Bachelor of Arts: French, German, Spanish

Undergraduate Advisers:

French: Gayle Levy

(816) 235-2820, levyg@umkc.edu

German: K. Scott Baker

(816) 235-2823, bakerks@umkc.edu

Spanish: Rebecca Lee

(816) 235-2827, leerebe@umkc.edu

General Information

Initial Advising and Placement

Full-time, degree-seeking students whose education through eighth grade, or the equivalent, has been in a language other than English shall be exempt from the foreign language requirement for the general education requirements. They will not receive 110, 120 or 211 credit for that language.

Consultation with an adviser is recommended for students who intend to major or minor in foreign languages.

Transfer Credit

Credit for study at a foreign institution will be granted, provided the courses proposed for study abroad have been approved in advance by a departmental adviser and endorsed by the chair of the department. When advance endorsement for credit is not obtained from the department, the credit is subject to approval by the department chair.

In cases where students have been engaged in an extended period (e.g., a year) of formal study at an approved academic institution abroad, transfer credit of more than nine hours may be granted, if approved by the chair of the department.

Credit by Examination

CLEP credit is available for the first 10 hours of French, German or Spanish. Contact Testing Services to arrange for the exam. A passing score is necessary to receive credit. (No more than 30 of a student's total hours may be earned by examination.)

Departmental testing, "Credit by Examination," also is available. Students should first speak to the appropriate undergraduate adviser. Generally, arrangements are made with an instructor to take the final examination with the appropriate class. Forms are available at Registration. The signatures of the registrar, instructor, dean and cashier must be obtained, in that order. The fee must be paid and the instructor must receive the signed, completed form before the student may take the examination. A minumum grade of C is necessary to receive credit.

Degree Requirements

The department recommends study of a second foreign language and relevant work in other disciplines such as English, history, art history, etc.

In consultation with the adviser, a course of study will be devised listing required courses, credits received and courses that still need to be taken to satisfy requirements for the degree. It will be signed by the student and the adviser. Majors must consult with their departmental advisers before registration and need to obtain approval of their course programs each semester. They also must seek their adviser's consent whenever a change in the agreed course of study is necessary.
The following departmental requirements must be met:

1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond 110 and 120 in the same language and literature. Normally, at least 18 of the 30 hours required for the major must be taken in this department. For more details concerning 300- and 400-level course requirements for degrees in French, German and Spanish, see the following.
2. Special arrangements for study-abroad credit can be made with the chair on a case-by-case basis.
3. A 2.0 grade-point average in the major is required for graduation.
4. Composition and conversation courses through at least 415 are required and 425 is highly recommended. Prospective teachers must take 425.
5. Native speakers majoring in their own languages will complete a minimum of 21 credit hours in courses numbered 300 and above, but normally not including 315 or 325. A native speaker is defined as a person who speaks the target language fluently and who has completed formal schooling through the secondary school level, or equivalent, in the target language.
6. French majors must complete a total of 15 credit hours of 300- and 400-level literature and civilization courses. Of these, nine credit hours must be at the 400 level and must include the Senior Seminar (Capstone Course), French 499.
7. German majors must complete at least 15 hours of 300- and 400-level literature and culture courses, including the Senior Seminar (Capstone Course), German 499.
8. Spanish majors must complete at least 15 hours of literature and civilization courses, of which at least six hours must be at the 400 level and must include the Senior Seminar (Capstone Course), Spanish 499.
9. French 435 and German 304 and 340 do not count toward a major.
10. Certain cluster courses may be counted toward the language major, to be determined through consultation with the course instructor and the foreign language chair.