Printer FriendlyForeign Languages and Literatures
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures was recently recognized by the Modern Language Association as one of the top 100 language departments in the nation. The department enables students to study a variety of languages and cultures with exceptional faculty. The department offers majors in: French, French-German, Middle Eastern Studies, Latin American Studies and Spanish, minors in French, French-German, German and Spanish, and courses in Latin, Arabic, and modern and classical literature in translation. We also offer graduate concentrations in French and Spanish through the Masters in the Humanities as well as certificates of proficiency in French and Spanish. The majors prepare students for graduate studies or for careers in teaching, government, business and international organizations. All courses in our majors are taught exclusively in the target languages.
Highlights of the Program
Students meet leading international writers and critics on campus as part of our annual lecture series. Recent visitors have included members of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, an Argentinian human rights organization; Carme Riera, award-winning Spanish novelist; and Patrizia Lombardo, renowned literary and film critic from the University of Geneva. Students can participate in the ongoing scholarly activities of our faculty through grants from the Summer Research Institute. One student recently traveled to the Bibliothèque nationale in Paris, and another presented her translation of a Spanish short story at a national translators' conference in Chicago. Our faculty believes strongly that excellent teaching and scholarly research complement one another, bringing new perspectives to the classroom.Language Placement Examinations
Advanced placement in French, German, or Spanish is available to incoming freshmen. Before registration, freshmen should arrange with Academic Services [call (301) 696-3569] to take the Department’s placement examination, now available online. Upon completion of the following courses within the first semester at Hood with a grade of C or higher, students placed in intermediate level (103) of their intended language will receive 3 additional credits, those placed in 203 or another 200-level course in their intended language will receive 6 additional credits, and those placed in 207 or 220 will receive 9 additional credits toward graduation. Students who have completed college-level language courses are ineligible to take the advanced placement examination.
For complete departmental information in our online catalog, click here.