Curricular Information

The Romance Languages Concentration Program
The Romance Languages Minor Concentration Program
Honors and High Honors
Awards
Advanced Placement Credit
Language Placement Requirements

The Romance Languages Department offers major and minor concentrations in both French and Spanish, but not in Italian. Courses counting toward these concentrations are conducted entirely in the appropriate language. The following regulations apply to major and minor concentrations in both languages:: 1. With some restrictions, only 300- and 400-level courses in language and literature may be counted. Depending on the courses taken, a student may need more than the minimum number of courses required to complete a concentration.; 2. In order to receive 400-level credit, courses must be taken either at Colgate or on the department-sponsored study groups in Dijon or Madrid.; 3. FREN 301 and SPAN 361 or 362 may be taken for concentration credit on campus only. An exception is made for students who have received credit for these courses by scoring 4 or 5 (French) or 5 (Spanish) on the AP language exam.; 4. No more than two AP or transfer credits, or combination of the two, may be counted.; 5. A student who has completed a 400-level course may not take a 350-level survey course.; 6. No departmental course with a grade of less than C- is credited toward a concentration. For graduation the minimum GPA required in courses counting toward a concentration is 2.0 (C); all departmental courses taken in the concentration are used to calculate this average.; 7. No more than two departmental courses counting toward a concentration may be taken in any one term. Exceptions to this rule can be made only under very unusual circumstances and with the approval of the department chair.

Concentration Program in French or Spanish

A concentration of French or Spanish is a program of study in French or Hispanic language and literature. It consists of a minimum of eight courses at the 300 and 400 levels. It must include FREN 301, or SPAN 361 or 362, and five 400-level literature courses. The 400-level courses are divided into the following course categories:: French: (1) 460, 472, 474; (2) 452, 462, 463, 464; (3) 453, 465, 466, 469; (4) 451, 467, 468;; Spanish: (1) 460, 461, 462, 465, 466, 467, (2) 471, 472, 473, 474, 477,478, 479.

French concentrators must take at least one course in each of categories 1 and 2, and at least one course in either category 3 or 4. Spanish concentrators must take at least two courses from category 1.

Independent study courses are permitted only when the above distribution requirements have been met.

FREN or SPAN 490 is open only to candidates who are studying independently for honors.

Concentrators who qualify are expected to participate in the France or Spain Study Group. See below.

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Minor Concentration Program in French or Spanish

A minor concentration in French or Spanish consists of a minimum of six courses at the 300 and 400 levels. In French this must include 301, and a minimum of three 400-level literature courses, one each from categories 1 and 2 (see Concentration Program above), and one from either category 3 or 4. The Spanish minor concentration must include SPAN 361 or 362, and at least three 400-level literature courses, including at least one course from category 1 (see Concentration Program above). No independent study courses may be credited toward the minor concentration.

Students with minor concentrations in French or Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply for the France or Spain study group.

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Honors and High Honors

Departmental honors require a GPA of 3.0 and an average in all concentration courses of 3.3. After selecting a topic and advisor, the student registers for FREN or SPAN 490 during one of the semesters of the senior year and writes a paper of significant length and depth. The quality of the paper determines whether the student receives honors (A- or higher expected) or merely a grade.

Departmental high honors requires a GPA of 3.0 and an average in all concentration courses of 3.7. After selecting a topic and advisor, the student registers for FREN or SPAN 491 in the seventh term in order to compile a bibliography, gather materials and begin the preparation of a thesis. The student then registers for FREN or SPAN 490 in the eighth term in order to complete the thesis. The final version serves as the basis for an oral examination by three or more members of the faculty. The quality of the thesis and of the oral defense determines whether the student receives high honors (A or higher expected), honors (A-), or merely a grade.

A 490-course registration must be in addition to the minimum concentration requirement. The expected length of an honors paper or high honors thesis is established by the advisor in consultation with the department chair.

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Awards

Four awards are made annually:: The Frank C. Ewart Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior concentrator in the department, in conjunction with the Office of Student Aid.; The Charles A. Choquette Memorial Prize for Excellence in French Language and Literature was established by the family of Charles Choquette, professor of French and Spanish from 1927-1967 and chair 1953-1962. This prize is awarded to one or more students for excellent achievement in courses in French language and literature.; The Hathaway Prize for Research in Spanish Literature was established by Robert and Phyllis Hathway, and is awarded in recognition of the excellence of a research paper submitted in the course of study in a Spanish literature seminar.; The David B. Jutten Romance Language Prizes, established by a bequest of the Rev. Dr. David B. Jutten, a member of the class of 1869, are awarded to the seniors who receive the highest rating for honors work done in the Romance Languages.

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Advanced Placement

University credit is automatically granted to entering students who achieve a score of 3 or higher on AP examinations in language or literature in French and Spanish. In French, concentration credit is granted for scores of 4 and 5. The following course equivalents are established: language grade of 3 = 201; language grade of 4 or 5 = 301; literature grade of 3 = 202; literature grade of 4 or 5 = 399.

In Spanish, concentration credit is granted for the score of 5. The following course equivalents are established: language grade of 3 = 201; language grade of 4 = 202; language grade of 5 = 361 or 362; literature grade of 3 or 4 = 202; literature grade of 5 = 399.

Students with an AP literature grade of 3 or higher must register at the 300 level if they continue their study of French or Spanish.

Students with an AP language grade of 3 in French may take FREN 202 but are encouraged to take 300-level courses. Students receiving an AP language grade of 3 in Spanish may take 202 or higher. All students with AP language scores of 4 or 5 must register at the 300 level.

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Language Placement Regulations

Students wishing to continue a Romance language studied in secondary school should register for the appropriate courses indicated by the prerequisities in the course descriptions. Credit will not be granted to a student taking a course at a lower level than a course for which the prerequisites have been completed. Written permission from the department chair is required for an exception to this regulation. In all matters of language placement, the department makes the final determination.

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