Literature and Language

Return to: Colleges/Schools/Departments

English

Box 70683
Phone: (423) 439-4347
Web Address: www.etsu.edu/cas/litlang

English is the study of human thought, feeling, and communication through the experience of literature, language, and writing. The study of English helps one to understand the human condition as it emerges in cultural contexts, to examine ideas, and to think and write clearly, critically, and effectively.

The Department of Literature and Language offers programs leading to teaching careers, to further study at the graduate level, and to professions requiring a broad liberal education, such as law, public relations, and government service. The department also offers a wide variety of electives for nonmajors  seeking to diversify their educational programs.

Departmental Honors–The department offers an Honors Program consisting of 18 credit hours of honors courses, including a senior thesis, which can become part of an English major or minor. Students may enter the Honors Program with a high school GPA of 3.2 and one of the following: ACT score of 25, an equivalent SAT, or an AP score of 4 in English. Transfers and students already enrolled at ETSU must meet slightly different criteria. Please contact the program director, Dr. Karen Kornweibel, at (423) 439-5996 or kornweib@etsu.edu for further information.

Graduate Study–The Department of Literature and Language also offers a master’s degree. See the Graduate Catalog for further information. Information is also found at www.etsu.edu/cas/litlang/graduate/default.aspx

Languages

Box 70312
Phone: (423) 439-4264
Web Address: www.etsu.edu/cas/litlang

The Department of Literature and Language offers courses in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish designed to give the student a working knowledge of a language in the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, and to help create in students an appreciation and understanding of languages and cultures other than their own. In addition to the cultural objective and personal satisfaction, the student will find that foreign language study is an aid in scientific study, business, foreign trade, travel, and international politics.

Several programs of study leading to the B.A. in foreign languages are available. The traditional major, with concentrations in French, German, or Spanish, emphasizes the liberal arts training needed in a variety of jobs. These include library or museum work, general business, and teaching. These curricula are designed to help prepare students for employment in fields where knowledge of a foreign language is of particular advantage. In addition to the General Education Core Requirements, there are degree requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences outlined in the earlier pages of this section.

Placement–Placement in the appropriate level of foreign language, for those students with prior language experience entering ETSU, will be determined pursuant to the published policy statement of the Department of Literature and Language at ETSU. The statement is available on the departmental web site as well as from university offices such as the Advisement Resources Career Center. It is reprinted below:

Placement Policy
Department of Literature and Language

Students entering ETSU and wishing to enroll in basic language courses will be placed according to their previous experience with the language.

1. Our placement guidelines are as follows:
    
   1. ONE YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETED: Registration in 1020 is recommended.
   2. TWO YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETED: Registration in 2010 is recommended.
   3. THREE YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETED: Registration in 2020 is recommended.
   4. FOUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETED: Students in this category have two options: (a) take one course taught in the target language at the 3000 or the 4000 level; (b) take the CLEP test and pass it with a sufficiently high score to receive four semesters of college credit.

A minimum grade of C- (70%) is required in 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 to be able to take the next level of class in any foreign language. A student who gets any grade from D+ (69%) to F (59% and below) will have to retake that particular course in order to advance to the next level.

Laboratory Requirements–As part of the requirements for course credit for the 1000 and 2000 levels of foreign language study, students must complete online language laboratory work as assigned by instructor.

Foreign Students–International students whose native language is not English and whose admission to ETSU requires them to take a standardized test of English as a foreign language (e.g., TOEFL) may substitute scores that meet the admissions requirements for the foreign language requirement.

Transfer Students–Students transferring to ETSU and wishing to receive a major or a minor in a foreign language must complete at least 12 hours of upper division courses for the major or nine hours of upper division courses for the minor at ETSU.

Graduate School Requirements–Preprofessional students and students who are contemplating graduate study are advised to check the catalogs of professional and graduate schools regarding foreign language reading requirements.

Graduate Study–The Department of Literature and Language has been approved to offer graduate courses in French, German, and Spanish that may lead to 15 credit hours of concentration in French, German, or Spanish as part of a master of arts degree in secondary education. Further information on graduate programs is contained in the School of Graduate Studies catalog.

Teacher Education–Students interested in pursuing a teacher education program for certification as a foreign language teacher are asked to see their foreign language advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences and their professional advisor in the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel, College of Education.

Pre-Teacher Education–Declaration of Intent–All ETSU students desiring to complete a teacher education or other public school licensure program (for initial licensure, add-on endorsement, or advanced study in education) must file a Declaration of Intent in the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. The Declaration of Intent should be filed before 30 credit hours of coursework have been completed or, in the case of transfer and post-baccalaureate students, in the first semester at ETSU. Delay or failure to file the Declaration of Intent may result in incomplete advisement. Students who have not filed the Declaration of Intent will not be considered for admission to teacher education and may be ineligible to enroll in many professional education courses.

Professional Education Requirements–A total of 36 credit hours is required for Professional Education. Please refer to the Education Minor  section in this catalog for a list of the required courses that must be taken with the professional semester.

Students majoring in foreign languages who wish to fulfill teacher certification requirements must complete course LANG 4417 , “Teaching Foreign Languages.”

Several programs of study leading to the B.A. in foreign languages are available. The traditional major, with concentrations in French, German, or Spanish, emphasizes the liberal arts training needed in a variety of jobs. These include library or museum work, general business, and teaching. These curricula are designed to help prepare students for employment in fields where knowledge of a foreign language is of particular advantage. In addition to the General Education Core Requirements, there are degree requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences outlined in the earlier pages of this section.

Return to: Colleges/Schools/Departments