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THE
MAJOR
The Modern Foreign Languages major is a department within the College
of Arts & Letters.
JMU
Concentrations: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSFL.shtml
Description
of Major:
The Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers a major and minor in Modern Foreign Languages with four year instruction in the following languages: Arabic, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. In addition, the department provides offers minors in Chinese and Russian and two-year instruction in Latin, Korean, Swahili, Japanese, Portuguese, Ancient Greek, and Persian. Through the department’s course offerings, study abroad programs, organizations and clubs, and the presence of faculty with research areas in diverse foreign cultures, the department embodies cultural diversity, particularly international diversity. The programs in the Foreign Language, Literatures, and Cultures Department are designed for the following purposes: to teach the student to understand and speak a language with facility; develop skills in reading and writing; to provide an acquaintance with foreign literatures; develop an appreciation of foreign cultures; and to prepare students for the teaching profession, government work, international trade and research leading to advanced degrees. Minors are also offered in the concentrations mentioned above. Interdisciplinary minors offered include: Classical Studies, Russian Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Asian Studies, Africana Studies, and World Literature. The following Professional minors are offered: the Law Enforcement Spanish Minor, Medical Spanish Minor, Legal Spanish Minor, Business Spanish Minor, Business French Minor, Business German Minor, Business Italian Minor, and Translation / Interpretation Minor.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
There is more to learning languages than simply learning
the language. Language acquisition teaches one to learn
how to think, analyze, communicate, and increase one’s
own cultural enrichment. The study of foreign cultures
also helps people to understand who they are and where
they are coming from and gain a better understanding
of their own culture. The foreign language experience
will develop the kind of global awareness, sophistication
and flexibility of cultural response that Americans
will need if they are to retain their competitive edge
in the world markets of the 21st century.
Tell
me more about specializations in this field.
Specializations in this field tend to be in the particular
language and culture chosen to focus one’s interests
within a particular career area, such as government,
education, business or non profit. The foreign language
specialist engages in translating, interpreting, or
teaching in one or more foreign languages. The specialist
ordinarily possesses and uses knowledge of the literature,
culture, and historical development of the country in
which the language is used. In addition to pursuing
a job in which the primary focus is the use of another
language, many opportunities exist for the use of additional
language skills in other career areas. Medicine, health
services, law, business, libraries, museums, social
service, and public service illustrate some of the professions
in which competency in one or more additional languages
opens up specialized career opportunities.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
Some common combinations are: Anthropology (Cultural), Africana Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, Classical Studies, Communication Studies (Organizational Communication or Public Relations),Criminal Justice, Economics, English, English as a Second Language, Human Resource Development, Health Sciences, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Human Science, International Affairs, International Business, International Humanities, Justice Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Management, Middle Eastern Communities and Migrations, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy and Administration, Russian Studies, Secondary Education, Social Work, Technical and Scientific Communication, World Literature, Women's Studies, or Writing and Rhetoric.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Naturally, success in our program comes more easily
to those students with a keen interest in learning another
language and learning about another culture.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated
with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated
careers that utilize skills and experiences developed
during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some
fields will require graduate study or further training.
The listing below offers examples of possible career
paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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