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Alba Hawkins, Chair hawkinsa@wcsu.edu Higgins Hall, 218C 203-837-8485 (203) 837-8032 (fax)
Krista Brooks, Department Secretary brooksk@wcsu.edu Higgins Hall 201, Midtown campus (203) 837-9166 (203) 837-8032 (fax)
Faculty
D. Anderson G. Bakhtiarova S.A. Hawkins, Chair Ç. Üsekes
Adjunct Faculty
Overview
The Department of World Languages, Cultures & Interdisciplinary Studies opens doors to the 21st century global economy with the continued growing demand for language skills for business, government, community groups, and international organizations.
Major programs in the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, and education programs in secondary education with a concentration in Spanish, offer students a curriculum that is balanced between the study of language, cultures, and literary traditions from Spain, Latin America and Latinxs in the USA with an emphasis on a greater awareness of the vital connections between global and local Hispanic communities.
Humanistic studies courses are interdisciplinary courses that emphasize, encourage, and support creative and critical thinking in addressing the complex questions, problems, and challenges of an interconnected world. Every Humanistic studies course focuses on topics, subjects, and real-world problems that are inherently interdisciplinary. These courses explore subjects, topics, and real-world problems from the perspective of at least three integrated disciplines, drawing from the arts, the humanities, the sciences, the social sciences, and professional studies. Students are expected to not only gain knowledge and skills from a variety of integrated disciplines, but they are also expected to learn to think from cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary perspectives, which are all germane to interdisciplinarity.
Mission
Objectives
Learning Outcomes for Students in World Languages The Department of World Languages, Cultures & Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Connecticut State University adheres to national standards for foreign language learning determined by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) for language proficiency and cultural competency through the: Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and Communities.
The ACTFL proficiency scale from 2012 established guidelines for language proficiency at the following levels:
Learning Outcomes for Students in Interdisciplinary Studies Students who complete the B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies will be able to:
Degree Programs
B.A. in Spanish B.S. in Secondary Education: Spanish B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies
Minors
Humanistic Studies Science and Society Spanish Spanish Translation Sustainability
Description: The Department of World Languages, Cultures & Interdisciplinary Studies opens doors to the 21st century global economy with the continued growing demand for language skills for business, government, community groups, and international organizations.
In our language programs, students are encouraged to be critical thinking citizens and leaders of our increasingly interdependent world community. Our students learn to view the world from diverse perspectives, and to cross borders through effective communication based on an appreciation of cultural diversity.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, and electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 33 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. The WCSU General Education curriculum invites students to encounter a broad range of topics and skills in the liberal arts and sciences. The system requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 40 semester hours split across eleven learning areas. Generally, students can satisfy the requirements for a given learning area with any course they choose within that area; some programs of study may require specific Major Designated General Education Courses; if so, they will be listed with the program requirements. Additionally, the Racial Justice and Global Diversity requirements may be completed with courses which are part of the program requirements. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link: https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad/academic-programs-degrees/
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Spanish Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*Gen Ed: Mathematical Reasoning may be taken in Semester 1 or Semester 2.
**Students who major in Spanish are strongly encouraged to consider a study-abroad experience. Junior year is an opportune time for this. Speak with your advisor for guidance.
Description: This degree provides foundations in Spanish language usage, and the literature and cultures of many Spanish-speaking countries such that graduates are prepared to educate others in this field.
Required Courses in the Major: 33 SH, 35 Certification.
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Secondary Ed – Spanish Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
See the Department of Education and Educational Psychology within the School of Professional Studies.
Major in Spanish (B.A. SPANISH, B.S. SPANISH-SECONDARY ED.)
Students who complete a major in Spanish (B.A. Spanish, B.S. in Spanish-Secondary Ed.) achieve a minimum level of Advanced Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale. Spanish majors and minors are assessed annually for oral and writing proficiency as part of an internal program assessment through a final exam or project during at least one 200-level and one 300-level Spanish course on cultural and/or literary topics.
B.S. Spanish – Secondary Education Certification
Students admitted to the professional semester for the B.S. in Spanish-Secondary Education achieve a minimum level of Advanced Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale. In addition to assessment of cultural competency of students in final exams and projects in culture and literature courses, candidates for teacher certification demonstrate oral proficiency and writing proficiency through the following external assessments:
Foreign Language Requirements
All students enrolled in B.A. programs and secondary education majors must fulfill the foreign language requirement in one of the following ways:
1. By completing through the third year of one foreign language in high school with an overall “C” average.
2. By studying a total of three years of two foreign languages in high school with an overall “B” average.
3. By successfully completing a foreign language proficiency examination, or by providing the necessary documentation outlined in the language waiver policy in this catalog.
4. By successfully completing a language immersion experience of one semester abroad. Consult the Department of World Languages and Composition or ISEP.
5. By successfully completing the specified language courses at WCSU. Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement by successfully completing an Introductory II second-semester course in languages offered in the Department of World Languages, Cultures & Interdisciplinary Studies, or any one semester of a language course at the intermediate level or above that is taught in the target language, not in English.
Introductory Level- Foreign Language Requirement
Students who complete the second semester of an introductory language sequence at WCSU achieve a minimum level of Novice Mid as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale in the following courses or their equivalents: French 164, German 164, Italian 164, Portuguese 164, and Spanish 164. Students may complete the foreign language requirement with an academic language study abroad, which includes:
Students who complete the second semester of an introductory language sequence achieve a minimum level of Novice Low as defined by the ACTFL proficiency scale in oral and writing proficiency in the following courses or their equivalents: Arabic 102 and Chinese 164. Assessment at this level is conducted by faculty teaching the course in a final exam or project at the end of the semester.
Arabic 101 and 102 and Chinese 162 and Chinese 164 are available as Student Independent Studies.
Description: This major allows students to combine two different fields to best suit their interests and career plans. With two courses designed to help students integrate their learning combined with concentrations in two different fields, students design their learning experiences around specific academic and career goals. Please contact the Department of World languages, Cultures & Interdisciplinary Studies to initiate a major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Required Courses in the Major: 42 SH.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Interdisciplinary Studies Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
*COMP 101 may be taken in Semester 1 or Semester 2.
** All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require students to study a language other than English to at least the elementary level II. Students who have completed three years of a language other than English in high school with an overall “C” average or completed a total of four years of two languages other than English in high school with an overall “B” average have met this requirement.
*** Upper-level courses usually have prerequisites. Be sure to check this as you plan your concentrations.
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 151 Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
Fifteen credits (15 SH) in Approved HUM electives. (15 SH) At least nine credits (9 SH) at the 200-level or above. All current HUM courses can be applied toward the minor.
The Minor in Science and Society requires 17-18 credits, including HUM 292 Science and Society (3 credits) and the remaining 14-15 elective credits to be selected from the two groups specified below. No more than 9 credits may be taken within the student’s major, and no more than 9 credits may be taken within the same discipline. Students must maintain a 2.0 minimum GPA in the minor.
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 292 Science and Society
Group I Electives: (Choose 8-9 credits from the following courses. Choose either two 4-credit courses or three 3-credit courses.) BIO 100 Concepts of Biology BIO 107/202 Scientific Inquiry in the Field BIO 150 Science of Climate Change CHE 102 Everyday Chemistry I CHE/HUM 293 The Science and Culture of the Atomic Bomb CS 102 3D Modeling and Printing CS 103 Computer Animation and Scripting CS 110 Website Production CS 135 Problem Solving with Computers CS 140 Introduction to Programming CS 172 Intermediate Java Programming MAT 110 Great Ideas in Mathematics MAT 113 Introduction to the History of Mathematics MAT 127 Introduction to Cryptology MAT 363 History of Mathematics PSY 230 Introduction to Brain and Behavior PSY 251 Psychology of Cognition PSY 352 Cognitive Neuroscience
Group II Electives: (Choose six (6) credits from the following courses.) HUM 213 Artificial Intelligence: Minds and Machines HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics HUM 290 Science and Technology in Film HUM 391 Big Data and Society PSY 260 Health Psychology PSY 270 Psychology of Sustainability PSY 309 Social Psychology and the Law PSY 347 Developmental Psychology and Social Policy
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
18 SH (eighteen credits) in Approved Spanish Electives -Course electives must be approved by a World Languages and Composition Advisor. -Students shall select electives above the course level of SPA 164 Introductory Spanish II
The Spanish Translation minor (18 SH) is open to all students with at least a minimum of intermediate Spanish proficiency through completion of SPA 197: Continuing Spanish Language & Culture. Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required courses (12 SH): SPA 212 Spanish for Business SPA 213 Spanish for Health Professions SPA 214 Introduction to Spanish Translation SPA 311 Spanish Translation: Theory & Practice
And choose two (2) courses from the following (6 SH): SPA 330 Global Voices: Spain; SPA 331 Representative Authors: Spanish America; SPA 360 Translating America; SPA 361 Gender & Sexuality in Spanish America; SPA 365 Global Voices: Social Justice; SPA 370 Translating Latina/o/x
A minor in sustainability requires 18 credits, including HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics (3), and 15 more credits derived from the following elective courses. (New courses may be added to those listed below so please contact the Department for an up to date list.) No more than 9 credits in this minor may be taken within a student’s major.
Required Course (3 SH): HUM 222 Sustainability: Economics, Ecology, Ethics
Five (5) courses from the approved lists below (15 SH):
Biology Courses BIO 200 Ecology (4) (prereq: C- or better in both BIO 103 & BIO 104) BIO 422 Conservation Ecology (4) (prereq: BIO 200, BIO 260 & one BIO 300-level course) BIO 375 Climate Ecology (3) (prereq: C- or better in BIO 200, BIO 260 and either MAT 115 or MAT 120)
Earth Science Course ES 103 Planet Earth (4)
Economics Courses ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) ECO 213 Principles of Microeconomics (3) ECO 240 Environmental Economics (3) ECO 317 Economic Development and Growth (3) (prereq: ECO 211)
Environmental Studies Courses ENV 100 Environmental Resources (4) ENV/BIO 156 Biology of the Environment (3) ENV/MTR 162 Air Pollution Sources (4) ENV/SS 250 Society and the Environment (3)
Physics Courses PHY/ENV 136 Energy (4)
Geography Courses GEO 100 Principles of World Geography (3) GEO/ENV 150 Urban Environment as a human Ecological Problem (3) GEO 270 The Geography of the Environment and Development (3) (prereq: GEO 100)
Health Promotion & Exercise Courses HPX 100 Health Promotion and Maintenance (3) HPX 240 Introduction to Principles of Holistic and Integrative Health (3) HPX/HUM 246 Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3) HPX/HUM 247 Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3) HPX 353 Environmental and Global Health (3)
Humanistic Studies Courses HUM/HPX 246 Approaches to Well Being in Indo-Tibetan Philosophy (3) HUM/HPX 247 Indigenous Spirituality & Environmental Activism (3)
Management Courses (All students must take 9 credits outside the required classes of their major.) MGT 405 Small Business Entrepreneurship (prereq: ACC 202, FIN 310, MKT 301 and GPA 2.3 or higher.) MGT 410 Current Issues in Management (prereq: senior standing and GPA 2.3 or higher)
Marketing Courses MKT 305 Global Environment of Business (3) (prereq: GPA >2.3, Junior standing, MKT 200, MGT 250, FIN 310)
Meteorology Courses MTR 150 Meteorology (4) MTR 240 Climatology (4) (prereq: MTR 150)
Philosophy Courses PHI 225 Ethics and Animals (3) PHI 226 Environmental Philosophy (3) PHI 421 Developmental & Humanitarian Ethics (3)
Political Science Courses PS 315 Environmental Issues in International Relations (3)
Psychology Courses PSY 270 Psychology of Sustainability (3) (prereq: PSY 100)
Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
