The Division of Languages and Literature offers degrees and minors in ENGLISH and SPANISH, as well as General Studies courses in English; journalism courses; and courses in French, German, and Spanish for students in various degree programs.
Courses in the Division of Languages and Literature are designed to increase understanding of and appreciation for languages and literature, to hone critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, to foster multicultural awareness, and to prepare students to participate more effectively within a democratic society.
Degree Programs And Minors
English
The English degree programs prepare students for careers and for graduate study in education, journalism, and other fields that require expertise in writing, close reading, and critical thinking.
The English minor programs are designed to enhance any degree program by strengthening crucial critical-thinking and communication skills.
Degrees In English
Students pursuing a degree in English may select the B.A. English - Journalism Emphasis , Literature Emphasis or Writing Emphasis and/or B.S. in Education English 5-9 or English 5-Adult . Formal admission into any English degree program is contingent upon the following: (1) completion of ENGL 205 with a grade of C or better, and (2) satisfactory completion of program entrance-level assessment requirements. Graduation from any English degree program is contingent upon fulfillment of program exit-level assessment requirements.
Students who major or minor in English or select a teaching content specialization in English must earn a grade average of at least 2.50 in all work attempted in English and, when applicable, in journalism at Concord. In addition, the student must earn a grade of C or better in each required English course and, when applicable, in each required journalism course.
Foreign Languages
Benefits Of Language Study
With the increasing internationalization of our population, and a growing appreciation of our cultural and ethnic diversity, we recognize that languages other than English are not really “foreign” to the United States. In addition to many Native American and immigrant languages, Spanish is spoken as a first or second language by an estimated 35 million people in the U.S., and by over 350 million people in 20 countries in the world.
Given our own national demographic needs and constant evidence of the global and interdependent nature of environmental and economic problems in our world, the acquisition of foreign language skills is assuming ever greater urgency, in order to foster clearer communication and better understanding in diplomacy, ecology, business and economics.
In certain states and in most U.S. cities, a practical knowledge of Spanish has become essential to practice careers such as medicine, law and law enforcement, social work, nursing, and teaching. Spanish on the transcript can be a deciding factor in hiring decisions.
French is still an international language, favored in diplomacy and business, and is spoken by an estimated 130 million people in 37 countries and territories.
German, the most widely spoken language in Europe, is recommended or required by many U.S. university graduate programs in biology, physics, chemistry, linguistics, religious studies, and art history, since cutting-edge research in these fields is often published in German books and scholarly journals.
Coursework in Spanish, French, and/ or German can serve the needs of Concord University students in various fields by enabling them to:
- meet graduation requirements for undergraduate degree programs requiring foreign language courses
- meet requirements for graduate programs
- pursue personal interest in or professional need for acquaintance with one or more of these languages
- fulfill up to two Concord University General Studies course requirements:
In certain cases, a two-semester sequence of courses in the same foreign language can be substituted for up to two General Studies courses. Both courses in this two-course sequence must be passed before General Studies credit can be awarded. Foreign language courses can be used to substitute for no more than one General Studies course per Academic Division.
Students entering Concord with no high school credit in a particular language may substitute the 101-102 sequence of courses in that language for up to two General Studies courses.
Students entering Concord with one year of high-school credit in a language may take the 101-level course in that language for credit toward graduation, but not for General-Studies course substitution purposes. A two-course sequence in that language that begins at the 102- or 110-level (or higher) may be substituted for up to two General Studies courses.
Students entering Concord with two or more years of high school credit in a particular language may take the 101-102 course sequence (or the 110-level course) in that language for credit toward graduation, but not for General-Studies course substitution purposes. A two-course sequence in that language beginning at the 201-level (or higher) may be substituted for up to two General Studies courses.
Students fulfilling foreign language program requirements MAY take 101 and 102 of a language studied in high school to fulfill program requirements, but may NOT substitute for general studies requirements with the same language.
A second year of college-level language study is especially valuable, for it includes review, reinforcement, and enhancement of skills all too often forgotten after only one year of study. And it is usually only at this level that one begins to get a “feel” for the language and the culture it embodies, and to be able to use the language as a tool for further learning.
Since language learning is far more efficient if continuous between high school and college courses, and/or between semesters or years at the college level, it is wise not to postpone enrollment in language courses.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Minors
