Department of Modern Languages and Literature website
http://southalabama.edu/colleges/artsandsci/languages/

The department contributes to the liberal education of all students by helping them to improve their ability to communicate with and understand other cultures in an increasingly interdependent world. Language study provides direct insight into other ways of thinking and perceiving reality, and enables a fresh perspective on students' own language and culture. The department offers a major in Modern Languages and Literature with concentrations in French, German, Russian, and Spanish. Minors in those four languages, as well as a Minor in Chinese and a Minor in Applied Linguistics, are available. An interdisciplinary Minor in Classical Studies is offered in cooperation with the Philosophy Department. Introductory and intermediate level courses in Arabic, ASL, Classical and Modern Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin and Portuguese are also provided.

In the first-year sequences (Introductory) the student is given a basic foundation in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Typically, the emphasis is on listening and oral practice followed by development of reading and writing skills. The second-year courses (Intermediate) build upon the skills acquired in the first year. Upper-level courses provide students with more in-depth knowledge of the countries' language, culture, literature and history. Students with previous language training will be placed at the appropriate level.

All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry.
Modern Languages and Literature majors are required to take LG 480 to fulfill the technology proficiency requirement, which was formerly known as the computer proficiency requirement.

It is to the advantage of students to begin their study of a foreign language at the highest possible level because they can gain college credits through appropriate placement. The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature offers an on-line language placement exam to assist students with enrollment at the appropriate levels. Please contact the department for details. Students who place into the second semester of the introductory sequence, a higher-level in the target language, may qualify for retroactive credit. By earning a "C" or better in the higher-level course the student may petition the department for either 3 or 6 semester hours of introductory-level credit. Native speakers are not eligible.

Besides its four main languages, the Department also offers four semesters of instruction for several other languages as part of its Lesser Taught Languages Program. LTLS classes meet three times a week and are conducted by native-speaker coaches. Mid-term and final student performance evaluations are administered by nationally certified external examiners. As in all language classes, success in these courses requires a high degree of motivation, self-discipline, and a long-term commitment to developing oral/aural proficiency in the target language. Students must be willing to assume responsibility for learning appropriate listening and speaking skills. Before enrolling in a LTLS course students are urged to discuss course requirements and testing procedures with the program coordinator. Call (251) 460-6291 for more information. 

Although the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature has no graduate degree program, graduate-level course work is offered in several languages under the rubrics of "Special Topics," "Seminar," and "Directed Studies" in conjunction with completing requirements in the Alternative or Innovative Master of Education Programs.