European Languages and Cultures B.A.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Candelaria 0190
Email: HSS@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/hss/world-languages-cultures
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of four parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Required Minor Credits
- University-Wide Credits
Program Description:
The program in European Languages and Cultures prepares individuals to have an in-depth understanding of one or more European nations and their language(s), as well as broad understanding of Europe as a region. This program balances appreciation for cultural commonalities, which constitute a sense of shared identity in the European Community, with a nuanced sense of the continent’s linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Objects of study include the languages, history, literatures, arts, and cultures of Europe. Upon completing this program of study, students will have a general appreciation for the continent’s cultural legacy, as well as the linguistic and intercultural competence to work effectively, either in Europe or with Europeans, in such professional domains as international business, bilingual education, the foreign service, or international NGOs.
The program fosters knowledge of European perspectives and issues from their origins in the past to the 21st century. Courses in French, German, or Spanish prepare students with the linguistic competence to engage native speakers in Western or Central Europe. Elective courses in European Culture Studies (EUR), English (ENG), history (HIST), and political science (PSCI) permit students to tailor their degree program with the particular knowledge and skills they need, either for graduate study or for their chosen career.
Program Admission Requirements:
Academic Good Standing.
Program Requirements:
- Students must select either a minor or a second major with advisor approval. A minor in a second European language is strongly recommended.
- In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.
Students must demonstrate their language and cultural proficiency by meeting the following criteria:
- At least 36 credit hours in courses related to European languages and cultures.
- Minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses required for major.
- Achieving in an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) at least Intermediate level proficiency in one European language, according to the ACTFL guidelines.
- Demonstration in research papers that they can bring an informed perspective to bear in the critical analysis of European cultural issues.
Program Recommendations:
Students are encouraged to choose a minor or second major, either in another European language, or in a discipline that prepares them to apply their language and intercultural skills to an international career. Examples of second majors and minors that pair well with European Languages and Cultures include a second European language (French, German, Spanish), Business Administration, History, International Affairs, Music, Political Science, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality.
The BA program in European Languages and Cultures is also open to transfer students who come to the University of Northern Colorado with substantial prior credits in a European language not taught at UNC, such as Czech, Italian, or Russian. Beyond that, language requirements for the degree may also be satisfied through a study abroad experience at one of UNC’s partner universities in Europe, as long as the credits add up to 18 in the same language.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 39 required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies, and International Studies — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
The following courses are recommended to fulfill both the LAC Arts & Humanities and International Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
FR 201, FR 202 Intermediate French I & II
GER 201, GER 202 Intermediate German I & II
SPAN 201, SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish I & II
GER 116 Contemporary Germany is recommended to fulfill both the LAC Social & Behavioral Sciences and International Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 39 credits
Courses requirements for the major include four areas: Intermediate Language Studies (2a), Advanced Language Studies (2b), European Culture Studies (2c), and Research and Synthesis (2d). See below list of courses that may satisfy degree requirements in each area:
a) Intermediate Language Studies — 6 credits
Choose one of the following sequences of two courses (201 and 202, total of six credits) in one's language of concentration. If the coursework in the language of concentration is transfer credit in a language other than French, German or Spanish, a total of six credits of FL 295 is required.
| FL 295 | Intermediate World Language | 3 |
| | or | |
| FR 201 | Intermediate French ILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| FR 202 | Intermediate French IILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| | or | |
| GER 201 | Intermediate German ILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| GER 202 | Intermediate German IILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPAN 201 | Intermediate Spanish ILAA4LAIS | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish IILAA4LAIS | 3 |
b) Advanced Language Studies — 15 credits
Take 15 credits from the following courses, all with the same prefix (i.e., in same language). FR 340, FR 350, GER 340 and GER 350 may satisfy either Area 2b Advanced Language Studies or Area 2c European Culture Studies but not both simultaneously.
| FL 296 | Study Abroad Experience | 3 |
| FL 395 | Special Topics | 1- 4 |
| FR 301 | France & Francophonie I | 3 |
| FR 302 | France & Francophonie II | 3 |
| FR 311 | French Civilization and Literature Survey I | 3 |
| FR 312 | French Civilization and Literature Survey II | 3 |
| FR 340 | French for the Professions | 3 |
| FR 350 | Introduction to French Literature | 3 |
| FR 407 | French Phonetics and Oral Proficiency | 3 |
| FR 440 | Advanced Linguistic Studies | 3 |
| GER 301 | Germany and the Germans I | 3 |
| GER 302 | Germany and the Germans II | 3 |
| GER 311 | German Civilization and Literature Survey I | 3 |
| GER 312 | German Civilization and Literature Survey II | 3 |
| GER 340 | German for the Professions | 3 |
| GER 350 | Introduction to German Literature | 3 |
| GER 407 | German Phonetics and Oral Proficiency | 3 |
| GER 440 | Advanced Linguistic Studies | 3 |
| SPAN 301 | Spanish Grammar | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPAN 310 | Spanish for Native Speakers | 3 |
| SPAN 302 | Spanish Composition | 3 |
| | or | |
| SPAN 312 | Written Spanish for Native Speakers | 3 |
| SPAN 303 | Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| SPAN 304 | Introduction to Hispanic Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 321 | Spanish Civilization and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 470 | Spanish for Oral Proficiency | 3 |
Note: FL prefix courses should be taken with advisor approval and match language of concentration.
c) European Culture Studies — 12 credits
Take 12 credits from the following courses. FR 340, FR 350, GER 340 and GER 350 may satisfy either Area 2b Advanced Language Studies or Area 2c European Culture Studies but not both simultaneously.
| EUR 316 | Continental European Storytelling | 3 |
| EUR 317 | European Culture and Identity | 3 |
| EUR 318 | Europe at War | 3 |
| EUR 319 | Germanic and Romance Linguistic Studies | 3 |
| FR 340 | French for the Professions | 3 |
| FR 350 | Introduction to French Literature | 3 |
| FR 411 | France Then and Now | 3 |
| FR 412 | French Politics and Society | 3 |
| FR 413 | The Francophone World | 3 |
| FR 414 | Language and Society | 3 |
| FR 450 | Readings in French Literature | 3 |
| GER 116 | Contemporary GermanyLAB3LAIS | 3 |
| GER 340 | German for the Professions | 3 |
| GER 350 | Introduction to German Literature | 3 |
| GER 450 | Advanced German Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 450 | Masterpieces of Spanish Literature | 3 |
Advisor approval is required prior to registering for the following courses, which may also satisfy European Culture Studies area requirements. A course adjustment form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar for courses approved from this list.
d) Research and Synthesis — 6 credits
Choose 6 credits from the following courses:
3. Required Minor or Second Major — 18 credits
Students must complete either a second major or a minor approved by the program. A minor in a second European language is strongly advised.
4. University-Wide Credits — 32 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 32 credits.
*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.