A Guide for Community College Students

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A 2 + 2 Plan Leading

to a Bachelor of Arts

Degree in Spanish

All degree requirements are subject to the provisions and notices in the Undergraduate Catalog. Information is valid through August 2010.

B.A. Degree in Spanish

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a major program leading to the B.A. degree in Spanish with two emphases available: one in language and literature and one in translation and business Spanish. Foreign language majors may gain certification to teach at the secondary level in Spanish. The department also offers a minor in Spanish.

The Spanish program offers small classes and individualized attention. The major in language and literature can lead to graduate school, teaching, social work, government work (Drug Enforcement Agency, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of State, Foreign Service, United States Information Agency, National Parks), health services, journalism, publishing, airlines, secretarial work, and international relations. Students who are planning to complete the emphasis in business and translation can anticipate the following career possibilities: import/export, translation/interpreting, travel and tourism, airlines, advertising, banking, sales and marketing, and health services.

*Students majoring in one foreign language may complete a second major in another language.

*Foreign language majors may complete minors in languages other than that of their major.

*The department also participates in the interdisciplinary minors in classical studies, comparative literature, Latino and Latin American studies, linguistics, Southeast Asian studies, women’s studies, and Chinese/Japanese studies.

Recommendation: Majors in Spanish are urged to spend a minimum of one semester in study abroad. NIU currently maintains appropriate programs in Mexico and Spain. Students majoring in translation and business are strongly advised to take additional courses in business and international relations.

Language Learning Center

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures’ Language Learning Center is a fully integrated multimedia facility, with multi-standard capability. The system integrates all media sources. Audio, video, and data signals are linked together in a multifunctional learning environment. The media center is a means of enhancing classroom instruction and assists in creating a motivating atmosphere where students are stimulated to take an active part in learning the four language skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are exposed to a variety of native speakers and are able to work as a class with the instructor, in small groups, or individually. The Language Learning Center is state-of-the-art, equipped with an array of the latest and most up-to-date software and hardware, including software for virtual tape recorders and even for taking student attendance.

Foreign Language Residence Program

The Foreign Language Residence Program (FLRP) is a residential language program in Douglas Hall for students interested in maintaining and/or improving their foreign language proficiency and cultural awareness. Native speakers of French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish are in residence to serve as cultural resources and to provide tutoring.

Roommates and other participants communicate in the foreign languages once they enter the realm of the Foreign Language Residence Program. At dinner, from Monday to Thursday, participants gather at individual language tables to socialize in the foreign language with fellow participants as well as foreign languages department faculty and other international guests.

Participants come together the weekend before the fall semester opens to make acquaintances and to orient themselves to the special atmosphere of this unique program. Two additional weekends, one each semester, of intense interaction among participants are held at a nominal cost to the student at NIU’s Lorado Taft Field Campus. One evening meeting per week, per language group, is held to learn more about the culture and customs of the foreign land. Each semester participants invite parents and other guests to share an ethnic meal and to be entertained at a program highlighting their language skills and their understanding of the foreign customs.

Transferring to NIU

Those students planning on completing their degrees at NIU should work closely with the counselors at the transfer institution and with faculty advisers at NIU from the time of matriculation. Students need to be very careful to take in the first two years at the community college the courses that they would be taking if attending Northern. Students should carefully follow the suggested semester plans for their major, referring to the Articulation Handbook for the community college equivalent of the courses delineated. Their adviser at the community college can help them with this process.

Suggested Semester Plan

Fall		Spring
ENGL 103	3	ENGL 104	3
FLSP 101/102/201/202^1	3	FLSP 102/201/202	3
MATH Core^2	3-4	Humanities Gen Ed	3
Humanities Gen Ed	3	Social Science Gen Ed	3
Soc. Science Gen Ed	3	Science Gen Ed	3-4
	15-16		15-16
COMS 100	3	FLSP 202	3
FLSP 201/202	3	FLSP 211 or 215	3
Minor^3	3-4	Science Gen Ed	3-4
Humanities Gen Ed	3	Interdisciplinary Gen Ed	3
Social Science Gen Ed	3	Elective^4	3
	15-16		15-16

FLSP 301	3
FLSP 311	3	FLSP 321/322^5	3-6
FLSP 320	3	FLSP 411/400 level^7	6
Elective 300/400 level^6	3	Elective 300 level^6	3
Electives (any level)	3-6	Electives (any level)	3-6
	15-18		15-18
FLAL 400	1
FLSP 400 level^8	6	FLSP 400 level	6
Elective 300/400 level^9	3	Elective 300/400 level^10	3
Electives (any level)	5-8	Electives (any level)	6-9
	15-18		15-18

Minimum 120 total; 40 at the 300-400 level

¹ Students with high school credit in Spanish who wish to continue that language must gain placement

into the appropriate course by taking the foreign language placement examination. On the basis of this

examination, the student must begin in the course indicated by the placement examination, disregarding

that course’s prerequisites. For example, a student gaining placement in FLSP 201 does not have to

complete the courses FLSP 101 and FLSP 102. Transfer students with college-level credit in Spanish

who wish to continue in that language should register for the course that follows the highest level course

for which transfer credit has been granted.

² Majors in Spanish may use MATH 101 to fulfill the core competency requirement in mathematical sciences.

If the student prefers another course, the student must take the Math Placement Test.

³ A minor is strongly recommended.

⁴ If the student wishes to pursue the Spanish translation and business emphasis, POLS 285 must be completed.

⁵ Students completing the Spanish language and literature emphasis must complete both of these courses. Students

completing the Spanish translation and business emphasis may elect either course.

⁶ If the student wishes to complete the Spanish translation and business emphasis, MGMT 346 and MKTG 310

must be taken as the 300-level requirements outside the department.

⁷ Students completing the language and literature emphasis must complete FLSP 411, a minimum of three literature

courses at the 400 level, and two courses from other 400 level courses. Please consult the division coordinator

of Spanish and Portuguese regarding course selection.

⁸ Students completing the Spanish translation and business emphasis must complete seven specific 400 level FLSP

courses. Please consult the division director regarding course selection.

⁹ If the student wishes to complete the Spanish translation and business emphasis, MKTG 367 should be taken at NIU.

¹⁰If the student wishes to complete the Spanish translation and business emphasis, 3 semester hours of approved

marketing or management electives should be taken at NIU.

For More Information

For more information about the Spanish program at NIU, please contact:

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, Illinois 6015-2854

(815)753-6448

For a current NIU Undergraduate Catalog and application materials, contact:

Office of Admissions
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2857
(800) 892-3050 (toll-free in Illinois)
or (815) 753-0446

www.niu.edu/admissions

Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status based on the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of Northern Illinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation.

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