English and Modern Languages Department
Chairperson: Michael Hobbs
Faculty: Daniel Biegelson, Kori Binette, Richard Black, Stancy Bond, Wayne Chandler, Ashley Davis, Eric Dickey, John Gallaher, Robin Gallaher, Tom Hardee, Joseph Haughey, Brenda Lewis, Jeffrey Loomis, Francisco Martinez, Ildiko Olasz, Beth Richards, Luke Rolfes, Marcy Roush, Brenda Ryan, Jenny Rytting, Richard Sonnenmoser, Kenton Wilcox
Statement of Mission
The Department of English and Modern Languages, in all its programs and classes, focuses on student success—every student, every day.
Degree Programs
The Department of English and Modern Languages offers seven majors, three undergraduate degree programs and five minors.
The 33-hour Bachelor of Arts in English provides a course balance of advanced writing and literature that is excellent preparation for the study of law, business and medicine; for careers in teaching, publishing, writing, advertising and journalism; and for management and other positions requiring interpretive, diagnostic and analytic problem-solving abilities.
The 36-hour Bachelor of Science in English provides extensive writing experience and familiarity with editing and research skills, in response to the proliferation of desktop and small publishing companies, technical writing centers and in-house magazines or journals. This major provides preparation for careers especially in the fields of publishing and technical writing as well as for the study of law, business and medicine.
The 39-hour Bachelor of Science in Education in English and the 54-hour Comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Education in English both provide extensive writing experience, familiarity with the full chronological range of American and British literature, knowledge of traditional and modern grammars, rhetorical theory and history of the English language. Either major, when completed with the requirements of the B.S.Ed. Secondary Program, meets Missouri secondary school English teaching certification standards.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are available in Spanish. These require 37 hours of study in the discipline. A minor or collateral coursework is required for these majors.
The 34-hour Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Spanish provides preparation for the teaching of the language, and must be completed under the requirements for the B.S.Ed. degree, Elementary/Secondary Program, which meets the Missouri teacher certification standards for the teaching of the target language in grades K-12. A strong literature preparation is encouraged in order for success on the state examination.
The 24-hour Minor in Writing complements any major whose study is enhanced by improved written expression. The minor includes Mass Communication electives and a range of advanced-study opportunities in creative writing, technical writing, popular media and language.
The 24-hour Minor in English enhances students’ analytic and communicative skills and prepares them for those career fields named above.
The 30-hour Minor in English is an attractive choice for students majoring in another teaching area such as foreign languages, social science, speech, art or music. This minor offers a balance of writing and literature courses similar to the Bachelor of Arts in English and, when completed with the requirements of the B.S.Ed. degree, Secondary Program, meets Missouri secondary school English teaching certification standards.
A minor in Spanish is required to complete 24 hours of study in Languages and to follow a prescribed series of courses. The minor taken under either the B.S.Ed. degree, Elementary/Secondary or Elementary Programs meets Missouri teacher certification degree requirements for a K-9 Spanish endorsement.
A minor in Deaf Studies is available to students majoring in another area. This minor requires 24 hours of study in American Sign Language as well as special education.
An Individualized Language minor (27 hours) allows students to study any language (other than English) through an immersion program outside of the United States. The program of study must be approved by the Department of English and Modern Languages and the Study Abroad Office in advance.
Test-Out Policy
Students may challenge their placement in ENGL 10110 Introduction to College Writing by passing a writing test. Students should contact the department for additional details. Credit may be granted for AP or IB exams. See Credit for External Examinations and International Baccalaureate Credit for the specific policy.
Test-out is also available for LANG 14131, LANG 14132, LANG 14141, LANG 14142, LANG 14151, LANG 14251 or LANG 14252. Students should consult with the Languages faculty regarding appropriate test-out level. See the department secretary for further details. Languages credit may be granted for AP, CLEP or IB exams. See Credit for External Examinations, CLEP Subject Examinations, and International Baccalaureate Credit.
Language Requirement
Students should follow the course sequences and listed prerequisites for language courses. Permission to take a course out of sequence to satisfy the “B.A. Specific Requirement” must be approved in advance by petition to the chair of the department. Contact the department for a petition form.
The nine hours of Modern Language required to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree may also be used to satisfy the total required hours for a major or minor in languages. LANG 14141 and LANG 14142 are prerequisite courses; these may be counted toward the Spanish B.A. major, but not for the Spanish B.S., Spanish B.S.Ed., or Spanish minor.
Language courses meeting the Multicultural/Diversity Competency requirement may also be counted toward the B.A. degree Language Requirement.
Portfolio Requirement
Successful completion of all non-English modern language degrees requires the presentation of an academic and professional portfolio during the student’s senior year. Immediately upon declaring a major, the student must request a portfolio packet from his/her advisor.
Language Majors
In order to qualify for advanced standing in language, students must (1) not be on academic probation or suspension and (2) have completed six hours of 200-level courses or the equivalent in a language.