Modern Languages and Linguistics Department

Laura Vidler, Chairperson, Modern Languages and Linguistics
306 Slagle Hall
(605) 677- 5357
languages@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/languages

FACULTY

Professors:

István Gombocz, Ph.D. (German), German Language, Literature and Culture
Laura Vidler, Ph.D. (Spanish), Performance Studies, Golden Age Theater, Spanish Literature, Spanish Civilization

Associate Professor:

Angela Helmer, Ph.D. (Spanish & Linguistics), Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Phonetics, Colonial Perú

Assistant Professors:

Kris Knisely, Ph.D. (French & Linguistics), Applied Linguistics, Second-Language Acquisition, French Linguistics
Armik Mirzayan, Ph.D. (Lakota & Linguistics), Phonetics and Phonology, Lakota, Quechua, American Indian Languages, Language Structures
Robert Turner III, Ph.D. (Spanish), Spanish Literature and Culture, Science Fiction, Golden Age Theater.

Instructors:

Dayana Soto y Caballero de Galicia (Spanish), Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture
Armando Galicia-Silva (Spanish), Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture

MAJORS:

French and Francophone Studies, B.A.
German, B.A.
Spanish, B.A.

MINORS:

French Studies
German
Interdisciplinary Language (German)
Latin American Studies
Spanish

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.

The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics offers programs in French and Francophone Studies, German, and Spanish. Students wishing to satisfy the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree may do so in any of the aforementioned languages, or in Lakota, Russian, Latin (offered through the History Department’s program in Classics), or languages such as Arabic when available. Students may elect to minor in French, German, Latin American Studies, or Spanish. Teaching majors and teaching minors are offered in French, German, Lakota (minor only), Modern Foreign Languages (K-12) Teaching (French and German, minor only), and Spanish. Students who wish to expand their knowledge of the world by living in a foreign culture may take advantage of exchange opportunities in many countries; more information is available from the Center for Academic and Global Engagement . Student exchange programs currently exist with the Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany; the Friedrich Schiller Universität, Jena, Germany; the University of Pau, France; the Pázmány Péter Catholic University of Hungary; and the University of Vigo, Spain.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Constance Hampl - French majors
Alexander Hartman - French or Spanish majors
Edwin Behrendt- German majors
Lillian Hollingsworth - Spanish majors
Edward and Helen Greene Travel Fund - Language Majors
Phyllis McQuillen Modern Languages Scholarship - Language Majors