Beyond offering language instruction, the Language and Cultural Studies concentration (39 credits) allows students to examine cultural differences, understand their nature and their implications, and apply their linguistic and intercultural talents and skills in advancing cultural and ethnic diversity and social responsibility. The program has a focus on Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. The program requirements (below) include a shared interdisciplinary core of courses, which provides a grounding in essential issues of human communication and social context. Note that core courses MLL 230 and 301 must be taken at UMBC, and that all courses applied to the major requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
Language and Cultural Studies – Arabic
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: ARBC 301, 302, and two courses chosen from ARBC 325, ARBC 350, ARBC 355
• 15 elective credits, consisting of three additional MLL, LING, and/or modern language courses. Up to two courses relevant to the ARBC studies may be applied with the approval of the Arabic advisor.
Language and Cultural Studies – Chinese
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: CHIN 301, 302, and two courses chosen from CHIN 300, 309 or 319
• 15 elective credits, chosen from MLL 220, 300, 328 and/or additional Chinese language courses. Up to two courses relevant to the CHIN studies may be applied with the approval of the Chinese advisor.
Language and Cultural Studies – French
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: FREN 301, 302 and two courses chosen from FREN 310, 320, 330, or 340.
• 15 elective credits, chosen from MLL 219, 240, 250 and/or additional French language courses. Up to two courses relevant to FREN studies may be applied with the approval of the French advisor.
Language and Cultural Studies – German
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: GERM 301, 302 and two courses chosen from GERM 303, 309, 310, 375, 421.
• 15 elective credits, consisting of MLL 261, MLL 331 and/or additional language courses. Up to two courses relevant to GERM studies may be applied with the approval of the German advisor.
Language and Cultural Studies – Japanese
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: JPNS 301, 302, 309 and 319.
• 15 elective credits, consisting of MLL 316, MLL 317, MLL 327 and MLL 333 and/or additional Japanese-related courses.
Language and Cultural Studies – Korean
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: KORE 301, 302 309 and 310.
• 15 elective credits, consisting of MLL 311, MLL 315, KORE 401 and additional MLL, LING, and/or language courses. Up to two courses relevant to the Korean studies may be applied with the approval of the Korean advisor.
Language and Cultural Studies – Russian
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: RUSS 301, 302 and two courses chosen from RUSS 321, 401, 402 or another Russian elective.
• 15 elective credits, chosen from offered Russian language courses. Up to two courses relevant to RUSS studies may be applied with the approval of the Russian advisor. Note that RUSS 350 is a one-credit course designed to be taken in three successive semesters, each paired with a different level of RUSS 202 through 302. The course may be taken for a total of 3 credits as the sequence is completed.
Language and Cultural Studies – Spanish
• 12 credits of core courses, chosen from: MLL/LING/ENGL 190, MLL/LING/ENGL 191, MLL/LING 230, MLL 301, MLL 305
• 12 credits upper-level courses: SPAN 301, 302, and two courses chosen from SPAN 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 421, 472.
• 15 elective credits, chosen from MLL 213, MLL 218, MLL 280 and/or additional language courses. Up to two courses relevant to the SPAN studies may be applied with the approval of the Spanish advisor.
Please address any questions to the area coordinator for the particular language.