Department website: https://www.uwplatt.edu/department/foreign-languages

Contact: Shane Drefcinski
Office: 320 Warner Hall
Phone: 608.342.1828
E-mail: drefcins@uwplatt.edu

About the Foreign Language Program and Majors

The foreign language program offers majors in German and Spanish, along with minors in French, German, and Spanish. Students who major in foreign languages find career opportunities in many areas, such as international business, marketing, civil service work, diplomacy, and law enforcement.

Minor studies in French, German, and Spanish are designed for students interested in combining a minor in a foreign language with other areas of study for the purpose of enhancing communication skills and career opportunities. Likewise, apart from the intellectual development that results from the study of the French, German, or Spanish language, its literature and its civilization, students may also find professional employment in international business, marketing, civil service, and teaching.

Students who wish to teach French, German or Spanish must be admitted to the School of Education, meet all of the requirements for teacher certification and also take TEACHING 4060 (credits do not count toward major or minor). All students intending to become licensed teachers must satisfy the requirements outlined in the teacher licensure section listed under the School of Education in this catalog.

Mission

1. Serve well the general education mission of the university in the areas of foreign language competencies and the humanities.
2. Prepare students via language skills and cultural exposure for professions in business, law enforcement, communications, counseling, translation, and other fields.
3. Prepare highly qualified foreign language teachers in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the UW-Platteville School of Education through our teaching-minor and teaching-major programs. Students must also attain a level of mastery in the areas of teaching methods and knowledge of theories of second language acquisition.

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Proficient Oral Communication Skills

• Student learning outcome 1: Student will demonstrate minimum oral proficiency at a level equivalent to intermediate high on the ACTFL proficiency scale or student will be able to discuss a wide range of general interest topics in most informal and some formal situations.
• Student learning outcome 2: Student will be able to be understood without difficulty by speakers unaccustomed to non-native speakers.

Goal 2: Proficient Written Communication Skills

• Student learning outcome 3: Student will demonstrate knowledge and skills in effective written presentation in informal and formal styles at a level roughly equal to the student’s oral proficiency.
• Student learning outcome 4: Student will be able to read and understand a variety of authentic written materials.

Goal 3: Knowledge of Cultural Practices and Perspectives

• Student learning outcome 5: Student will complete a period of language immersion in residence in a country in which the target language is spoken.
• Student learning outcome 6: Student will be able to discuss the historical, geographical, political, socioeconomical, literary, and artistic features of a variety of regions and countries in which the target language is spoken.

Goal 4: Preparation of Highly Qualified Foreign Language teachers in conjunction with the UW-Platteville School of Education

• Student learning outcome 7: Student will meet DPI requirements for certification as a foreign language teacher.
• Student learning outcome 8: Student will attain a level of mastery in the areas of teaching methods and knowledge of theories of second language acquisition.

Foreign Language Competency

All students are required to demonstrate competency in a foreign language.  To meet this requirement, students seeking a BS degree must have one year of the same high school foreign language with a C or better average for the year, OR complete one semester of a foreign language at the college level with a final grade of C or better.

Students seeking a BA degree must have two years of the same high school foreign language with a C or better average in the second year, OR complete a second semester (or higher) of foreign language at the college level with a final grade of C or better.  Students may place into a foreign language course at the second semester (or higher) level through placement testing or departmental consent.

The general education foreign language requirement is waived for international students. 

Foreign languages other than the languages taught at UW-Platteville may satisfy this competency.

Retroactive Credits

Students may receive retroactive college credit for their high school foreign language studies. Proficiency acquired in high school may be counted toward graduation and toward the number of credits in the German or Spanish major, or French, German, or Spanish minor. Students ordinarily earn a maximum of eight retroactive credits. However, students with high proficiency may earn more retroactive credit as determined by the department. Students may earn up to 16 retroactive credits for previous study in French, German or Spanish, and up to 8 credits for previous study in Chinese.

In order to earn retroactive credit through UW-Platteville or one of its branch campuses, a student must enroll in a second semester course or higher and must earn a grade of “A” or “B” in that course. In addition to credit for the course completed, a student may then earn between four and 16 retroactive credits for the course or courses skipped at the 1000 or 2000 levels. UW-Platteville will also honor retroactive credits earned at another institution provided that these credits were earned according to UW-Platteville policy.

Credits in Residence

Minimum number of credits in language major or minor required in residence on the UW-Platteville campus

All students completing a major or a minor in any language through UW-Platteville must take at least half of the upper-level credits required for that major or minor in residence on the UW-Platteville campus as follows:

• minimum of 10 upper-level language credits in residence for that major
• minimum of 12 upper-level language credits in residence for the education major
• minimum of four upper-level language credits in residence for the minor
• minimum of six upper-level language credits in residence for the education minor

Coursework taken at any institution other than UW-Platteville will not be counted toward this requirement.

General Requirements Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree in German or Spanish

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Total for graduation		120
General education		44-58
Major studies		36

Non-teaching German or Spanish majors, in addition to the requirements for the major, are also required to take nine credits of literature and philosophy with no more than two courses from one of the above areas. Bachelor of Arts students may select any philosophy or literature courses at the 2000 level or higher.  Bachelor of Science students may select one course in philosophy or literature at the 1000 level and two at the 2000 level or higher.

Students who major in a foreign language are required to take eight or nine credits in our Education Abroad program at the 3000-4000 level. Similar or comparable cultural experiences could also be accepted.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree in Teaching German or Spanish

(available for education majors only)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Total for graduation		120
General education		44-58
Major studies (foreign-language education majors)		40

In addition to the credits required for German and Spanish majors in education, there is also a requirement for one philosophy course (PHLSPHY 1130 or PHLSPHY 2530).

Students who major in a foreign language are required to take eight or nine credits in our Education Abroad program at the 3000-4000 level. Similar or comparable cultural experiences could also be accepted.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Other elementary language courses meeting the general education competency requirement:
CHINESE 1540	Elementary Chinese	4
CHINESE 1640	Elementary Chinese	4

Majors

• German Major, B.A.

• German Education Major, B.A.

• German Education Major, B.S.

• Spanish Major, B.A.

• Spanish Education Major, B.A.

• Spanish Education Major, B.S.

Minors

• French Minor

• French Education Minor

• German Minor

• German Education Minor

• Spanish Minor

• Spanish Education Minor

Certificate

• Certificate in Foreign Languages

Four-Year Plan

• Spanish Major, Four-Year Plan

Faculty and Lecturers

Additional information about the Faculty and Lecturers below may be found in the Faculty and Academic Staff section of this catalog.

French

German

Spanish