Faculty

Chairperson: Associate Professor Minae Savas

Graduate Certificate Coordinator: Assistant Professor Alba Aragón (Women’s and Gender Studies)

Professors: Duilio Ayalamacedo, Fernanda Ferreira, Leora Lev

Associate Professors: Ryan LaBrozzi, Atandra Mukhopadhyay

Assistant Professor: Shing Chi Yip

Location: Tillinghast Hall, Room 337
Website:  www.bridgew.edu/foreignlanguage
Phone:     508.531.1279

Proficiency in one or more foreign languages expands career options considerably. Many corporations and other private and public organizations operate on a global basis and actively seek consultants and employees who are bilingual, conversant with a variety of global cultures, mores, and histories, and capable of critical thinking within an international context. Careers that are more specific to language include teaching domestically or abroad, foreign service, working as a translator or interpreter, medical services, law enforcement, politics, international business, or business within the many bilingual communities here in the US.

In addition to the BA in Spanish and the option of concentrating in secondary education, the department offers minors in Spanish and Portuguese, and opportunities to gain practical working knowledge in one or more of 12 foreign languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German and Japanese.

Degree Program

• BA in Spanish
  Concentration: Secondary Education

Undergraduate Minors

• Portuguese
• Spanish

The following program is currently inactive:

• Master of Arts in Teaching

Click on Academic Programs  for program information and requirements.

Bachelor of Arts

The Department of Global Languages and Literatures offers students an opportunity to gain practical working knowledge of one or more of 12 foreign languages. Students may choose any of these 12 languages offered by the department unless otherwise advised by the requirements of their academic major. Students who are continuing the study of foreign languages at Bridgewater State University should do so at the earliest opportunity.

The department offers an undergraduate major in Spanish, a major in Spanish with a Secondary Education Concentration and a minor in Spanish, as well as a minor in Portuguese.

For all prerequisites, equivalent course credit or preparation will be considered.

The Department of Global Languages and Literatures participates in the multidisciplinary minor in Canadian Studies, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies minor, the Women’s and Gender Studies minor and the Asian Studies minor. Click on Academic Programs  for program information and requirements.

Educator Licensure

Students interested in seeking Massachusetts teacher licensure should refer to the appropriate department links for options and requirements for second majors: Elementary and Early Childhood Education , Secondary Education and Professional Programs , or Special Education . Students should also consult Educator Preparation and Licensure Policies and Procedures  for professional education admission and retention information as well as important institutional deadlines.

Foreign Language Courses

Students who would like to continue the study of foreign languages at Bridgewater State University should do so at the earliest opportunity. Foreign language courses count for the Global Culture and Humanities requirements of the core curriculum.

With the exception of advanced placement, foreign language courses, and foreign language College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, credit may not be granted to students exempt from one to two semesters because of study of three of more secondary levels of the same foreign language or because of placement score.

Foreign Language Placement Policy

• If you have studied a language for two years or less in high school, you may register for the 101 level of that language.
• If you have studied a language for three years or more in high school, you must register for the 102 level of that language.
• If it has been more than five years since you last studied a language in high school, you may register for the 101 level of that language.
• If you are a native or a heritage speaker of a language, you must register for the 102 level of that language.
• If you are a transfer student from another college or university and
  • you took a foreign language at your previous institution, your transfer credits will be assessed upon admission to Bridgewater State University.
  • you did not take a foreign language at your previous institution, follow the same guidelines as previously stated in the language policy.
• Faculty teaching 101 and 102 levels of languages will determine during the first week of class if the student is taking the appropriate level of language. If the student is not, they will be placed in a more appropriate course.

Additional questions about language placement should be directed to the Chairperson of the Department of Global Languages and Literatures, Tillinghast Hall, Room 332, 508.531.2298.

Honors Program

The honors program in Spanish provides highly motivated Spanish majors with opportunities to enhance their academic program through intensive scholarly study and research designed to be of assistance in postgraduate employment or in the pursuit of an advanced degree in Spanish. Contact the Department of Global Languages and Literatures for further information concerning eligibility and application.

Overseas-study Opportunities

The Department of Global Languages and Literatures urges its majors and minors to study abroad and can offer information on available study plans. The Office of Study Abroad and the Office of Student Affairs can assist students. Any student contemplating study abroad should consult the department with all pertinent documentation. Final acceptance of credit will be determined upon receipt of official transcripts and supporting material and, in some cases, may not be equivalent to the credits earned in a regular semester or year at Bridgewater State University.