Bachelor of Arts Foreign Languages and Literatures
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a flexible program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree either with or without teaching licensure (both require 30 hours of language courses, excluding 101 and 102). It also offers an academic minor in French, German, and Spanish which consists of 18 hours, including 101 and 102 and a minor in Classics of 21 hours. The program aims to provide students with sufficient language skills and cultural insights to give them sound foundations for a wide range of careers. It is designed to meet the following objectives:
(1) prepare students (in combination with other disciplines) for industrial, commercial and government employment in which knowledge of a foreign language and culture is a distinct advantage; (2) prepare students to teach foreign languages in secondary schools; (3) prepare students for graduate study in languages, literatures, cultural studies, and related fields; (4) provide support courses for other programs in the university.
The department offers curricula from the beginning through the advanced levels in French, Spanish, and German. The department also regularly offers Greek, Latin, and Russian through the intermediate levels.
Students have access to the Foreign Language Multimedia Center in the Liberal Arts building (room 110) to engage in language study outside of regular classroom meetings. Other foreign language audiovisual materials are available in the Cook Library.
In cooperation with other departments at this university, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures has established a number of formal and informal programs for students who wish to prepare for careers in which a knowledge of a foreign language and culture is either essential or desirable. For assistance in devising a suitable curriculum, students should consult as soon as possible with a foreign language adviser.
Study Abroad
In cooperation with the Southern Miss Office of International programs, the department offers active and popular study-abroad summer, semester and year-long programs. See more information on the Study Abroad link.
CLEP Examinations, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate credit in Foreign Languages
Students with previous language study or background may earn up to a total of 12 hours of college credit in Spanish, French or German by taking a CLEP examination. Students may take the CLEP examination at any time during their course of study. Students are also given credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) high school degree programs. For complete details regarding how to take the CLEP examination in foreign languages as well as AP and IB course credit, consult the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures or the Southern Miss Admissions office.
A Major in Foreign Languages
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers three options for a Bachelor of Arts: (1) Foreign Languages: Spanish concentration (2) Foreign Languages: French concentration (3) Foreign Languages: Two-Language concentration.
Each option requires a minimum of 30 semester hours above the 100 level in foreign languages and literatures. At least 18 hours must be earned in upper-level foreign language courses. Students must complete at least one, preferably two, 300-level courses before enrolling at the 400 level. Please consult the undergraduate bulletin and a department advisor for more information