2017-2018 Course Catalog

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International Languages and Cultures

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The Department of International Languages and Cultures is committed to the study of particular societies around the world, with the aim of bringing forth an understanding of the world view and cultural perspective of peoples who live outside the English-speaking world. Our approach is humanistic, giving attention to the cultural productions, including the literary traditions, as well as the cultural agents of the societies we study. We are particularly concerned with promoting the development of both linguistic and cultural literacy. Language is one of the main mediums through which human beings express their specific cultural identity in relationship to the human race in its totality. For this reason, in order to understand a culture on its own terms it is necessary to approach it through its own linguistic framework. We need to study languages besides English in order to understand other cultures from their own internal perspective. Through the Department of International Languages and Cultures, students can gain exposure to a large variety of cultures from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

As human beings we are increasingly confronted with the need to live in a globalized context. Patterns of international economic, political, social, and cultural exchange increasingly define how we are to live, work, and relate to one another. One of the major challenges facing our society is to understand and learn how to work collaboratively with other societies in search of common interests. This challenge is especially crucial for the United States because it is at the same time one of the most powerful international agents — economically, politically, culturally and militarily — as well as being a society that, because of geographic and historical circumstances, has evolved with a high degree of isolation. The U.S., however, can no longer maintain this isolation given its international role, as well as its internal demographics. We are increasingly in need of professionals who have both linguistic and cultural literacy that extends beyond the English-speaking world.

The major within the Department of International Languages and Cultures offers concentrations in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish languages and cultures, as well as Latin American Studies. The Chinese concentration provides coverage of the Chinese-speaking world. The French concentration covers both metropolitan France, as well as the broader field of Francophone cultures in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. The German concentration focuses on areas of German language and culture. The Spanish concentration covers Spain and Latin America, with particular attention to the great cultural variety within the Spanish-speaking world in the Americas. The Latin American Studies concentration allows students to study this important region of the world through a multidisciplinary approach.

The French, German, and Spanish concentrations include four credits of a language outside the student’s concentration, to be taken at the level where the student places. This experience with an additional language lends special insight into linguistic structures and encourages students to consider multiple global perspectives on issues they have encountered through their concentration language. The Chinese concentration includes an elective eight-credit intra- or cross-disciplinary field of focus in language, literary, or cultural studies beyond the core courses in Chinese. This integrated elective field of focus enables students to combine their area concentration with study in other fields, either within or outside the department, with the purpose of broadening, deepening, or contextualizing the Chinese concentration.

We strongly advise majors to spend time abroad to gain both linguistic and cultural fluency and confidence. The experience abroad can be pursued in various manners: study abroad with our own programs or with those of other colleges and universities; internships with international organizations or governmental agencies abroad or “au pair” or other work-related experiences. Some of the experiences noted above can be pursued for credit, others not. It is important that students begin to think about experiences abroad as early as possible during their time at St. Mary’s, and that they discuss their interests with a faculty adviser within the department. Students are expected to either choose a faculty adviser in the department, or discuss their plans within the major with the chair of the department.

Every ILC major must complete a St. Mary’s Project.  This project may either be in ILC or in another major discipline or a study area. The guidelines established in the selected area apply.  The student should consult with the chair of ILC to discuss how the St. Mary’s Project requirement will be fulfilled.

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Communicate grammatically complex and nuanced written and oral expression in the area of concentration
  • Analyze a range of cultural contexts including literature, cultural production, and sociopolitical culture
  • Critique relationships among various cultures within global structures of power
  • Utilize advanced research skills to craft complex arguments
  • Integrate the target culture's perspective, and knowledge gleaned from material from the target culture, into their own world view

Degree Requirements For A Major In International Languages And Cultures With French, German, And Spanish Concentrations

To earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in international languages and cultures, a student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

General College Requirements

General College Requirements (see Curriculum section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

Core Courses

Core Courses. Eight courses (32 credit hours) chosen from a set of core courses in one of the following areas of concentration, and completed with a minimum grade of C- or better in each required major course and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in these required courses. Eight of these credits must be taken at the St. Mary’s home campus, and four of the eight must be upper-level credits, including for those who study abroad and/or transfer in credits.

French Concentration Requirements

Core Courses: Six of the eight core courses must be at the 300-level or above, must not include more than one course in translation (ILCT 301), and must include at least one culture and civilization course (355 or 356) and at least one upper-level literature course (362, 363 or 364):

  • ILCF 202: Intermediate French II
  • ILCF 206: Introduction to Literature in French
  • ILCF 355: Culture and Civilization I: Metropolitan France
  • ILCF 356: Culture and Civilization II: The Francophone World
  • ILCF 360: Advanced Grammar and Translation
  • ILCF 362: Topics in Literature I: From the Middle Ages to the French Revolution (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCF 363: Topics in Literature II: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCF 364: Topics in Francophone Literature (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCF 440: Special Topics in French or Francophone Studies in French (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCT 301: Special Topics in French or Francophone Studies in Translation (repeatable for elective credit)

German Concentration Requirements

Core Courses: Six of the eight core courses must be at the 300-level or above, must not include more than one course in translation (ILCT 302), and must include ILCG 355 or 356 and ILCG 362 or 363:

  • ILCG 205: Intermediate Conversation and Composition
  • ILCG 206: Introduction to Literature in German
  • ILCG 355: German Culture and Civilization: History and Everyday Life in the 20th Century
  • ILCG 356: German Culture and Civilization: Historical
  • ILCG 360: Advanced Grammar and Translation
  • ILCG 362: Topics in Literature in German I (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCG 363: Topics in Literature in German II (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCT 302: Special Topics in German Studies in Translation (repeatable for elective credit)

Spanish Concentration Requirements

Core Courses: Six of the eight core courses must be at the 300-level or above and must not include more than one course in translation on the Spanish0speaking world (ILAS courses or ILCT 303 or Latin American Studies courses in ARTH, HIST, or POSC).

  • ILCS 202: Intermediate Spanish II
  • ILCS260: Composition for Cultural Analysis
  • ILCS 360: Advanced Writing Workshop
  • ILCS 361: Indigenous Cultures in Latin America (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCS 362: African Diaspora Cultural Expressions in Latin America (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCS 363: Cultural Perspectives on Gender (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCS 365: Creating for Social Change (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCS 372: Multicultural Characteristics of Early Modern Spain
  • ILCS 373: The Invention of Latin America
  • ILCS 374: Latin America and Globalization
  • ILCS 390: Spanish in the Community
  • ILCS 440: Special Topics in Hispanic Studies in Spanish (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCT 303: Special Topics in Hispanic Studies in Translation (repeatable for elective credit)
  • ILAS 310: The Latino/an Experience in the United States
  • ILAS 350: Latin American Cinema
  • ILAS 370: Guatemalan History
  • ILAS 380: Cultural History of Argentina

Additional Language

One course (four credit hours) taken in a language other than English and other than the student’s concentration in order to deepen the student’s understanding of linguistic structures and global perspectives. If the student has studied the language before, the course will be at the level where the student places by exam.

ILCT 293: Introduction to Cultural Studies, two credits.

ILCT 293: Introduction to Cultural Studies, two credits. This course must be taken as a pre- or co-requisite to the first 300-level course in ILCC/ILCF/ILCG/ILCS.

ILCT 393: St. Mary’s Project Workshop, two credits.

ILCT 393: St. Mary’s Project Workshop, two credits. This course must be taken prior to the semester in which the student begins his or her St. Mary’s Project.

ILCF, ILCG, ILCS 493/494

St. Mary’s Project in International Languages and Cultures (1-8 E). A student-initiated and student-executed project of eight credit hours in the language of concentration. Depending on the nature of the project, some components may be written in English, with the approval of the mentor. The project may be a research project in literary or cultural studies, a creative-expressive project involving the arts, or a pedagogical project involving teaching applications. Also, depending on the focus of the student’s course work and interests, the project can be single or multi-disciplinary based. Whatever the nature of the project, students must demonstrate in it: 1) linguistic competence equal to the task; 2) a method appropriate to the task; 3) adequate knowledge of the particular area of research or endeavor; and 4) an ability to analyze and reflect upon this knowledge in order to integrate it with knowledge in other areas of inquiry or performance. They also must critically discuss and share publicly the results of the project. The course is repeatable for up to a total of eight credit hours. NOTE: Students whose projects are to be based on material collected “in the field” while studying abroad during their junior year or while engaged in off-campus apprenticeships or internships should discuss their plans with a faculty adviser as early as the second semester of their sophomore year. Prerequisites: ILCT 393; approval of a faculty project mentor; approval of the department chair.

Degree Requirements For A Major In International Languages And Cultures With A Chinese Concentration

General College Requirements

General College Requirements (see Curriculum section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

Core Courses

Core Courses. Seven courses (28 credit hours) from the following list, and completed with a minimum grade of C- or better in each required major course and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in these required courses. At least three must be at the 300-level or above, and must include at least one culture course (ILCC 355 or 356) and one literature course (ILCC 362 or 363):

  • ILCC 101: Elementary Chinese I
  • ILCC 102: Elementary Chinese II
  • ILCC 201: Intermediate Chinese I
  • ILCC 202: Intermediate Chinese II
  • ILCC 355: Chinese Culture I: Contemporary China (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCC 356: Chinese Culture II: China’s Self-criticism (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCC 362: Chinese Literature I: Contemporary Literature (repeatable for core credit)
  • ILCC 363: Chinese Literature II: Pre-Communist 20th Century Literature (repeatable for core credit)
  • IDIS 354: Fudan Credits

Elective Courses

Elective Courses. Two courses (eight credit hours), chosen in consultation with and approved by a Chinese-area adviser, that constitute an integral elective field of focus that broadens, deepens, gives historical relevance to, or conceptualizes the student’s understanding of the area of concentration, including:

  • Discipline or cross-disciplinary courses (Asian Studies)
  • Upper-level courses taken in Fudan and at St. Mary’s

ILCT 293. Introduction to Cultural Studies

ILCT 293. Introduction to Cultural Studies (two credit hours). This course must be taken as a pre-or co-requisite to the first 300-level course in ILCC/ILCF/ILCG/ILCS.

ILCT St. Mary’s Project Workshop

ILCT St. Mary’s Project Workshop (two credit hours). This course must be taken prior to the semester in which the student begins his or her St. Mary’s Project.

ILCC 493/494. St. Mary’s Project in International Languages and Cultures

ILCC 493/494. St. Mary’s Project in International Languages and Cultures (1-8 E). (See description under the same title above.) The St. Mary’s Project in Chinese may be written in English but must incorporate a significant Chinese-language component.

Degree Requirements For A Major In International Languages And Cultures With A Latin American Studies Concentration

General College Requirements

General College Requirements (see Curriculum section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major

Core Courses

At least 48 credit hours completed with a minimum grade of C- or better in each required course and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better in these required courses as follows:

a. Two courses (8 credit hours) at the 200 level from two different departments chosen from the following options:

  • HIST 253: Latin American Civilizations
    AND
  • ILAS 200: Democracy in Latin America
    OR
  • ILAS 206: Introduction to Latin American Literature in Translation

b. ILCS 360: Advanced Writing Workshop

c. Four courses (16 credit hours) at the 300 or 400 level from a minimum of two different departments chosen from the following options:

  • ARTH 314: Race and Representation*
  • ARTH 321: Art and Architecture of the Ancient Maya
  • ARTH 331: Topics in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art
  • ARTH 355: Advanced Topics in Global Art History*
  • ARTH 440: Advanced Topics in Applied Art Theory*
  • ARTH 450: Advanced Topics in Art History*
  • HIST 378: Colonial Latin American History
  • HIST 379: Modern Latin American History Since 1820
  • HIST 394: Topics in Asian, African, or Latin American History*
  • HIST 400: Comparative Slave Systems in the Americas
  • HIST 455: Topics in Asian, African, or Latin American History*
  • HIST 461: Gender in Latin American History
  • ILAS 310: The Latino/a Experience in the United States
  • ILAS 350: Latin American Cinema
  • ILAS 370: Guatemalan History
  • ILAS 380: Cultural History of Argentina
  • POSC376: Mexican Politics
  • POSC382: Latin American Politics

*When a significant portion of the course focuses on U.S. Latino cultures or Latin America. Please consult with the instructor.

Eight credit hours from a St. Mary’s approved program abroad in Latin America may also count toward this component of the major. Credits from programs through other institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students may petition the chair of the International Languages and Cultures Department to include courses not on the list above if the course content is significantly focused on the study of Latin America.

d. Two additional elective courses (8 credit hours)

Two additional elective courses (8 credit hours) chosen from a. and/or c. above, and/or from the following list. (Note: If a student fulfills this requirement by choosing courses in AADS, ANTH, ECON or POSC, a significant portion of his or her research in those courses must be related to Latin America, whenever possible. Please consult with the course instructor at the beginning of the semester as to how this can be achieved.)

  • AADS 214: Africa and the African Diaspora*
  • ANTH 372: Atlantic World Archeology
  • ARTH 224: Ancient American Art and Architecture
  • ARTH 255: Topics in Global Art History *
  • ECON 372: Economics of Developing Countries
  • HIST 280: Africa and the African Diaspora*
  • ILCS 201: Intermediate Spanish I
  • ILCS 202: Intermediate Spanish II
  • ILCS 260: Composition for Cultural Analysis
  • ILCS 361: Indigenous Cultures in Latin America
  • ILCS 362: African Diaspora Cultural Expressions in Latin America
  • ILCS 363: Cultural Perspectives on Gender
  • ILCS 365: Creating for Social Change
  • ILCS 373: The Invention of Latin America
  • ILCS 374: Latin America and Globalization
  • ILCS 390: Spanish in the Community
  • ILCS 440: Special Topics in Hispanic Studies*
  • POSC 373: Politics and Film in the Third World
  • POSC 385: Topics in Political Science or Public Policy: The Politics of Protest
  • POSC 405: Democratization*
  • POSC 462: Studies in Comparative Topics: Women in the Third World

*When a significant portion of the course focuses on Latin America. Please consult with the instructor.

e. ILCT 293: Introduction to Cultural Studies (2 credit hours).

ILCT 293: Introduction to Cultural Studies (2 credit hours). This course must be taken as a pre- or co-requisite to the first 300-level course in ILCC/ILCF/ILCG/ILCS.

AND

One of the following courses (2 or 4 credit hours) according to the student’s anticipated disciplinary focus for the SMP. (Note: These courses must be taken prior to the term in which the student begins his or her St. Mary’s Project.)

  • ARTH 470: Critical Approaches to the Analysis of Art (4 credit hours)
  • HIST 395: Theories and Uses of History (4 credit hours)
  • ILCT 393: St. Mary’s Project Workshop (2 credit hours)

f. Two courses (8 credit hours) based on student’s disciplinary focus for the SMP:

  • ILAS 493 and 494 (8 credit hours): St. Mary’s Project
  • ARTH 493 and 494 (8 credit hours): St. Mary’s Project on a Latin American topic
  • HIST 493 and 494 (8 credit hours): St. Mary’s Project on a Latin American topic

Students who desire to complete both a Latin American Studies and a Spanish concentration within the international languages and cultures major must complete the requirements for both concentrations but may apply the same set of courses to both concentrations when appropriate. The minimum number of credits needed to fulfill both concentrations is 72.

 

Degree Requirements for the International Languages and Cultures Minor

Degree Requirements For A Minor In International Languages And Cultures With Concentrations In Chinese, French, German, Latin American Studies, And Spanish

Students may receive a minor in international languages and cultures with a concentration in any of the language areas of the department (Chinese, French, German, Spanish) by completing a minimum of 18 credits of course work in the target language, with a minimum of 12 credits of upper-level coursework (300 or 400 level) with a minimum grade of C- and a GPA of 2.0 in the relevant courses. Four of the upper-level credits must be taken at the St. Mary’s home campus.

Students may pursue a minor in International Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Latin American Studies by completing a minimum of 24 credits as follows:  eight credits in two disciplines chosen from section A in the required courses for the major, and a minimum of 16 credits in a minimum of two disciplines chosen from section C in the required courses for the major.