Modern Languages and Linguistics Department

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Robert L Turner III, Chair, Modern Languages and Linguistics
319 Dakota Hall
(605) 658-3755
languages@usd.edu
http://link.usd.edu/ModernLanguagesandLinguistics

FACULTY

Professor:

Angela Helmer, Ph.D. (Spanish & Linguistics), Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Phonetics, Colonial Perú
Robert Turner III, Ph.D. (Spanish), Spanish Literature and Culture, Science Fiction, Golden Age Theater

Associate Professor of Practice:

Nathan Bates, Ph.D. (German Coordinator) 20th Century German Literature

Instructors:

Dayana Soto y Caballero de Galicia (Spanish), 19th century Spanish realist novel, identity in Spanish First Modernity, Spanish and Spanish-American cinema and drama 
Armando Galicia-Silva (Spanish), Colonial Spanish-American literature and culture, Colonial Nahuatl literature, Ius Gentium and human rights. 

Adjunct Instructors:

Ilmira Dulyanova (Russian Language) Literature and Culture
Sandra Mercado de la Fuente (Spanish)
Rebeca VandenTop (Spanish)

Emeriti:

Susan Wolfe, Ph.D. (Linguistics) Linguistics, English 
István Gombocz, Ph.D. (German), German Language, Literature and Culture 

MAJORS:

German, B.A.
Spanish, B.A.

MINORS:

German
Russian Studies
Spanish

CERTIFICATE:

*Basic French Language Proficiency Certificate
Basic German Language Proficiency Certificate
Basic Spanish Language Proficiency Certificate
Fundamentals of Medical Spanish Undergraduate Certificate

* Enhance your language skills with the Basic French Proficiency Certificate, offered through the South Dakota Board of Regents system. While our university does not provide the coursework directly, students can enroll in this certificate program at USD and gain valuable proficiency in French.

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 majors in 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 German, Spanish, or Russian Studies. Teaching majors and teaching minors are offered in German, Modern Foreign Languages (K-12) Teaching (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

Please contact the department for additional information about available scholarships and awards. Also see the College of Arts & Sciences  for college level scholarships.

• Alexander P. Hartman
• Constance Hampl Scholarship
• Edward & Helen Greene Modern Language Travel
• Erwin R. Behrendt Scholarship
• Languages & Linguistics Department Scholarship Fund
• Lillian M. Hollingsworth Memorial Scholarship
• Phyllis McQuillen Modern Languages Scholarship
• Spanish Major Scholarship

Student Learning Outcomes for German (B.A.)

1. Students will be able to demonstrate cognitive, effective, and behavioral skills that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts. 
2. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. 
3. Graduating students will demonstrate that they have reached the Advanced Low Level in Written Language 
4. All German majors demonstrate cultural awareness and knowledge and understanding of the cultures of the German-speaking world. 
5. All German majors demonstrate their ability to express themselves orally in German at the ACTFL intermediate high proficiency level, that is, they will successfully handle uncomplicated tasks and exchange of information in social situations in German. 
6. Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus.  
7. Students will engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities that improve their knowledge, skills and competence in their personal and professional lives. 
8. Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society.

Student Learning Outcomes for Spanish (B.A.)

1. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. 
2. Students will engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities that improve their knowledge, skills and competence in their personal and professional lives. 
3. Students will be able to demonstrate cognitive, effective, and behavioral skills that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts. 
4. All Spanish majors demonstrate their ability to write in Spanish at an ACTFL written intermediate high level. 
5. All Spanish majors demonstrate cultural awareness and knowledge and understanding of the civilizations and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. 
6. All Spanish majors demonstrate their ability to express themselves orally in Spanish at the ACTFL intermediate high proficiency level, that is, they will successfully handle uncomplicated tasks and exchange of information in social situations in Spanish. 
7. Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society. 

Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus. 

Programs

• Basic French Language Proficiency Certificate
• Basic German Language Proficiency Certificate
• Basic Spanish Language Proficiency Certificate
• Fundamentals of Medical Spanish Undergraduate Certificate
• German (B.A.)
• German Minor
• Russian Studies Minor
• Spanish (B.A.)
• Spanish Double Major
• Spanish Minor

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