Foreign Languages

The Department is committed to providing an environment in which Johnson C. Smith University students may realize their individual potential as stated in the official purpose of the Institution.   Responsible for delivering the six credit hour foreign language requirement of the Liberal Studies Program, the Department seeks to contribute to its students’ intellectual, spiritual, social , and emotional grown by developing their communication skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and wring a foreign language as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of a foreign culture. 

The Department offers major programs which lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree in French, Spanish, French Education, and Spanish Education.   The Department also offers minors in French and in Spanish.   In addition to the objectives previously stated, the Department strives to develop in students who major or minor in French or Spanish the ability to compare and to contrast cultures objectively and to acquire knowledge of the civilization and literature of the target language.

General Foreign Language Requirements:

1.  All major must complete the required forty-seven credit hours of the University’s Liberal Studies Program.

2. All majors are required to write a Senior Investigative Paper before graduation.

3. All course counting toward the major must e completed with a grade of “C” or better.

4. All majors are strongly encouraged to study aboard in a country of their chosen target language for al least one semester before graduation.

The French Major

The major in French consists of thirty-three credit hours beyond the intermediate level.   It includes twenty-one credit hours of the following core courses: FRE 331, 332, 333, 334; FRE 390; FRE 430; FRE 490 and twelve hours of upper-level major electives: FRE 431 or 432; FRE 433 or 434; FRE 435 or 436; FRE 437, 438 or 439.  All French majors are required to satisfy the following basic courses: FRE 131, 132 (a general education requirement) and FRE 231, 232 (a basic departmental requirement)—either by passing the courses or by placement, in which case, no credit is granted.   Additional elective courses must be taken to substitute for any exempted hours.   To complete the 122 hours required for graduation, students my choose from the free elective and the special purposes courses listed below: FRE 235, 236, 238, 336, 339, 395/495, 496/497/498, and  499; elective from other departments: ENG 391, POL 334, MGT 438 plus 47 hours of the general education requirement and 6 hours of University free elective.    

The French Education Major

Beyond the university’s general education requirements, the major in French Education consists of thirty-three credit hours beyond the intermediate level, in the specialty area: a core of twenty-seven credit hour of required manor courses: six credit hours of required major electives beyond FRE 232; and thirty credit hour of required courses in Professional Education.  The required core courses include: FRE 331, 332, 333, 334, 390, 430, 490, FOR 392 and 493.  Required major electives also include: any two French courses beyond FRE 232.  Professional Education core: EDU 220, PSY 237, 239, EDU 330, 394 or 395, 311 or 312, 491 or 492.     

The French Minor 

To obtain a minor in French a student must complete eighteen credit hours beyond FRE 232 which must include FRE 331, 332, 333 and 430. 

The Spanish Major 

The major in French consists of thirty-three credit hours beyond the intermediate level.   It includes twenty-one credit hours of the following core courses: SPA 331, 332, 333, 334; SPA 390; SPA 430; SPA 490 and twelve hours of upper-level major electives: SPA 431 or 432; SPA 433 or 434; SPA 435 or 436; SPA 437, 438.  All Spanish majors are required to satisfy the following basic courses: SPA 131, 132 (a general education requirement) and SPA 231, 232 (a basic departmental requirement)—either by passing the courses or by placement, in which case, no credit is granted.   Additional elective courses must be taken to substitute for any exempted hours.   To complete the 122 hours required for graduation, students my choose from the free elective and the special purposes courses listed below: SPA 235, 236, 238, 336, 339, 395/495, 496/497/498, and  499; elective from other departments: ENG 391, POL 334, MGT 438 plus 47 hours of the general education requirement and 6 hours of University free elective.    

The Spanish Education Major

Beyond the university’s general education requirements, the major in Spanish Education consists of thirty-three credit hours beyond the intermediate level, in the specialty area: a core of twenty-seven credit hour of required manor courses: six credit hours of required major electives beyond SPA 232; and thirty credit hour of required courses in Professional Education.  The required core courses include: SPA 331, 332, 333, 334, 390, 430, 490, FOR 392 and 493.  Required major electives also include: any two French courses beyond SPA 232.  Professional Education core: EDU 220, PSY 237, 239, EDU 330, 394 or 395, 311 or 312, 491 or 492.     

The Spanish Minor

To obtain a minor in Spanish a student must complete eighteen credit hours beyond SPA 232 which must include SPA 331, 332, 333 and 430.