Modern Language BA, Spanish Emphasis
The BA in Modern Languages with emphasis in Spanish develops learners who are both linguistically and culturally competent and ready to become global citizens. We offer a broad range of coursework in Spanish, from foundational courses in language and culture to courses focused on literature, linguistics, creative writing, and professions, all aimed at developing competencies for the 21st century. Our introductory-level courses are taught in different delivery modes: in person, hybrid, and online. We encourage study abroad through our short-term faculty-led programs in Costa Rica and Barcelona, as well as through year-long programs in partner institutions.
General Education Requirements
Each language major must satisfy the general education requirements of the university and the general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Specific Requirements or Restrictions
Students entering with no high school language units must enroll in Language 1001 or may enroll in Language 2115. Language 2115 (a, b, and c) is the intensive study of a language and will satisfy the foreign language requirement. 2115a, 2115b, and 2115c are co-requisites and must be taken concurrently. To satisfy the foreign language requirement all three sections must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
A grade of D in a Language 1001 course is a passing grade but not an entrance grade for a Language 1002 course. A grade of D in a Language 1002 course is a passing grade but not an entrance grade for a Language 2101 course or its equivalent. A grade of D in a Language 2101 course fulfills the language requirement but is not an entrance grade for a higher-level course.
Demonstration of a high level of proficiency may affect the number of hours required for the major. Native or heritage speakers of a language should consult with the department concerning appropriate placement and advising. Students with previous language coursework should contact the department for language placement testing and advising. Students may not take for credit an elementary course if they have already completed a higher-level course for which the elementary course, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite.
Degree Requirements
All courses for the major must be passed with a grade of C- or better. No course required for the major may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (s/u) basis with the exception of those taken abroad as part of a university program that has received departmental approval.
Bachelor of Arts
All students seeking a B.A. in a Modern Language must successfully complete FGN LANG 2100 Languages and World View and FGN LANG 2294, Foreign Language Careers for the Global Market, and must meet the departmental requirement of a minimum of 33 hours in French or 39 hours in Japanese or 35 hours in Spanish or 30-33 hours in the Dual Language Professional Emphasis (excluding Language 1001 and 1002). The maximum number of hours that may be taken in the major is 45 (including Language 1001 and 1002). In addition, students seeking the B.A. in Modern Language who desire a teaching certificate should consult the College of Education’s advising office for additional coursework and other professional secondary education requirements.
Transfer Students
Transfer students majoring in one of the modern languages must complete at UMSL a minimum of 12 graded hours in language courses at the 3000 level or above with a grade point average of 2.0 or better in those courses.
Heritage Speakers
For departmental purposes, heritage speakers are defined as individuals who have been raised in a family or social environment in which the target language is habitually used for day-to-day communication but have not completed their secondary schooling in the target language.
Students will take a nationally-normed proficiency test (STAMP or equivalent) to determine placement:
Students who receive a score at or above the Intermediate High level of proficiency in speaking, and listening, and at or above the Intermediate Mid level of proficiency in reading and writing will be eligible to pursue the requirements of the Modern Language Major at the 3xxx and 4xxx levels. Total number of credits: 28 in Spanish or French, and 30 in Japanese including FGN LANG 2100 and FGN LANG 2294. Students completing the Japanese emphasis may include coursework in English at the 1000-level or 2000-level for the 6 elective credits in the emphasis area.
Students who receive a score below Intermediate Mid in any skill must meet with an advisor to determine proper placement.
Native Speakers
For departmental purposes, native speakers are defined as individuals who completed their secondary education or above in the target language. Students will submit an official transcript to the University.
For emphasis areas in French, Japanese and Spanish:
Native speakers will complete 3 classes at the 4xxx-level and at least 3 classes at the 3xxx or above. AND, FGN LANG 2100 (3) and FGN LANG 2294 (1). Total numbers of credits: 22 credits total, including FGN LANG 2100 and FGN LANG 2294.
For Dual Language Professional emphasis area:
Please see a content-area advisor for more information.
Native speakers will complete 3 classes at the 4xxx-level and at least 3 classes at the 3xxx or above, and, FGN LANG 2100 (3) and FGN LANG 2294 (1). Total numbers of credits: 22 credits total, including FGN LANG 2100 and FGN LANG 2294.
Specific Requirements for Concentration in Spanish
| Each major with a Spanish concentration must complete the following courses: | ||
| SPANISH 2101 | Spanish Language and Culture III (or the equivalent) | 3 |
| SPANISH 2172 | Spanish Composition | 4 |
| SPANISH 2180 | Readings in Spanish | 4 |
| SPANISH 3326 | Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | 3 |
| SPANISH 3212 | Hispanic Cultures and Civilizations: Spain, Spanish America, and the United States | 3 |
| SPANISH 3282 | Introduction to Hispanic Literature: A Survey Course | 3 |
| Select one additional course at the 3000-level (see course descriptions for more detail) | 3 | |
| Select three courses at the 4000-level | 9 | |
| Select an additional course at the 2000-level, 3000-level, or 4000-level. The selected course must be consistent with the student's level of study. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Career Outlook
Career options for graduates with a major or minor in modern languages include the following fields: teaching, social work, nursing, engineering, business, communications, government, journalism, travel industry, translation, and research. Our graduates have been especially successful when they combine advanced study in a modern language with another major. They are then able to add proficiency in a foreign language and culture to their knowledge and skills in another specialty. Experience with world cultures makes our graduates more adaptable and better prepared to meet the challenges of a global and increasingly diverse job market.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the BA in Modern Languages from the University of Missouri-St. Louis possess the necessary linguistic and cultural competencies to interact with native speakers in culturally appropriate ways. They are able to use the target language in a variety of academic, social, and professional situations and have a rich understanding of the target culture(s) fostered through engaging topic-based courses and opportunities such as study abroad, service learning, and internships. Recognizing the interconnection between languages and world views, they can critically explore their own assumptions, value alternative perspectives, and act with cultural sensitivity. They are empowered with the tools to meet the challenges of a globalized world and continue developing their skills as lifelong learners.
Skills and Knowledge Areas
Upon completion of the major, students should be able to:
Linguistic and Critical Thinking Goals:
- In listening and speaking,
- demonstrate comprehension of the main ideas and supporting details of narrative and descriptive texts on familiar and concrete topics, such as those on radio, television, and podcasts;
- discuss topics related to work, school, home, leisure activities, culture, and a variety of media;
- use the target language in real-world situations in culturally-appropriate ways;
- produce narrations and descriptions on familiar topics in present, past, and future time frames and;
- summarize research in oral presentations.
- In reading and writing,
- demonstrate comprehension of the main idea, supporting details, argumentative structure, and perspective in authentic texts of various genres;
- produce narrations and descriptions in present, past, and future time frames employing connected discourse;
- summarize, analyze, and synthesize content, and begin to express supported opinions;
- assess language reference resources and use them effectively and;
- conduct independent research and present findings.
Cultural and Global Awareness Goals:
- demonstrate an awareness of the linguistic, ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, and social diversity of the target cultures;
- recognize and describe some of the key historical, social, economic, and political forces in the target cultures;
- analyze and critique film, media, literature, art, etc.in their socio-historical contexts;
- compare and contrast their own cultural beliefs, behaviors, and norms with those of other cultures;
- describe how language and culture impact one’s world view;
- explain the skills acquired through language study and their benefits to a potential employer.
The linguistic goals are based on the National Standards For Foreign Language Learning and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. In speaking and listening, graduates are expected to reach the Advanced-Low level proficiency, in writing the Advanced-Mid level proficiency, and in reading the Advanced-High level proficiency. For detailed descriptions of sublevels, see the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
Sample Four Year Plan
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | SPANISH 1002 | 5 | SPANISH 2101 | 3 |
| SPANISH 1001 | 5 | CORE - Communication Proficiency | 3 | ||
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | CORE - US History and Government | 3 | ||
| MATH 1020 | 3 | EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 | ||
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| SPANISH 2172 | 4 | SPANISH 21802 | 4 | ||
| FGN LANG 2100 | 3 | EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 | ||
| CORE - Information Literacy | 3 | EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| SPANISH 32123 | 3 | SPANISH 33262 | 3 | ||
| SPANISH 3XXX: Spanish Course | 3 | SPANISH 32822 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | SPANISH 4XXX: Spanish Course | 3 | ||
| EXPLORE - Mathematics and Like/Natural Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| SPANISH 3XXX: Spanish Course | 3 | SPANISH 4XXX: Spanish Course | 3 | ||
| SPANISH 4XXX: Spanish Course | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 15 | ||||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||||
- 1
INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits.
- 2
Course offered in the Spring Only
- 3
Course offered in Fall only.
PLEASE NOTE: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.
B.S. Ed. in Secondary Education with Emphasis in a Foreign Language
The B.S. Ed. is a professional education degree designed for students who wish to pursue a teaching career in secondary schools. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the B.A. degree in the language; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification. Therefore, students interested in the B.S. Ed. should contact the advising office (OASIS) 314-516-5937 in the College of Education for discipline-specific requirements. Note: To obtain teaching certification, DESE requires a 3.0 GPA in the discipline and professional education coursework, as well as a 2.75 GPA overall.
B.A. in a Foreign Language with Master’s Level Coursework for Secondary Teacher Certification
In addition to the B.S. Ed., students may opt to complete a B.A. or B.S. degree in their discipline as an undergraduate, followed by admission to the Graduate School for Master’s level teaching certification. The College of Education has a one-year accelerated program for post-graduate certification called Teach in 12, or students can choose a traditional path to certification. Graduate coursework for certification can apply towards a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education, with additional coursework. Students interested in Master’s Level teacher certification should contact the advising office (OASIS) 314-516-5937 in the College of Education. Note: To obtain teaching certification, DESE requires a 3.0 GPA in the discipline and professional education coursework, as well as a 2.75 GPA overall.