World Languages and Cultures

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Purpose and Focus

The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers programs of study leading to degrees in several languages. The department promotes the study of languages and cultures in order to prepare students to live and work in an increasingly interdependent world. While fostering an atmosphere of critical thinking and intellectual growth, the department helps students enhance their language skills and augment their appreciation of varied literatures and cultures. A B.A. in a foreign language is excellent preparation for careers in law, diplomacy, medicine, business, the arts, academics, journalism, and education.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

General Education International Core Requirement

The vast majority of WLC courses fulfill the General Education International Core Requirement. Consult the current listing of approved courses for verification.

Undergraduate Majors

French Studies
German Studies
Romance Languages: Primary Language Concentration/Secondary Language Concentration
Spanish
Spanish for the Professions

Special Programs

All World Languages and Cultures majors and minors may be fully completed on campus. Alternatively, students may elect to study abroad for a summer, a semester, or a year in a country such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Chile, Mexico, or Costa Rica. Administered by International Programs, such study provides students with first-hand experience of the language and culture of the host country while earning UNLV credits. Credits taken abroad will be recorded as CHI; WLC; FREN; GER; ITAL; or SPAN 187, 287, 387, or 487. Whether they correspond to courses offered by the department or count toward a major or minor will be determined by a departmental advisor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the departmental advisor in the specific language prior to their study abroad, and advised that such study is optimally undertaken after the first year of language study on campus.

Admission Policies

Students who have had foreign language courses in high school, as well as those who are heritage, native, fluent or advanced speakers of a language, are required to take a placement test in that language if they wish to resume its study. The placement exam is free, and the score will determine proper placement. Please consult the department website for further information.

Academic Policies

Heritage, native, fluent or advanced speakers of a language other than English may not enroll in 113, 114, 213, 214 classes in that language. After initial placement, first- and second-year courses must be taken in sequential order. Students may not enroll concurrently in any of these courses and one of a higher level except for those courses taught in English.

Students majoring in Spanish, Spanish for the Professions, French Studies and German Studies must take at least 30 of the 36 upper-division credits required for the major at UNLV. Students may take credit by examination in a given course one time only. Credit by examination may be taken only in 113, 114, 213, 214, 226, 227, 301, or 302, pending departmental approval of level.

Advisement

For general academic advising, students should contact the College of Liberal Arts Wilson Advising Center. Majors and minors should directly contact the departmental faculty advisor for advice regarding courses in the specific major or minor, as well as for career advising and for more specialized academic advising.

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