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Modern/Classical Languages
Modern/Classical Languages
Dorothy Diehl, Ph.D., Chair
The modern/classical languages department offers an intellectually stimulating curriculum to students
within a comprehensive study of the language, literature, and cultures of the Hispanic world. The program
is organized to prepare students for 1) a professional career in such fields as translation, international
business, foreign service, etc., 2) a career in teaching, and 3) graduate study in Spanish. The use of
proficiency-based methodologies and the incorporation of technology into the teaching of both culture
and language bring the student to an understanding and an active command of Spanish in its spoken
and written forms. All Spanish courses are conducted in the target language. One-hundred and twohundred
level courses are four-credit courses and 300- and 400-level courses are three-credit courses. A
full complement of courses for a Spanish major or minor is available on the Winona campus. The modern/
classical languages department also offers a wide variety of Spanish courses that contribute to the General
Education Curriculum in the Literature and Cultural Traditions content areas, as well as a writing intensive
course in Spanish.
General Department Goals
Upon completion of their studies, majors are able to demonstrate:
• The ability to engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions,
and exchange opinions;
• The ability to understand and interpret both spoken and written language on a variety of topics; and
• The ability to present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of readers on a variety of topics.
Additionally, the department offers courses in French, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Beginning and
intermediate Latin is taught each year while Greek and Hebrew are offered in alternate years.
Intermediate and advanced level French courses are offered as student interest demands. Students
wishing to take additional courses in French will be advised and directed to programs offered abroad by
major universities with which Saint Mary's has an affiliation.
All students who have taken Spanish or French in high school must take a placement test prior to
continuing in that language at Saint Mary's. The test facilitates placement at an appropriate level and is
given prior to registration each semester. Upon completion of one semester of study with a final grade
of at least B, a student earns two credits for each class bypassed in the language sequence (courses
numbered 141, 142, 241, 242). A maximum of eight credits may be earned that count toward a minor in
Spanish and as elective credit in either language that count toward graduation. If the student earned a
3 or higher through the CEEB AP program, s/he may receive four 100-level credits. A maximum of eight
credits may be earned through the CEEB AP program and/or SMU AP program.
The department sponsors one extracurricular organization. Eligible students studying either a modern or
classical language are inducted annually into the Eta Delta chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma, a national foreign
language honor society.
It is suggested that students interested in:
• A professional career should take Advanced Conversation, Civilization/Culture, and Spanish for Business;
• Teaching Spanish should take Advanced Composition, Advanced Conversation, Civilization/Culture,
Phonetics/Diction;
• Continuing their studies in graduate school should take Advanced Composition, Advanced Conversation,
Civilization/Culture, three different period/area literature courses, and acquire a working knowledge
of another foreign language; or
• Any of the above, complete a period of study abroad in programs through Saint Mary's or in programs
with which Saint Mary's has an affiliation.
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