Courses numbered 001B-002B, 003B, 004B carry 1.5 credits per semester. Three semesters in this sequence are equivalent to two years of work at the college level. Designed to impart an active command of the language and combine the study or review of grammar essentials and readings of varied texts with intensive practice to develop the ability to speak the language. These courses (1) meet alternately as sections for grammar presentation and small groups for oral practice and (2) require work in the language resource center.
Students who start in the 001B-002B sequence must complete 002B to receive credit for 001B. However, students placing directly in 002B can receive 1.5 semester credits for that course. Courses numbered 003B and 004B may be taken singly for 1.5 semester credits.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement, students must have completed one of the following:
Students who intend to fulfill the foreign language requirement by participating in a summer program must complete the equivalent of 2 credits (80+ contact hours).
The Department will grant 1 credit for incoming students who have achieved a score of 4 or 5 in Advanced Placement French, German, or Spanish examinations when they have successfully completed a 1-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 after they have successfully completed a 1-credit course in that language at the College.
• French, German, and Spanish exams are offered online between August 9 and August 23.
Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Exam in French, German or Spanish should check the Department bulletin board (outside Kohlberg 316) and check for credit and placement.
• Chinese exams are offered on the Wednesday
of orientation. When you arrive in the Fall, you will need to check the Orientation schedule
for the precise times and places these exams will be given.
• In Russian students are asked to consult with Professor Sibelan Forrester if they need to be placed.
• Arabic and Japanese placement exams are taken on the first day of classes.
Students interested in the literature of more than one language are encouraged to consider a Comparative Literature major.
LITR courses provide students with the opportunity to study a literature that they cannot read in the original. These courses cannot be substituted for the 011- or 012-level courses to satisfy the departmental prerequisites for a major or minor in the original languages, but a student may take one of these courses to satisfy the 8-credit requirement of a foreign literature major provided that the course is pertinent to the specific literature of the major. The Department normally offers 5-6 of these courses each semester.
Department majors and minors are urged to participate for a minimum of a summer and a semester in an academic program abroad. Here are some resources to help you plan for study in a foreign country:
Students who want to receive Swarthmore College credit in Modern Languages and Literatures for work done at other academic institutions -- whether during a summer session or during the regular academic year -- must request validation of the work through this department.
Credit for language study done at another institution requires the approval of the chair of this department before beginning the course. The appropriate form for such a course is available at the Registrar's office. Prior approval of a student's plans for language study at other institutions is particularly important for languages not offered at Swarthmore, i.e. Italian, Turkish and Asian languages.
Application for transfer credit after completion of the course(s) must be made on forms available from the departmental office (Kohlberg 316). Fill out one form for each course for which credit is being requested and submit it to the department along with a syllabus (or reading list), lecture notes, papers and/or examinations together with a copy of the transcript.
Students should make every effort to submit their transfer credit requests during the semester following study abroad.
Students wishing to receive a teaching certificate in these languages should plan on taking the regular program of language and literature courses required for the major or show proof of the equivalent. In addition, they should take Linguistics 001.