Thousands of K-State students recognize the value of combining a degree in agriculture, engineering, architecture, physics, journalism and many other fields with a foreign language to enhance their career plans. The Department of Modern Languages offers majors in French, German and Spanish. Students wishing to minor in a modern language may do so in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.  We also encourage students to consider secondary majors in International Studies or Latin American Studies or a minor in East Asian Studies, or work in African Studies, to complement their curriculum. For information about these programs, please contact Dr. Bradley Shaw, Associate Professor of Spanish, Modern Languages, and Director, International and Area Studies, College of Arts & Sciences, or the program director in other area studies that interest you (David Graff for East Asian Studies, or the leaders in African Studies). A major consists of classes above the 100 level taken in the same language, except for Spanish. (Spanish courses apply beginning with SPAN 361.) With the exception of transfer credit or credit by examination that is approved by the department, students who major in modern language must either (a) receive a grade of C or higher in all courses counted toward the major or (b) have a GPA of at least 2.50 in all courses counted toward the major. Note: Literature courses in translation do not count toward the major. Also, two non-transfer courses are required at the 700 level.   Double majors and dual degrees Students are encouraged to combine their modern language major with a major in a different field or college. To accomplish this, the student needs to complete the requirements for a BA in modern languages as well as those for the other major or degree. Entering students who have had previous language experience and who plan to continue language study are required to take a language placement examination before or at the beginning of the first semester of language study. Students wishing to acquire credit for language proficiency gained before coming to K-State should contact the Department of Modern Languages. Financial aid The department offers scholarships to undergraduate majors and double majors for study at K-State or on the study abroad programs. For details, contact the head of the Department of Modern Languages. Programs abroad The department sponsors summer study programs in France, Germany, Mexico, and Spain. In addition, students may choose to participate in other programs, such as the International Student Exchange Program, the ERASMUS program, or the Community Service Program.   Beginning and intermediate courses Levels I and II of each language introduce the student to the structure of the language and provide ample opportunity for practicing the spoken language, including additional experience in the language laboratory. Levels III and IV provide a continuation of Level II with practice in the spoken and written language. They may include intensive grammar review as well as introduction to reading the modern prose of the respective language. Elementary Conversation IIIA and IVA are normally taken concurrently with Level III and IV courses. These courses emphasize the spoken language. Students are given the opportunity to practice their oral skills in situations that are useful for traveling, studying or working abroad. Top Advanced courses Courses on the 500 level refine the speaking, listening, writing and reading skills developed in the beginning and intermediate language courses. Conducted entirely in the foreign language, these courses attempt to build the confidence of the student in using the language while simultaneously increasing his or her knowledge in specific areas of language, literature and culture. They include courses on composition and civilization as well as introductions to the literature of the respective language. The 700-level courses further increase the student's sophistication in spoken and written language skills and train him or her in the specialized techniques of literary study. Our department encourages students to study abroad in order to enhance their major or minor. Students are advised to consult with the department regarding applicability of courses taken abroad to their program of study. At least one course above 400 must be taken on campus for the minor, and at least one 700-level course must be taken on campus for the major. Students interested in preparing for graduate school or for high school teaching should be aware of the corollary courses in linguistics: 681, General Phonetics, and 780, Introduction to Linguistics. Six hours of history of the country of the student's major language are desirable. Top Scholarships The Department offers financial aid to Modern Language majors and to students in foreign language education at all undergraduate levels for study at K-State or for participating in approved study abroad programs. Thanks to the generous support of our alumni and other friends, we will now be able to award in excess of $25,000 each year. Scholarships range from approximately $250 to $2,000 a year and are awarded on the basis of merit. Our major endowed scholarships include the Margaret E. Beeson Scholarship for the outstanding undergraduate Spanish major, the Hollis & Johnston Scholarships for juniors and seniors, the Wilma Johnston Scholarships for incoming freshmen, renewable for the sophomore year, the Popkins Scholarships for sophomores through seniors and for study abroad, the Harold James Terrill Scholarship, and our newest awards, the Megan Elizabeth Taylor Memorial Scholarship for an undergraduate, preferably female, often in Spanish, and the Thomas Stamey Memorial Scholarship for study abroad. Applicants are to submit to: Chair, Scholarship Committee, Department of Modern Languages, by the February 27 deadline: an application form (available at the Modern Languages office , 104EH), a letter of application (no more than one page single-spaced, in which, you should introduce yourself briefly, state why you chose to major in a foreign language, discuss your goals relating to foreign language study, describe briefly your extracurricular activities, especially those relating to foreign language study, any study abroad experience you have had or are planning, why you think yourself deserving of a scholarship, and anything else that you feel is appropriate, and would assist the Scholarship Committee), a transcript of all university work, and, in the case of study abroad requests, a description of the foreign program. Applicants should note the following criteria: 1. They must be Modern Languages MAJORS. 2. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 3. They must be full-time students and enrolled in language courses here or participating in the study abroad program while holding the scholarship. 4. Students must have completed the intermediate (4) level of language study by the end of the semester in which they apply. 5. Students' activities both on and off campus will be considered in awarding scholarships. Particular attention will be paid to those applicants who participate in activities sponsored by or related to the Department of Modern Languages. DUAL MAJORS OR CANDIDATES FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Incoming freshmen language majors are asked to submit a personal letter of application, letters of recommendation from their high school language teacher and one other teacher, and their high school transcript, including their ACT or SAT scores. They must have studied the target language in high school for two or more years, and have a minimum B average in all high school foreign language courses and in all high school course work. For further information, contact Dr. Robert Corum, Chair of Scholarship Committee. Top Careers and Modern Languages Fields particularly suited to double majors with languages: English, particularly for teaching linguistics comparative literature journalism, especially in areas with large minority populations English as a second language; positions here and abroad business administration; graduate schools of international management psychology (many graduate departments are reverting to a requirement) social work; counseling education and educational administration, especially in bilingual areas Fields in which knowledge of a language is an asset: banking and economics (international) ecology, energy sources- international research and development publishing- translation, editing, review of current works, correspondence journal abstracting, in all fields, especially sciences medicine, dentistry, nursing law, especially urban areas, but beginning to be profitable over larger areas theology, ministerial and missionary work history, political science music, art (in creative and publishing-merchandising aspects) movies, television libraries- researcher, bibliographer, etc. airlines, railroads, travel agencies, hotel/motel industry government programs (HSA); Peace Corps programs in public and private sectors (many advisory and research international programs funded by foundations, interest groups, trade organizations, etc.) educational foundations (Ford, etc.); representatives, planning student travel Fields requiring a good deal of language and specialized training: simultaneous translator (United Nations, etc.) interpreter- in both government and business and in almost any field translator- publishing companies, business and government- even in agriculture reader- publishers, libraries, business, journalism, research teacher: secondary- need training in language and in how to teach it teacher: college- at least an M.A. here and abroad teacher: bilingual- mostly primary/elementary; must be fluent in the language and have coursework in how to teach several subjects in that language consultant- teaching, machines, language laboratory supervision and development, mutimedia language programs, textbook development, graphics, etc. diplomatic service For more information on careers, contact Kansas State University Career and Employment Services. 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