About the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures
Mission of the Department
The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures supports the University's educational, economic, and cultural mission by nurturing the life-changing experience of contact with foreign cultures. Fundamental to this mission is the belief that language and communication skills are essential to students' success in an increasingly global society.
The Department aims to provide:
- High-quality instruction;
- Authentic cultural interaction through short-term and long-term (semester and year-long) study abroad programs, internships in local companies of international reach, and other cultural opportunities on- and off-campus;
- Linguistic and cultural expertise in support of the university as a whole, local and regional schools, and the wider community;
- A broad range of scholarly work.
Our department possesses two state-of-the-art computer labs which enable students to experience second language learning software applications.
Overview of the program
The Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish requires 121-122 credit hours, including thirty (30) semester hours in advanced courses (300 and above) in French or Spanish. Students enrolled in FLAN courses will study the language in which they are pursuing their degree. French and Spanish majors are strongly encouraged to participate in study abroad.
French and Spanish majors are required to have a minor. They may earn minors within the department in the following languages: German, Italian, Latin, French (if Spanish is the major) and Spanish (if French is the major). Each of these minors requires 21 hours. The department also offers three interdisciplinary minors: Minor in Francophone and Creole Ethnic Studies; Minor in Hispanic Ethnic Studies; and Minor in Native American Studies. Each of these minors requires 18 hours. Multiple minors are possible.
Qualified French and Spanish majors may elect to pursue the Honors Diploma in French or Spanish or any of the other Honors Program curriculum paths.
Entrance into Foreign Language Courses
Students who have taken two or more years of foreign language in high school or have grown up speaking a language other than English may seek entrance into foreign language courses numbered 102, 201, 202, and advanced level (300 and above) by receiving a passing grade on the appropriate departmental entrance test. These tests are offered at designated times during registration period. Tests at each level in each language may be taken only once by a given student. Entrance tests are not credit exams and carry absolutely no academic credit. A student who is permitted to enter a course above the 101 level on the basis of entrance testing may receive a grade of “P” in the course(s) he or she is permitted to skip over, if and when the student receives a passing grade in the course into which entrance has been permitted.
Lucia Guzzi Harrison, Ph.D.
Department Head
Email: lharrison@selu.edu
Virginia Creel
Administrative Assistant 3
Email: vcreel@selu.edu
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
D Vickers, Room 219
SLU 10719
Hammond, Louisiana 70402
Office: 985.549-2152
Fax: 985.549-3088