Modern Language and Literatures

• Department Information
• Program Description
• Career Opportunities
• Features
• Preparation
• Major Requirements (B.A.)
• Other Degree Requirements
• Chinese Language and Cultural Studies Minor
• Minor Requirements for Languages
• Certificate in Spanish for the Professions
• Undergraduate Courses

Department Information

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Office: MB 2599
Phone: (510) 885-3211

Professor
L. Iliana Holbrook, Ph.D. University of California, Davis

Associate Professors
Jesús Díaz-Caballero, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh
Marcelo Paz, Ph.D. University of Cincinnati
Amy June Rowley, M.S. Western Maryland College
Meiling Wu, Ph.D. State University of New York at Binghamton

Assistant Professor
Monique Manopoulos (Chair), Ph.D. The University of Iowa

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Program Description

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Cal State East Bay offers courses of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in French and Spanish. Academic Minors are offered in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Sign Language, Spanish and Chinese Language and Cultural Studies. Elementary courses are offered also in Filipino and Japanese. All programs have been designed to provide students with the cultural understanding and the academic knowledge necessary for future pursuits in the teaching of foreign languages and literatures or for graduate work in the same fields. Students may utilize other languages and literatures offered in the department as part of a Special Major in various area studies.

A Bachelor of Arts degree major in International Studies is administered through the Department of Political Science. The International Studies major consists of an integrated group of courses reflecting international aspects of various disciplines and requires intermediate level competency in a modern language. It is designed to provide the student with a broad base of understanding of the interrelationship of the world community, while at the same time providing the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest. An International Studies minor is also offered. See the listing under International Studies for further details.

With the growing involvement of the United States in international business and the increasingly multicultural character of American society itself, the importance of foreign languages in nearly every kind of occupation is considerable. The majors in foreign languages and literatures, therefore, may lead to teaching careers and represent direct, practical assets in other fields such as business, industry and commerce, civil service, law, library science, media, science, health services, social work, travel, and tourism.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. in French or a B.A. in Spanish from Cal State East Bay will:

1. be able to express themselves with sufficient accuracy and clarity to carry on conversations in French or Spanish with native speakers and to give oral presentations appropriate to the undergraduate level;
2. be able to express themselves in the written language with a fair amount of sophistication, integrating research information into written assignments while giving adequate credit to the sources of information used;
3. be familiar with the major writers, periods, and genres of (a) French literature (France and other French speaking regions throughout the world: Africa, The Caribbean, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland), or (b) Spanish and Spanish American literature (Spain, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and other Spanish speaking regions throughout the world); students should be able to relate the works and genres to the socio-historical context in which they developed;
4. demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge of the cultural diversity of literatures in the French or Spanish speaking world while developing an appreciation of the French or Spanish and Spanish American cultural contributions to the body of international culture: literature, art, music, cinema, history, etc.

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Career Opportunities

• Teaching
• Business
• Industry and Commerce
• Law and Law Enforcement
• Library Science
• Mass Communication
• Health and Social Services
• Travel and Tourism
• Translation and Interpretation
• Government Service

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Features

The department faculty come from a wide variety of national and academic backgrounds and have traveled extensively in the countries whose languages they are teaching. Slides, films, dramatic performances, potluck dinners and other activities provide the opportunity for students to interact with one another and with their professors. For those who wish to further their interest in a foreign culture and language, the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers clubs. Foreign Language Clubs include the French Club, the German Club, the Tomodachi Club (Japanese Cultural Club), and the Spanish Language Club.

For those who wish to accelerate their learning of another language, the department offers a Summer quarter intensive program in Spanish which covers one year's work in one quarter and yields twelve units of credit. The language laboratory is another useful feature of the department. In the laboratory students can listen to tapes which help improve their pronunciation, fluency, and comprehension. In addition, students are encouraged to take advantage of the California State University International Programs. They can take courses in a variety of universities abroad and apply them towards a degree at Cal State East Bay.

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Preparation

For students to enroll at the proper level of language instruction, the department recommends the following guideline: one year of high school foreign language instruction equals one quarter of Cal State East Bay instruction. Students are expected not to repeat credit already earned in high school unless significant time has passed since the initial instruction. The department offers placement exams to facilitate student placement. Students should contact the department before enrolling in a lower division language class.

Students in foreign language majors, minors, and options may have lower division language requirements waived for those courses below the level at which they enroll.

Advanced Placement

A student who has successfully completed the advanced placement course in a foreign language or literature in high school and has a score of 3 or better on the Advanced Placement Examination will receive 8-12 units of credit equivalent to two or three courses of a foreign language as listed below.

If you have completed the French Language examination with a score of 3 or better, you will receive 12 units of credit equivalent to MLL 2101, 2102, and 2103. If you have completed the German Language examination with a score of 3 or better, you will receive 12 units of credit equivalent to intermediate German coursework. If you have completed the Spanish Language examination with a score of 3 or better, you will receive 12 units of credit equivalent to MLL 2401, 2402, and 2403. If you have completed the Spanish Literature examination with a score of 3 or better, you will receive 8 units of credit equivalent to MLL 3400 and 4455.

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Major Requirements (B.A.)

Please consult an advisor in your major department for clarification and interpretation of your major requirements.

1. French
   The French major consists of 44-68 units; the B.A. degree requires a total of 180 units. Acquisition of a reading knowledge in a second foreign language is strongly recommended.
   1. Lower Division (0-24 units)¹
      MLL 1101-2-3 Elementary French (12)
      MLL 2101-2-3 Intermediate French (12), or equivalent
   2. Upper Division (44 units)
      Eight upper division units in French composition and advanced composition, with consent of Department (8)
      and
      MLL 3130 French Culture and Civilization (4)
      Thirty-two units from among the other upper division French courses (32)
2. Spanish
   The Spanish major consists of 44-72 units; the B.A. degree requires a total of 180 units. Students are expected to consult with Spanish division advisors in order to assure a well balanced program of upper division courses. Proficiency in another foreign language is strongly recommended.
   1. Lower Division (0-28 units)
      
      • MLL 1401-2-3 Elementary Spanish (12)
      • MLL 2401-2-3 Intermediate Spanish (12)
      • MLL 2410 Spanish Conversation (4)
   2. Upper Division (44 units)
      1. MLL 3401-2-3 Advanced Composition and Syntax (12)
         Plus One course selected from the following group:
         MLL 3411, 3412 Spanish Linguistics, Phonetics (4)
      2. Eight (8) units of Spanish American Literature from among the following courses:
         MLL 3461, 3463, 3495, 4495
      3. Eight (8) units of Spanish Peninsular Literature from among the following courses:
         MLL 4455, 4459, 4460
      4. Twelve (12) additional units should be selected from among all upper division Spanish courses. (Note: Courses numbered MLL 4455, 4459, 4460, and 4495 may be repeated as content changes. If repeated, the courses may be applied to more than one category of requirements: Groups 2 and 4 or Groups 3 and 4)

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Other Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.

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Chinese Language and Cultural Studies Minor

The minor consists of 32 units.

1. Required Courses (28 units):
   
   1. Lower Division (12 units)
      Note: Students who do not have proficiency at the intermediate level will need to take the first year of Mandarin Chinese: 1601, 1602, 1603 (Elementary Chinese I, II, III) before starting the Intermediate Mandarin Chinese course series. This could add up to 12 additional units to the minor.
      • MLL 2601, 2602, 2603 Intermediate Mandarin Chinese I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
   2. Upper Division (16 units)
      Select four courses from the list below. At least two of the four courses must have the MLL prefix.
      • ANTH 3545 China
      • ES 3552 Chinese Experience in US
      • HIST 3311 Traditional China
      • HIST 3312 Modern China
      • HIST 3313 People's Republic of China
      • MLL 3601 Chinese News: Advanced Reading, Composition and Translation
      • MLL 3602 Modern Chinese Literature, Linguistics and Culture
      • MLL 3603 Classical Chinese Literature, Rhetoric and Culture
      • MLL 3612 Modern Chinese Short Stories
      • MLL 4900 Independent Study
2. Electives (4 units)
   Select one course from the list below (with consent of advisor).
   • ANTH 3800 Language and Culture
   • ENGL 3005 Study of Language
   • ENGL 3670 Asian/Filipino American Literature
   • ES 3551 Asian American Women and Men
   • ES 3555 Asian American Family Patterns
   • FIN 4375 International Business Finance
   • GEOG 3540 Geography of East Asia
   • MGMT 4500 Business, Government, and Society
   • MGMT 4670 Multinational Business
   • MGMT 4675 International Human Resources Management
   • MKTG 4470 International Marketing
   • MKTG 4478 International Business Projects
   • PHIL 3320 Cultural Studies
   • PHIL 3403 Philosophies of the East
   • POSC 3204 Political Systems of Asia
   • POSC 3333 Ethnic and Minority Politics
   • POSC 3418 U.S. Immigration Policy and Law
   • POSC 3470 International Law

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Minor Requirements for Languages

1. French Minor (20-44 units)
   1. Lower Division (0-24 units)¹
      • MLL 1101-2-3 Elementary French (12)
      • MLL 2101-2-3 Intermediate French (12), or equivalent
   2. Upper Division (20 units)
      • Eight upper division units in French composition and advanced composition, with consent of Department (8)
      • Any three other upper division French courses (12)
2. German Minor (24-36 units)
   1. Lower Division¹
      • MLL 1201-2-3 Elementary German (12)
      • Twelve units of lower division coursework in Intermediate German, with consent of advisor (12)
   2. Upper Division
      • Four units of upper division coursework in Advanced German, with consent of advisor (4)
      • Eight units of upper division coursework in German studies, with consent of advisor (8)
3. Italian Minor (24-36 units)
   1. Lower Division (12-24 units)¹
      • MLL 1301-2-3 Italian Culture and Language (12)
      • 12 units of intermediate Italian, with consent of advisor (12)
   2. Upper Division (12 units)
      • Four units of upper division coursework in cultural trends in Italy (4)
      • Four units of upper division coursework in contemporary spoken Italian, with consent of advisor (4)
      • Four units of upper division coursework in Italian literature, with consent of advisor (4)
4. Sign Language Minor (24-36 units)
   1. Lower Division (12-24 units)¹
      • MLL 1901-2-3 Elementary Sign Language (12)
      • MLL 2901-2-3 Intermediate Sign Language (12)
   2. Upper Division (12 units)
      • MLL 3902 Deaf Culture (4)
      • MLL 3903 Topics in American Sign Language (4)
      • MLL 3904 Sign Language: Field Work (4)
5. Spanish Minor (24-48 units)
   1. Lower Division (0-24 units)¹
      • MLL 1401-2-3 Elementary Spanish (12)
      • MLL 2401-2-3 Intermediate Spanish (12)
   2. Upper Division (16 units)
      • MLL 3401-2-3 Advanced Composition and Syntax (12)
      • MLL 3411 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics (4)
        or MLL 3412 Spanish Phonetics (4)
   3. One course from each of the two following areas:
      Spanish Peninsular literature:
      • MLL 4455, 4459, 4460 (4)
      Spanish-American literature:
      
      • MLL 3461, 3463, 3495, 4495 (4)
      • MLL 3400 may replace one of the above required courses.

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Certificate in Spanish for the Professions

The Certificate in Spanish for the Professions, consisting of 22-38 units, tells potential employers that the recipient is qualified to work with Spanish-speaking members of the community who have limited English proficiency. Designed for individuals who are, or will be, employed in courts, schools, social service bureaucracies, health care facilities, and business enterprises, the certificate program provides students with Spanish language competency in technical fields, enabling them to converse with and serve as translators and interpreters for Spanish-speaking clients. Students majoring or minoring in Spanish may obtain the certificate by completing only the three required upper division certificate courses, in addition to their major or minor program.

Required Courses (22-38 units

1. Lower Division (0-24 units)
   • MLL 1401-2-3 Elementary Spanish I, II, III (12)
   • MLL 2401-2-3 Intermediate Spanish I, II, III (12)
2. Upper Division (14-22 units)
   • MLL 3404 Spanish Terminology and Translation (4)
   • MLL 3405 Advanced Conversation for Community Needs (4)
   • MLL 3406 Practical Spanish: Community Service (6)

   Spanish language, and/or Spanish Peninsular or Spanish-American Literature and Culture (4-8 units from the following list if needed to bring total units to a minimum of 22)

   1. Spanish Language: MLL 3404 Spanish Terminology and Translation (4) [a second time], 3405 Advanced Conversation for Community Needs (4) [a second time]
   2. Spanish-American Literature and Culture: MLL 3400 Introduction to Literary Analysis (4), 3461 Introduction to Spanish-American Literature I: 1492 to 1900 (4), 3463 Introduction to Spanish-American Literature II: 1900 to Present (4), 3495 Spanish-American Culture and Civilization (4); 4495 A Single Movement, Country, or Theme: Spanish-American Literature (4)
   3. Spanish Peninsular Literature and Culture: MLL 3418 Spanish Culture and Civilization (4), 4455 Studies in the Golden Age of Spain (4), 4457 Survey Literature of Spain I (4), 4458 Survey Literature of Spain II (4), 4459 Studies in Spanish Literature of the Modern Age (4), 4460 Studies in 20th Century Spanish Literature (4)

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Undergraduate Courses

NOTE: Students may be admitted to any of the following courses by consent of instructor.

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Footnotes

1. Lower division requirements will be waived for student with prior knowledge of the language. See the "Advanced Placement" section above.
2. May be repeated for credit if subject matter is different.

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