FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

• What courses are taught in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures?
• What majors and minors are available to the undergraduate student?
• Can you tell me what courses are required for a major? for a minor?
• Is there a residency requirement (a certain number of courses that have to be taken on campus)?
• Is Study Abroad offered through the Department?
• What kinds of job opportunities are available for a person with language skills beyond just the required 3-semester proficiency level?
• Are advisors available to answer my questions?
• Does the department offer any 3+2 (5 year) programs leading to the baccalaureate plus master degree?

What courses are taught in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures?

From the Elementary level language and literatures courses in FRENCH, ITALIAN, and SPANISH through the graduate level. Portuguese for Spanish Speakers.

What majors and minors are available to the undergraduate student?

Majors and minors are offered in French, Italian and Spanish.

Can you tell me what courses are required for a major? for a minor?

For the major: Generally, 10 courses (40 credits) beyond elementary language study. Usually 5 courses are taken at the 200- & 300-level; 5 at the 400-level. Spanish requires a specific sequence through the 300-level and fewer 400s. Consult the department. For the minor: 6 courses (24 credits) beyond elementary language study. Two of the courses need to be at the 300- or 400-level.

Is there a residency requirement (a certain number of courses that have to be taken on campus)?

Yes. For the Major: French - 3 of the 400-level courses; Italian - 3 upper level; Spanish - 5 courses: at least 3 of the 300/400-level. For the Minor: 3 of the courses including 1 of the upper division courses.

Is Study Abroad offered through the Department?

Study Abroad programs are available from many institutions in and out the SUNY system. The Office of International Studies (Nelson Rockefeller Center, G-1) has infor-mation. Students are encouraged to spend a semester or summer in a country where the selected language is spoken in order to gain firsthand knowledge of culture and increase fluency. Internships are available. The department has a summer program in Madrid.

What kinds of job opportunities are available for a person with language skills beyond just the required 3-semester proficiency level?

There are so many advantages to foreign language study: e-mail people around the globe, speak with more ease to those in one's profession or community who speak another language, apply the skills from learning one language to learning another one or more, keep up with peers from many countries where several languages are required in their education, prepare for a position in a company where verbal or written translation may be of importance, travel to countries where the language(s) you've learned are spoken, work with business documents where a knowledge of another language facilitates transactions, go on to graduate school where foreign languages are required, and so on.

Are advisors available to answer my questions?

Yes. The full-time faculty advise students; office hours are posted on office doors.

Does the department offer any 3+2 (5-year) programs leading to the baccalaureate plus master degree?

Yes. Brand New Fall 2006: BA in French/Italian &/or Spanish plus Master of Public Administration. MPA contact person: Pam Mischen (pmischen@binghamton.edu).