Modern Languages and Linguistics Department

Department Chairperson: Laura Vidler, Ph.D.

Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics
Slagle Hall, Room 306
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5357
www.usd.edu/languages

FACULTY

Professors:

István Gombocz, Ph.D., University of Illinois. Specialization: German Language, Culture, and Literature.
Laura Vidler, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine. Specialization: Performance Studies, Golden Age Theater, Spanish Literature, Spanish Civilization.

Associate Professor:

Angela Helmer, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles. Specialization: Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Phonetics, Colonial Peru.

Assistant Professors:

Kris Knisely, Ph.D., Emory University, Specialization: Applied Linguistics, Second-Language Acquisition, French Linguistics
Armik Mirzayan, Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder. Specialization: Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology, Lakota, Quechua, American Indian Languages, Language Structures.
Robert Turner III, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University. Specialization: Spanish Literature and Culture, Science Fiction, Golden Age Theater.

DEGREE

Modern Languages and Linguistics courses support many graduate degree programs.

Courses are available to graduate students in:

French
German
Linguistics
Spanish

Program Description

The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics develops graduates with language proficiency, cultural competence, and the analytical and communicative skills to succeed in any field. We enable our students to lead effectively in a wide variety of cultural and professional situations.

The study of modern languages, linguistics, and cultures not only improves your ability to communicate with others, but also broadens your world-view. Speakers of more than one language are creative and analytical problem-solvers, work well in teams, and are able to see multiple perspectives of an issue. This ability to analyze, communicate, and navigate other cultures makes language majors especially highly regarded in business, education, medicine, law, government, law enforcement, tourism, and the arts.

Although the Department does not offer graduate degrees, graduate coursework is available in French, German, Spanish, and Linguistics for interested students, and for students whose programs include a modern languages requirement.