Required Courses
The following information is from the Samford Catalog.
Undergraduate Programs and Requirements
The Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLAC) offers single-language majors in French, German, or Spanish, and in two languages combined (French, German, and/or Spanish) through the world language and literature major. The department also offers interdisciplinary concentrations in Latin American studies and language and world trade. Students majoring in language and world trade may choose a concentration in French, German, Spanish, or another world language. All WLAC majors and interdisciplinary concentrations earn a bachelor of arts degree.
The department also offers minors in French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and world languages and cultures (combination of languages), plus an interdisciplinary minor in Latin American studies.
Completion of the major or minor is determined by the number of credits in the language. In order to fulfill the minimum credits required, additional credit hours must be completed for any courses taken or transferred in for fewer than 4 credits.
*See the Teacher Education section for details on middle school, secondary, and P-12 teacher certification in French, German, and Spanish.
Majors:
French
German
Spanish
World Language and Literature (Two Languages)
Minors:
Spanish
Latin American Studies
World Language
Interdisciplinary Concentrations
Language and World Trade with a specialty in French, German, Spanish or World Languages
Latin American Studies
Teacher Certification: Middle School, Secondary, P-12
French
German
Spanish
Proficiency-Based Instruction
At all levels, language instruction at Samford is based on developing proficiency in the four skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing, studied within the geographical and cultural context of the target language. Instructional and assessment methodologies follow competency-based guidelines established by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The campus experience is enhanced by language and computer laboratories and complemented by numerous opportunities to study in one of the department’s classrooms abroad.
Placement
Student scores on the department’s placement test determine the level of entry into general education-level language courses. Once a sequence (101-102, 201-202, or 203) is completed, students may not receive credit for taking a lower-level class in the same language. Successful completion of the previous course in a sequence serves as prerequisite to the next. Students may enter language studies at the 101, 102, 201, 203, or 300 levels. Students placing at the 300 level must take a minimum of one 4-credit language course at the 300 or 400 level to fulfill the general education world language requirement for most Arts and Sciences majors. Students whose primary language is a WLAC language must take 3-4 credits at the 300-400 level if they desire to use that language to fulfill their general education language requirement. Students whose primary language is not a WLAC language should consult with the WLAC chair.
WLAC Majors
For students planning careers with international firms, service agencies, missions, teaching, or for those who seek the advantage of being bilingual in the multicultural world of the twenty-first century, the world languages and cultures (WLAC) major courses of study provide the opportunity to develop advanced linguistic proficiency and increase cross-cultural understanding. All WLAC graduating seniors, upon completion of exit interviews and writing sample analyses, receive internationally recognized oral and writing proficiency ratings from the department’s ACTFL-trained examiners.
Critical Languages
In association with the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs, the WLAC department offers self-instructional/tutorial language study in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, and Thai. Other nontraditional languages may also be available if there is sufficient demand.
Mentored Courses
The department also offers a number of specialized, mentored courses and independent projects for 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits in French, German, Spanish, and critical languages (French, German, Spanish 310, 311, 321, 331, 340, 360, and 450; and 311, 321, 331, and 360 in any critical language). Students may take up to 8 credits in these courses. A maximum of 4 mentored credits at the 300- and 400-level of instruction may be applied to a major or minor.
University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements
See University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.
Required Minor for Language and Literature Majors
WLAC’s language and literature majors are required to complete a minor, choosing one of the following options:
- An established minor in a second world language.
- An established minor (or second major) in another discipline
- A specially designed world languages minor, consisting of six courses in a combination of other languages at any level, created in consultation with a WLAC faculty advisor.
French, German, or Spanish Language and Literature Major (One Language)
The bachelor of arts in French, German, or Spanish language and literature prepares students for a variety of career and graduate school options. The program of study may be combined with essential education courses to earn teacher certification.
| French, German, or Spanish Language and Literature Major (One Language) Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| University Core Curriculum | 22 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30-42 | |
| Language & Literature Major (One Language) | 32 | |
| French, German, or Spanish | 32 | |
| Elementary French, German, or Spanish 101 | (4)* | |
| (or equivalent proficiency) | ||
| Elementary French, German, or Spanish 102 | (4)* | |
| (or equivalent proficiency) | ||
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 201** and | (4)* | |
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 202** or | (4)* | |
| Accelerated Intermediate French or Spanish 203** | (4)* | |
| French, German, or Spanish 300- and 400-level courses, including two literature courses at the 400-level and the Senior Project*** |
32 | |
| Required Minor | 20 | |
| General Electives | 12-24 | |
| Total Required Credits | 128 | |
|---|---|---|
*These credits are included in the General Education Requirements.
**Students who score high enough on placement criteria may register for these courses.
***Senior Project may be replaced by an eighth upper-level course by second majors only.
| World Language and Literature Major French, German, and/or Spanish (Two Languages) Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| University Core Curriculum | 22 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30-42 | |
| Language & Literature Major (Two Languages) | 36 | |
| French, German, or Spanish | 32 | |
| Elementary French, German, or Spanish 101 | (8)* | |
| (or equivalent proficiency) | ||
| Elementary French, German, or Spanish 102 | (8)* | |
| (or equivalent proficiency) | ||
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 201** and | (8)* | |
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 202** or | (8)* | |
| Accelerated Intermediate French or Spanish 203** | (8)* | |
| Eight French, German, or Spanish 300- and 400-level courses (four in each language), including one 400-level literature course in each language, plus one Senior Project that combines the two languages. |
36 | |
| General Electives | 28-40 | |
| Total Required Credits | 128 | |
|---|---|---|
*These credits (up to 16 for one language) are included in the General Education Requirements.
**Students who score high enough on placement criteria may register for these courses.
Language and World Trade Interdisciplinary Concentration
The language and world trade interdisciplinary concentration, offered in cooperation with the School of Business, is a comprehensive combination of linguistic skills and essential business knowledge. It concludes with an international trade internship. Completion of this interdisciplinary concentration satisfies general education foreign language and social science requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences. Students majoring in language and world trade may choose a specialty in French, German, Spanish, or another world language offered by the WLAC department.
| Language and World Trade Interdisciplinary Concentration Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| University Core Curriculum | 22 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30-42 | |
| Language & World Trade Interdisciplinary Concentration | 72-76 | |
| Language Courses | 40 | |
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 201** and | (4)* | |
| Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 202** or | (4)* | |
| Accelerated Intermediate French, German, or Spanish 203** | (4)* | |
| Conversation/Composition Course | 4 | |
| Civilization and Culture Course | 4 | |
| Literature, 400-level Courses | 8 | |
| Major Language Electives, 300- and 400-level | 8 | |
| French, German, Spanish 370 | 4 | |
| French, German, Spanish 470 | 4 | |
| One year of a second language | 8 | |
| Business and Mathematics Courses | 29 | |
| Group 1 (to be completed first) | 14 | |
| ACCT 211 Accounting Concepts I | 3 | |
| ACCT 212 Accounting Concepts II | 3 | |
| BUSA 160 Computer Competency Assessment | 1 | |
| ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics* | (4)* | |
| ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| MATH 210 Elementary Statistics | 4 | |
| Group 2 (Prerequisite: Junior standing and Group 1 completion) | 15 | |
| BUSA 252 Legal Environment of Business | 3 | |
| AFINC 321 Financial Management | 3 | |
| MNGT 303 Principles of Management | 3 | |
| MNGT 484 International Management | 3 | |
| MARK 311 Marketing Management | 3 | |
| Electives (Select from list below; other electives can be taken with advisor's permission.) |
3-7 | |
| COMS 215 Public Speaking (strongly recommended) | 4 | |
| GEOG 101 Global Geography: Places, Landscapes, and Regions | 4 | |
| GEOG/HIST/POLS 395 Asia: Land and People | 4 | |
| HIST 461 Modern Latin America*** | 4 | |
| LAST 201 Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 | |
| POLS 310 U.S. Foreign Relations | 4 | |
| POLS 319 International Relations | 4 | |
| POLS 322 Latin American Politics | 4 | |
| POLS 351 Major European Governments | 4 | |
| POLS 363 Politics of Developing Nations | 4 | |
| POLS 451 Geography of International Affairs | 4 | |
| Total Required Credits | 128-136 | |
|---|---|---|
*These credits are included in the General Education Requirements.
**Students who score high enough on placement criteria may register for these courses.
***Spanish majors only.
Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration
The bachelor of arts in Latin American studies, a joint program with the departments of history, political science, and geography, is intended to teach students about the rich civilizations in the portions of North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean known as Latin America. Through emphasis on the Spanish language and an interdisciplinary approach to the region, students will obtain a nuanced and deep understanding of Latin America.
| Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| University Core Curriculum | 22 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30-42 | |
| Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration | 52 | |
| I. Language | 16 | |
| PORT 101 Elementary Portuguese I | 4 | |
| PORT 102 Elementary Portuguese II | 4 | |
| SPAN 301 Conversation/Composition/Grammar | 4 | |
| SPAN 302 Conversation/Composition/Reading | 4 | |
| II. Interdisciplinary Course | 4 | |
| LAST 201 Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 | |
| III. Discipline-Based Courses | 20 | |
| A. Social Science (choose two) | ||
| Geography: GEOG/POLS 397 Andes to Amazon: Physical Landscapes of Latin America |
4 | |
| History: HIST 461 Modern Latin America | 4 | |
| Political Science: POLS 322 Latin American Politics | 4 | |
| B. Literature (choose one) | ||
| SPAN 403 Spanish American Literature I | 4 | |
| SPAN 404Spanish American Literature II | 4 | |
| SPAN 405 Special Topics* | 4 | |
| SPAN 406 Special Topics* | 4 | |
| C. Civilization/Culture (choose two) | ||
| LAST 380 Latin American Studies Seminar | 4 | |
| SPAN 316 Latin American Culture I | 4 | |
| SPAN 317 Latin American Culture II | 4 | |
| IV. Study Abroad in Latin American (select one of the following): |
4 | |
| BIOL 340 Amazon Rain Forest | 4 | |
| PORT 351 Language Study Abroad: Adv Port I | 4 | |
| PORT 352 Language Study Abroad: Adv Port II | 4 | |
| PORT 353 Language Study Abroad: Cultural Studies I | 4 | |
| PORT 354 Language Study Abroad: Cultural Studies II | 4 | |
| SPAN 351 Language Study Abroad: Adv Spanish I | 4 | |
| SPAN 352 Language Study Abroad: Adv Spanish II | 4 | |
| SPAN 353 Language Study Abroad: Cultural Studies I | 4 | |
| SPAN 354 Language Study Abroad: Cultural Studies II | 4 | |
| V. Latin America in Global Perspective (select one of the following): |
4 | |
| BIOL 326 Environmental Science | 4 | |
| ECON 397 International Studies in Economics* | 4 | |
| ESSM 312 Food, Culture, & Society* | 4 | |
| PHYS 100 Physics for Society* | 4 | |
| POLS 319 International Relations | 4 | |
| POLS 363 Politics of Developing Nations | 4 | |
| POLS 451 Geography of International Affairs | 4 | |
| VI. Capstone Course | 4 | |
| LAST 480 Perspectives on Latin America | 4 | |
| General Electives (chosen with advisor's approval) | 12-24 | |
| Total Required Credits | 128 | |
|---|---|---|
*Courses must have a Latin American focus.
WLAC Minors - French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Latin American Studies, and World Languages
For students in any discipline who wish to advance their linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural communication skills beyond the required intermediate level, minors are offered in French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, consisting of 20 credits beyond the 202* or 203* language course.
Students in other disciplines may also choose to pursue a specially designed world languages minor consisting of six courses in a combination of other world languages at any level, excluding courses taken to satisfy the general education requirement, and created in consultation with a WLAC faculty advisor.
| French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish Minor Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| French, German, Portugese, or Spanish | 20-36 | |
| Intermediate French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish 201** and | (4)* | |
| Intermediate French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish 202** or | (4)* | |
| Accelerated Intermediate French or Spanish 203** | (4)* | |
| 300/400-level courses (French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish) | 20 | |
| Total Required Credits | 20-36 | |
|---|---|---|
*These credits are included in the General Education Requirements.
**Students who score high enough on placement criteria may register for these courses.
| World Languages and Cultures Minor Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| World Languages | 24 | |
| World language courses, any combination excluding the General Education requirement) |
24 | |
| Total Required Credits | 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin American Studies Interdisciplinary Minor Required Courses |
Course Credits | Total Required Credits |
| Latin American Studies Core | 12 | |
| LAST 201 Introduction to Latin American Studies | 4 | |
| SPAN 301 Conversation/Composition/Grammar* | 4 | |
| SPAN 302 Conversation/Composition/Reading* | 4 | |
| Latin American Cultural Studies (choose one) | 12 | |
| LAST 380 Latin American Studies Seminar | 4 | |
| SPAN 316 Latin American Culture I* | 4 | |
| SPAN 317 Latin American Culture II | 4 | |
| Latin American Studies Electives (choose two) | 8 | |
| GEOG 397 Andes to Amazon: Physical Landscapes of Latin America | 4 | |
| HIST 461 Modern Latin America | 4 | |
| POLS 322 Latin American Politics | 4 | |
| Total Required Credits | 24 | |
|---|---|---|
*Or the equivalent SPAN study abroad option in Latin America.
