UB DARS report directly to the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Application to minors is made through appropriate directors of undergraduate studies. Consultation with the department and completion of a formal application for acceptance into the program are required.
Students majoring in French, Italian, and Spanish are encouraged to do joint or double majors. The directors of undergraduate studies will assist students in the planning of joint and double majors.
Upon admission to MLL majors and minors, students are assigned to faculty advisors. Students are encouraged to plan their programs in consultation with their faculty advisors and to meet with them at least once a semester.
Interested students are encouraged to obtain a list of current offerings in languages and literatures from the main office of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures prior to registration each semester. Most introductory language courses are offered each semester. Upper division courses are offered on a rotational basis.
Transfer students are welcome in the majors and minors in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. To facilitate the evaluation of courses completed elsewhere, transfer students should submit course materials (catalog descriptions, syllabi, reading lists, papers, or exams) to the appropriate director of undergraduate studies. The number of transfer credits applied toward a major or minor is determined on an individual basis.
Students seeking teacher certification need to plan to take certification courses in their senior year. Information about teacher certification may be obtained from the Teacher Education Institute, Graduate School of Education, 379 Baldy Hall.
One of the most effective and exciting ways to master a foreign language
and to learn about another culture is to live abroad. In an increasingly
global economy, today's students recognize the crucial importance of international
and cross-cultural experience, whether their field is in the humanities,
business, science, or engineering. Traditionally, students have participated
in study abroad programs to improve foreign language skills, gain experience
applicable to a variety of internationally oriented careers, and expand
their personal horizons. Today, new programs also allow UB students to
tailor the study abroad experience of another culture to their degree
curricula and career plans. Students have the opportunity to study for
the full academic year, one semester or summers in countries such as China,
Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain,
Vietnam, etc. Those who are eligible for financial aid keep that eligibility
during the period in which they study at foreign institutions. For more
information about study abroad opportunities through UB and through other
institutions, contact the Study Abroad Programs Office, 210 Talbert Hall,
(716) 645-3912. The department, through the World Languages Institute,
co-sponsors the Summer in Vietnam program.
Czeslaw Prokopczyk, Advisor
931 Clemens Hall
(716) 645-6000, ext. 1198
E-mail: czp@acsu.buffalo.edu
This program is designed to introduce students to East European literatures and cultures. Acceptance is determined upon consultation with Professor Prokopczyk, and completion of a formal application for acceptance into the program is required. Courses listed in the chart, as well as other courses suitable for the Eastern European studies minor, are available on a regular basis to enable students to complete the program in a timely manner.
Christian Onikepe, Advisor
1033 Clemens Hall
(716) 645-6000, ext. 1205
E-mail: conikepe@acsu.buffalo.edu
This program is designed to introduce students to a variety of national literatures and cultures. Acceptance is determined upon consultation with the department; completion of a formal application for acceptance into the program is required. Courses listed in the chart, as well as other courses suitable for the world literatures minor, will be available on a regular basis to enable students to complete the program in a timely manner.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures coordinates a special program known as Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC). The main premise of LxC is that written materials in foreign languages can and should be used throughout the university, and the use of these materials should be linked to the subject matter interests of students.
Faculty, regardless of their individual language proficiency, can offer an LxC option in their courses to broaden and enliven course content by including foreign language materials. Such materials provide intercultural perspectives on course content and foster language skills in students.
The program utilizes Language Resource Specialists (LRSs), usually international graduate students who are selected for their linguistic background and disciplinary expertise. The LRSs prepare optional substitute course assignments utilizing non-English source materials and lead weekly study group discussions in English with participating students to help them understand the LxC assignments and relate them to the content of the course as a whole.
For more information, contact Dr. Mark Ashwill, director of the World Languages Institute, at (716) 645-2292 or via e-mail at ashwill@acsu.buffalo.edu.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in POL203-204 Intermediate Polish or RUS223-224 Intermediate Russian
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses that count toward the East European studies minor.
Upper-division courses: Four 300/400-level courses (12 credits) in the area of Polish and Russian language, history, literature, or culture. These may include three courses in Polish and one in Russian, or vice versa, or two courses from each area.
A list of courses that count toward the minor is presented below, but students should check course listings with Professor Prokopczyk each semester for information about offerings since not all of the courses will be available every year, and new courses may be added:
HIS330 Imperial Russia and the West
HIS332 Lenin, Stalin and the Origins of Modern Russia
POL203-204 Intermediate Polish or equivalent preparation
POL305-306 Advanced Polish
POL323 Polish Literature in Translation
POL324 Poland Today
POL338 Poland in Central Europe
PSC336 Soviet Foreign Policy
PSC350 Politics of the U.S.S.R.
RUS223-224 Intermediate Russian
RUS301-302 Third-Year Russian
RUS311 Russian Culture
RUS323 Russian Literature in Translation I
RUS393 Study Abroad
RUS408 Fourth-Year Russian
Completion of COL250 Masterpieces of World Literature
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses that count toward the world literature minor.
Upper-division courses: Five 300/400-level world literature (literature-in-translation) courses (15 credit hours) taught in English in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. 300/400-level courses taught in the target languages will also count toward the minor. At least one course should be on a non-Western literature.
Courses that will count toward the minor include:
CHI322 Modern Chinese Literature in English Translation
FR 351 French Literature in Translation
ITA423 Dante and the Middle Ages
ITA426 Masterpieces of Early Italian Literature
ITA427 Masterpieces of Modern Italian Literature
POL323 Polish Literature in Translation
RUS320 Pushkin to Pasternak
RUS323 Russian Literature in Translation I
RUS324 Russian Literature in Translation II
SPA360 Spanish American Literature in Translation
SPA361 Spanish Literature in Translation
Courses listed here, as well as other courses suitable for the world literature minor, are available on a regular basis to enable students to complete the program in a timely manner.
Questions and Comments about this site should be sent to:
- Academic Affairs
- Phone: (716) 645-6003
- Fax: (716) 645-2549
Last updated: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 15:21:19 EST
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