INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Acknowledgement: Professor Waltraut Deinert, Professor Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo

The International Studies major requires 4 courses in a foreign language at the 200 or 300 level. Usually students fulfill this requirement by taking courses offered in French, German, or Spanish at Wells. (Italian or Japanese would have to be by off-campus study.) The major has treated this 4-course requirement for students who have expertise in another language in creative ways. In 1996 the major reached tentative agreement on the following, now formally adopted for the catalogue:

The International Studies Major 4-course foreign language requirement can be met by:

1. 4 foreign language courses, at least 3 semester hours each, at the 200 or 300 level taught at Wells.
2. Courses in a non-traditional foreign language not taught at Wells. They must be taken at an accredited institution at a level that is the equivalent of the language/culture requirement as stated in the catalogue (4 courses, at least 3 semester hours each, at the 200 or 200 level). NOTE: as with all requirements, students should not count on cross-registration arrangements with Cornell, CCC or Ithaca College to fulfill this requirement.
3. Courses in a non-native English speaker’s native tongue that give evidence of knowledge of a foreign culture as well as a command of the language. The student should have completed the equivalent of high school in her/his native country.
4. Courses taught in English taken at Wells by a student whose native tongue is a foreign language. These courses should include writing in English and a study of aspects of American or British culture in such disciplines as American Studies, History, Sociology, Literature, Anthropology, Religion, etc.

Questions should be referred to the chair of the major and the registrar.

This page (International Studies: Language Requirement) is maintained by Diane Koester, Associate Dean for Academic and Learning Resources and Director of Academic Advising, who is solely responsible for its content. Please see our Statement of Responsibility. Last updated June, 2005.

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