Modern and Classical Languages Literatures Department
Elizabeth Ametsbichler and Jannine Montauban, Co-Chairs
Instruction is offered in the following languages and literatures: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Classical Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish, as well as in linguistics, foreign literatures in English translation, film, and the study of foreign cultures. Undergraduate courses have been planned to meet the needs of students who began studying a language in high school as well as those who undertake such study for the first time at the University.
The courses are intended to serve several purposes: (1) Contribute to the general education of students by giving them an opportunity to gain insight into patterns of living and thinking which are different from their own; (2) Enable students to gain proficiency in the language; (3) Prepare candidates for careers in research and college teaching by providing a solid basis for graduate studies in the various languages; (4) Prepare future teachers of foreign languages; (5) Provide language training requisite to careers in government, foreign commerce, and library work; (6) Enable students to read foreign publications and to meet graduate foreign language requirements in their field.
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers undergraduate majors in Classics (Greek and Latin), French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Within Classics, it is possible to elect options in Classical Languages (Latin and Greek), Classical Civilization, and Latin. There are undergraduate minors in Arabic and Chinese. The Master of Arts degree in Modern Languages and Literatures is offered with options in French, German, and Spanish. A master's degree with a concentration in any of the languages in which we offer a major may be obtained by means of the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program.
High School Preparation: Credit is automatically granted for Advanced Placement scores of 3, 4, or 5. At each UM Orientation, the department offers a computerized placement/assessment examination in French, German, and Spanish. Students also can arrange individually to take the CLEP exam, administered by Testing Services in French, German, or Spanish.
These exams are not required, but serve one or more of three purposes:
- Exemption from the General Education Competency Requirement in Foreign Language: if the student achieves a score that indicates a competence equivalent to the completion of French, German, or Spanish 102 (second semester). (See the General Education Requirements section of this catalog.)
- Placement for further study in the language: the score achieved on this test is an accurate indicator of the course level at which language study should be resumed at the University (e.g. 102, 201, 202).
- Credit by examination: A student with extensive language study may score high enough on the placement exam to qualify for University credits if she or he places into 202 or 301. By taking the course into which she or he placed (202 or 301) and receiving a B (3.00) or better, the student may then receive four by–pass credits (Pass grade only) for the preceding course (201or 202).
Students who elect not to take this exam may:
- Satisfy the General Education Competency Requirement in Foreign Language by successfully completing a University foreign language 102 (second semester) course.
- Estimate their placement level for further study by the approximate equating of one year of high school study to one semester of university study. Students should consult with the department in making this estimate.
Foreign Study Programs. The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers programs of accredited study in Argentina, Austria, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Russia. Each program is supervised by a departmental faculty member, and is open to any student who meets the respective foreign language prerequisites. (There is no language prerequisite for the Study Abroad in Italy, but Italian is recommended.) Details concerning individual programs are available from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. The department also sponsors student exchanges with universities in France as well as work/study internships abroad for students in Japanese.
Undergraduate Degrees Available
| Subject | Type | Option | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic Studies | Minor | ||
| Chinese | Minor | ||
| Classical Civilization | Minor | ||
| Classics | Bachelor of Arts | Teaching Latin | |
| Classics | Bachelor of Arts | Classical Civilization | Classical Civilization |
| Classics | Bachelor of Arts | Classical Languages | |
| Classics | Bachelor of Arts | Latin | |
| French | Bachelor of Arts | ||
| French | Bachelor of Arts | Teaching French | |
| French | Minor | ||
| French | Minor | Teaching French | |
| German | Bachelor of Arts | ||
| German | Bachelor of Arts | Teaching German | |
| German | Minor | ||
| German | Minor | Teaching German | |
| Greek | Minor | ||
| Japanese | Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Japanese | Minor | ||
| Latin American Studies | Minor | ||
| Latin | Minor | ||
| Latin | Minor | Teaching Latin | |
| Russian | Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Russian | Bachelor of Arts | Teaching Russian | |
| Russian | Minor | ||
| Russian | Minor | Teaching Russian | |
| Russian Studies | Minor | ||
| Spanish | Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Spanish | Bachelor of Arts | Teaching Spanish | |
| Spanish | Minor | ||
| Spanish | Minor | Teaching Spanish |
Department Faculty
Professors
- Michihiro Ama, Karashima Tsukasa Associate Professor of Japanese Language and Culture
- Elizabeth Ametsbichler, Professor / MCLL Co-Chair
- Hiltrud Arens, Professor
- Hayden Ausland, Professor
- Maria Jose Bustos-Fernandez, Professor /Director Latin American Studies
- M. Ione Crummy, Professor
- Clary Loisel, Professor
- Jannine Montauban, Professor / MCLL Co-Chair
- Michel Valentin, Professor
Associate Professors
- Benedicte Boisseron, Associate Professor (MCLL)
- Mladen Kozul, Associate Professor
- Marton Marko, Associate Professor
- Ona Renner-Fahey, Associate Professor
- Matthew Semanoff, Associate Professor
- Clint Walker, Associate Professor
- Barbara Weinlich, Visiting Associate Professor
Assistant Professors
- Brian Dowdle, Assistant Professor
- Khaled Huthaily, Associate Professor: Arabic & Linguistics
- Pablo Requena, Ph.D.
- John Trevathan, Visiting Assistant Professor
- Robert Tuck, Assistant Professor
Adjunct Faculty
- Seth Barnes-Smith, Teaching Assistant - French
- Martina Baum-Acker, Adjunct Instructor
- Diego Burgos, Adjunct
- Micaela Downey, Adjunct Instructor
- Martina Fontanarosa, Fulbright Teaching Assistant
- Karoline Fuchs, Fulbright Teaching Assistant
- Alice Harris, Adjunct Instructor
- Manolita Lopez-Connor, Adjunct Instructor
Lecturers
- Linda Bailey, Lecturer, Spanish
- Samir Bitar, Lecturer
- Zhen Cao, Senior Lecturer
- Alicia Gignoux, Lecturer
- Kelly Noe, Lecturer
Affiliates
- Nathan Domitrovich, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
- Lucia Hermo del Teso
- Natalie Hymes
- Surbhi Jain
- Effie Koehn, Director
- Mary Nellis, Advisor
- Eric Schluessel, Assistant Professor of History and Political Science
- Marja Unkuri-Chaudhry, Director of Study Abroad, Student Exchanges, & Institutional Partnerships
- Ruth Vanita, Professor
Emeritus Professors
- Robert Acker, Professor Emeritus / Chair Emeritus
- Christopher Anderson, Professor Emeritus
- Tony Beltramo, Professor Emeritus
- Timothy R. Bradstock, Professor Emeritus
- Ray Corro, Professor Emeritus
- Gerald Fetz, Professor Emeritus / Dean Emeritus
- Linda Gillison, Professor Emerita
- Judith N Rabinovitch, Karashima Tsukasa Prof Emerita of Japanese Lang and Culture
- Stanley Rose, Professor Emeritus
- James Scott, Professor Emeritus