Modern Languages and Literatures:

The Academic Program

Our courses balance traditional objects of study with emerging interdisciplinary projects on topics such as urban modernity, gender and sexuality, and media representations and manipulations of cultural values. Our curriculum engages the classics of world literature while also adapting to reflect the latest redefinitions and debates occurring within the Humanities. The linguistic knowledge students acquire in our courses enables them to speak and write confidently about texts and contexts, to go abroad and encounter the world and its residents in very different, more informed and meaningful ways.

Along with demonstrated competence in the language, a foreign literature major will normally complete a minimum of 8 credits in courses in advanced language, literature, or culture, and a culminating exercise such as a thesis, an oral or written comprehensive examination, or honors examinations. Depending on the program, one or more courses for the major may be taken in English. The department encourages interdisciplinary approaches and pertinent special majors. Students interested in more than one literature are encouraged to consider a major in comparative literature. Students with strong interest in learning languages and their mechanics should also take note of the related major in Linguistics and Languages. The department collaborates with Educational Studies to help students who wish to get teacher certification.

The Language Requirement

To receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, candidates must fulfill a foreign language requirement. The foreign language requirement can be fulfilled by:

1. Successfully studying 3 years or the “block” equivalent of a single foreign language in grades 9 through 12 (work done before grade 9 cannot be counted, regardless of the course level);
2. Achieving a score of 600 or better on a standard achievement test of a foreign language;
3. Passing either the final term of a college-level, yearlong, introductory foreign language course or a semester-long intermediate foreign language course; or
4. Learning English as a foreign language while remaining demonstrably proficient in another.

If you have fulfilled your language requirement, the department encourages you to use your time at Swarthmore to become truly proficient in that language, or to discover a new one.

Students whose placement recommendation is above the language sequence should consider taking introductory and/or advanced courses, many of which fulfill the College’s writing requirement.

Advancement Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

The department will grant 1 credit for incoming students who achieved a score of 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement Chinese, French, German, Japanese or Russian examinations once they have successfully completed a one-credit course in that language at the College.

The department will grant 1 credit for incoming students who have achieved a score of 6 or 7 in a foreign language on the International Baccalaureate once they have successfully completed a one-credit course in that language at the College.

Students who took an AP or IB exam should consult the department for more information.

Note: Students with French/German AP-IB scores are nonetheless required to take the online placement test.

Explanatory Note On First-and Second-Year Language Courses

Courses numbered 001-002, 003, and, in some languages also 004, carry 1.5 credits per semester. Four semesters in this sequence are equivalent to two or sometimes more years of work at the college level.

These courses encourage development of communicative proficiency through an interactive task-based approach and provide students with an active and rewarding learning experience as they strengthen their language skills and develop their cultural competency These courses meet alternately as sections for grammar presentation and small groups for oral practice and may also require work in regular scheduled tutorials or in the Language Resource Center.

Students who start in the 001-002 sequence must complete 002 to receive credit for 001. However, students placing directly in 002 can receive 1.5 semester credits for that course. Please note that students must register for both lecture (T/TH) and drill (M/W/F) sections of the course in the 001-004 sequence.

Teacher Certification

We offer teacher certification in modern languages (French, German, and Russian) through a program approved by the state of Pennsylvania. For further information about the relevant requirements, please refer to the Educational Studies section of the College Bulletin or see the Educational Studies Department website: www.swarthmore.edu/educationalstudies.xml.

Off-Campus Study

Students on financial aid may apply that aid to designated programs of study abroad.

Study abroad is particularly encouraged for students of Arabic; academic credit (full or partial) is generally approved for participation in programs of varying duration in different Arab countries that are recommended by the Arabic section. These include, but are not limited to, universities and programs in Jordan, Morocco, and Oman.

Study abroad is particularly encouraged for students of Chinese; academic credit (full or partial) is generally approved for participation in several programs of varying duration in the People’s Republic of China and in Taiwan, recommended by the Chinese section. In the People’s Republic these include, but are not limited to, the Inter-University Program (IUP) Program at Tsing-hua University, the Associated Colleges in China (ACC) Program, the CET Program in Harbin and the Middlebury program in Kunming. In Taiwan, these include the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) and the Mandarin Training Center in Taipei; and the Chinese Language Center, National Cheng Kung University in Tainan.

All French/Francophone studies majors are required to complete a preapproved, semester-long study abroad program in a French-speaking country. Minors are strongly encouraged to attend such semester-long programs and should at least attend a preapproved six-week summer program in a francophone country.

Students of German studies are strongly encouraged to spend a semester in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Please see the Modern Languages and Literatures: German Studies  for vetted programs in German-speaking countries. Students should consider going abroad in the spring semester. This will enable them to participate fully in the summer semester schedule of German and Austrian Universities that tend to run from April through July. Do some online research first, then make an appointment with the German studies coordinator to go over your options.

Students of Japanese are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad programs. Swarthmore College participates in a regular exchange program with Tokyo University, and the Japanese Section has prepared a carefully selected list of other recommended programs in Kyoto, Nagoya, and elsewhere. Students interested in study abroad should consult with the head of the Japanese Section for more information.

Students in Russian are strongly encouraged to spend at least one summer or semester studying in Russia or in other countries with strong Russophone educational options, such as Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Ukraine. Consult with faculty in the Russian Section and with the Off Campus Study Office for information about approved programs.