Division of Humanities and Fine Arts
The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers majors in French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, and International Literatures and Cultures. Our courses prepare students to live and work in the global community of the 21st century by giving them powerful tools for communicating and collaborating with people in the pluralist U.S. and abroad. Our courses have three main goals:
- to foster critical thinking skills through an awareness of the power of language in its many contexts,
- to provide linguistic training for students to develop proficiency in a modern language, and
- to promote intercultural competence for students to communicate effectively across diverse cultural lines.
Our graduates pursue successful careers in numerous fields, including (international) education, journalism, social services, (international) business, economics, government, (international) law, and applied and theoretical sciences.
The Department offers courses appropriate to majors and minors in French Studies, German Studies, and Hispanic Studies, as well as courses given in English in the field of International Literatures and Cultures. It also offers language courses in Chinese. All language courses offered may be used to satisfy the College’s foreign language requirement. For more details on how to complete the foreign language requirement, please consult the section on distribution requirements found under the Academic Program heading of this catalog.
Courses that Fulfill the Humanities Distribution Requirement
Courses on literature and film in a foreign language and courses in International Literatures and Cultures (ILC), given in English, may be used to fulfill the distribution requirement in the Humanities. In some cases, the department chair may approve the use of literature courses taught in the foreign language to fulfill the foreign language requirement. In such cases, those same courses may not also be used to fulfill the Humanities distribution requirement.
Language Requirement Placement Policy
All Washington College students are required to fulfill the Language Requirement. In order to ensure consistent treatment of all students, each student must take the language survey and the language placement test, if applicable. If the student decides to continue with the language of the placement test at the college, they must register for the course indicated by the test.
There are some special cases to consider:
- Students can also fulfill the Language Requirement with transfer credit from other institutions with approval of the Associate Chair of World Languages and Cultures.
- Students who are native speakers of a foreign language have the option of waiving the requirement upon approval of the Associate Chair of World Languages and Cultures.
- Native speakers cannot register for HPS 302 Advanced Oral Proficiency in Spanish or FRS 302 Advanced French II, which are conversation courses. For the rest of the courses, the instructor will determine if the native speaker is in the correct class and may move the student to a more appropriate level.
Students should complete the Language Requirement in their first two years. Otherwise, they may find that their prior skills have deteriorated since completing the placement test or that the class they need is not offered, preventing them from graduating. In the exceptional case that the Department deems that a change of placement is appropriate, the placement will only be lowered by one level. Should the student still feel uncomfortable with their placement, they may start a new language at the 101 level.
Language Placement Process
All incoming freshmen must take the language survey and, if they have studied one of the languages offered at the college, the placement test in this language in order to determine their level. Incoming transfer students should take the language survey, and the placement test if required. Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Evaluation memo provided by Admissions and the Registrar to determine if the language placement test is required. Even if you have never studied a language, you must take the language survey. To access the language survey, please login to Canvas and follow the directions for “Language Placement Exam” in the course titled “New Students” for your first semester.
How to complete the language requirement
- For students starting a new language or students placed in the 101 or 102 level: two semesters in the new or placement language.
- For students placing in 200-level or above in French, German, Chinese, or Spanish: one semester of study.
- Students who have achieved a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test have satisfied this requirement.
- Students whose native language is not English may satisfy the language requirement with that language pending approval from the Associate Chair of World Languages and Cultures. (Heritage speakers are not exempt from the language requirement.)
- Students who present appropriate documentation qualifying them for a foreign language substitution may be allowed to substitute two pre-approved courses to satisfy this requirement.
Nicole Grewling, Chair
David Hull, Associate Chair
Cristina Casado Presa
Elena Deanda Camacho
Karen Manna
Martín Ponti
Elisa Santucci
Mike Sosulski
Francis J. Valencia-Turco
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Chinese Studies
CHN 101 Elementary Chinese I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
CHN 102 Elementary Chinese II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
CHN 194 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 197 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 201 Intermediate Chinese I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
CHN 202 Intermediate Chinese II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
CHN 294 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 297 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 351 Chinese Cinema: Ideology & Box Office 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Non Conforming
CHN 375 Study Abroad Portfolio 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 394 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 397 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 494 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
CHN 497 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
French
FRS SCE Senior Capstone Experience 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 101 Elementary French I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
FRS 102 Elementary French II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
FRS 194 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 195 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 196 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 197 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 201 Intermediate French I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
FRS 202 Intermediate French II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
FRS 290 French Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, Non Conforming
FRS 294 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 295 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 296 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 297 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 301 Advanced French I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Odd Years
FRS 302 Advanced French II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Even Years
FRS 303 Intro to French Literature 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Even Years
FRS 304 Intro to French Literature II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
FRS 311 Contemporary France 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
FRS 312 The Contemporary Francophone World 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
FRS 375 Study Abroad Portfolio 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 390 French Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 394 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 395 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
FRS 396 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
FRS 397 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
FRS 411 Love in the Middle Ages 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 418 Post -World War II France 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 419 Studies in Francophone Lit & Cult 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 490 French Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 494 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
FRS 495 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
FRS 496 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
FRS 497 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
German
GRS SCE Senior Capstone Experience 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 101 Elementary German I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
GRS 102 Elementary German II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
GRS 190 German Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 194 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 195 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 196 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
GRS 197 Independent Study 4 Credits
GRS 201 Intermediate German I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
GRS 202 Intermediate German II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
GRS 290 German Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 294 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 295 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 296 Off-Campus Studies 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 297 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 301 Advanced German Proficiency I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
GRS 302 Advanced German Proficiency II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
GRS 305 Introduction to German Literature 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Non Conforming
GRS 314 Berlin: Symphony of Great City 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Non Conforming
GRS 317 German Cinema (English) 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Non Conforming
GRS 318 German Cinema (German) 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Non Conforming
GRS 375 Study Abroad Portfolio 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 390 German Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 394 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 395 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
GRS 396 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
GRS 397 Independent Study 4 Credits
GRS 490 German Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 494 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
GRS 495 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
GRS 496 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
GRS 497 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
Hispanic Studies
HPS SCE Senior Capstone Experience 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 101 Elementary Spanish I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
HPS 102 Elementary Spanish II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
HPS 190 Hispanic Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 194 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 195 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 196 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 201 Intermediate Spanish I 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 202 Intermediate Spanish II 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 290 Hispanic Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 294 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 295 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 296 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 297 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
HPS 301 Advanced Writing & Grammar in Spanish 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
HPS 302 Advanced Oral Proficiency in Spanish 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, All Years
HPS 303 Intro to Lit/Cult of Latin America 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 304 Intro to Literature & Culture of Spain 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 305 Intro to Literature of Spain & Latin Am 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 306 Cltures&communities Spanish-Speakng Wrld 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 307 Spanish for the Professions 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 310 History of Spanish 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
HPS 375 Study Abroad Portfolio 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 390 Hispanic Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 394 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 395 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
HPS 396 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
HPS 397 Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 413 Occult Worlds: the Fantastic in Spain 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
HPS 415 Early Modern Spanish Lit 4 Credits
HPS 416 Pre-Hispanic Literature 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 417 Afro Latin America 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Even Years
HPS 421 Latin American Media 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Even Years
HPS 422 Censorship & Repression in Latin America 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Non Conforming
HPS 490 Hispanic Studies Internship 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 494 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
HPS 495 On-Campus Guided Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
HPS 496 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Summer, All Years
HPS 497 HPS Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
International Languages and Cultures
ILC SCE Senior Capstone Experience 2 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 194 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 195 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 196 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 294 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 295 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 296 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 305 European Cinema 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 311 Contemporary France 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 312 The Contemporary Francophone World 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Other, Non Conforming
ILC 318 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Ed 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
ILC 336 Postcolonial Literature 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years
ILC 351 Chinese Cinema: Ideology & the Box 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Spring, Even Years
ILC 394 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 395 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 396 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 397 ILC Independent Study 4 Credits
ILC 494 Special Topics 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 495 On-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 496 Off-Campus Research 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: All Terms, All Years
ILC 497 ILC Independent Study 4 Credits
Term(s) Offered: Fall, All Years