About

Are you interested in learning and teaching a foreign language? Do you want to add a global element to your educational experience?

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers a bachelor of arts degree in foreign languages and literatures with six focus areas: French, French education, German, German education, global studies, Hispanic studies, and Hispanic studies education.

The French program at East Carolina University teaches French and Francophone language and culture at all levels. From beginning language classes to advanced courses on culture, literature and cinema, we aim to provide a global perspective as well as a focused knowledge base that prepares students for jobs after graduation in areas like the Foreign Service, military, business, education and public service.

Students can expect to perfect French-speaking skills, as well as acquire expertise to address relevant issues concerning cultural literacy, international communication, gender politics and global diversity. These skills prepare our students for successful study abroad programs in Europe and other French-speaking countries across the world, including Africa, Canada, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Our limited class enrollments, and our personal approach to advising, assure student success here at ECU and after graduation.

Learning Spanish in ECU's Hispanic studies program will prepare you for a wide range of careers in health care, education, government, social work, business, and many others in the national and international arena. You will acquire communicative competence in Spanish, as well as the cultural and literary heritage pertaining to a language whose origins go back to the 8th century, and which by 2050, will be spoken by more than 30 percent of the population in the United States.

If you're interested in teaching, the BS in German is an option. Its course of study prepares students to teach elementary and high school German after college. Students take advantage of all of our program's offerings, including our cultural events, one-on-one mentoring, study abroad opportunities, and career counseling.

Most students come to us with no background in German. No problem! If you have some ability in the language, great! We can place you in the appropriate class and get you that much closer to your degree. Either way, we provide a high-quality education designed to help you achieve competency in the target culture and language. We also help you develop your critical thinking skills. As a student, you'll need these proficiencies in the global economies and communities of the twenty-first century.

We mentor students individually regarding their educational and career goals, and this individualized attention has benefits. Our majors have received grants from organizations such as Fulbright, DAAD, and even the Federal Republic of Germany. Students also have presented their original research at conferences, had their research accepted for publication, and obtained employment in education or with multinational companies here and in Europe.

ECU Advantage

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers unique and hands-on global experiences, including study-abroad programs in a variety of cities around the world. Our programs offer stand-out benefits including the ones outlined below.

Our limited class enrollments, and our personal approach to advising, assure student success here at ECU and after graduation.

We also offer professional internships that will allow you to use your knowledge of Spanish in a variety of work environments and study abroad options in countries such as Mexico, Spain, and Argentina that will round off your education and give you a significant edge over your competitors in the job market.

Our graduates have been highly successful in pursuing careers in education, public health, social work, business, law, and the government sector.

We know our students and mentor them one-on-one; this attention fosters success. In the past four years alone, German majors have completed paid internships in Germany and been awarded international and national grants to study in Europe worth more than $45,000. Recent German graduates have entered careers in international business, education, consulting, the armed services and pharmaceutical research, among others. Our study abroad programs are extremely affordable, and we help students plan their classes so they get ECU credit for their work in Europe, regardless of the field (the classes don't all have to be German courses).

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinators by Concentration:

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    French concentration:
    • Choose any 3 s.h. GLST course carrying the GE:HU designation. 
      French education concentration:
      • COMM 2020 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication OR
      • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking

      • MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
      • MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics

      • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
      German studies concentration:
      •  
        German education concentration:
        • COMM 2020 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication OR
        • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking

        • MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
        • MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics

        • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
        • Choose a literature course
        Hispanic studies concentration:
        • Choose 3 s.h. from:
        • GLST 1662 - Introduction to Hispanic Studies
        • GLST 2665 - Don Quixote
        Hispanic studies education concentration:
        • COMM 2020 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication OR
        • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking

        • MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
        • MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics

        • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology

        • Choose 3 s.h. from the following:
        • GLST 1662 - Introduction to Hispanic Studies
        • GLST 2665 - Don Quixote
        Note:

        General education courses have not been specified for Classical studies and Global studies areas of concentration.

        2. Demonstrated foreign language proficiency through level 2004 - 12 s.h.

        (For information about the foreign language requirement view Special Requirements for the BA Degree in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section and Placement Testing, Foreign Language in the Admission and Readmission section.)

          Classical studies concentration:

          Students must take LATN or GRK 1001-2004 to satisfy the foreign language requirement for the BA degree concentration. Non-BA double majors who have no foreign language requirement or a requirement less than 12 s. h., or BA majors who satisfy it by another language must still take LATN or GRK 1001-2004, but they may count the courses toward Classical studies electives below.

          • GRK 1001 - Ancient Greek Level I
          • GRK 1002 - Ancient Greek Level II
          • GRK 2003 - Ancient Greek Level III
          • GRK 2004 - Ancient Greek Level IV
            • OR
          • LATN 1001 - Latin Level I
          • LATN 1002 - Latin Level II
          • LATN 2003 - Latin Level III
          • LATN 2004 - Latin Level IV
          Note:

          The requirement to demonstrate proficiency in Latin or Ancient Greek through level 2004 applies only to the Classical studies concentration.

          3. Core - 30-36 s.h.
            Classical studies concentration - 30 s.h.
              Choose 30 s.h. of Classical studies electives, including at least three CLAS 2000-3999 courses, one HIST course, and CLAS 4000
              • ANTH 3030 - Death and Disease in the Classical World

              • ANTH 3113 - Archaeology of the Old Testament World OR
              • RELI 3113 - Archaeology of the Old Testament World

              • ANTH 3114 - Archaeology of the New Testament World OR
              • RELI 3114 - Archaeology of the New Testament World

              • ANTH 3118 - Pyramids, Pharaohs, and Mummies: The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
              • ARTH 2910 - Ancient Art History
              • ARTH 3915 - Art of the Middle Ages
              • CLAS 1300 - Greek and Latin for Vocabulary Building
              • CLAS 1500 - Classical Mythology

              • CLAS 1600 - Sex, Spells and Sacrifices: Religion in the Classical World OR
              • RELI 1600 - Sex, Spells and Sacrifices: Religion in the Classical World

              • CLAS 2000 - Introduction to Classics (Humanities)
              • CLAS 2220 - Great Works of Ancient Literature I: Greece
              • CLAS 2230 - Great Works of Ancient Literature II: Rome
              • CLAS 2400 - Women in Classical Antiquity
              • CLAS 2500 - Greek Tragedy in Translation
              • CLAS 3400 - The Ancient City
              • CLAS 3410 - The Ancient City: Pompeii
              • CLAS 4000 - Seminar in Classics (required)
              • ENGL 3600 - Classics from Homer to Dante
              • HIST 3340 - The Ancient Middle East from Prehistory to Muhammad
              • HIST 3405 - History of Ancient Greece to 146 BC
              • HIST 3406 - War and Society in Ancient Greece and Rome
              • HIST 3410 - History of Ancient Rome
              • HIST 3412 - A History of Christianity to 1300
              • HIST 3415 - The Middle Ages
              • HIST 5340 - The Ancient Near East
              • HIST 5505 - Maritime History of the Western World to 1415
              • PHIL 1311 - Great Philosophers from Antiquity to the Present
              • PHIL 3313 - Ancient Philosophy
              • RELI 3796 - Paul and His Letters
              • RELI 3896 - Life and Teachings of Jesus
              • Note
            French concentration - 30 s.h.
            • FREN 3001 - French Conversation
            • FREN 3222 - Grammar and Composition
            • FREN 3550 - Introduction to Cultural Analysis
              • Choose 21 s.h. of FREN electives above 2999 with a minimum of 9 s.h. of FREN electives above 3999
              • FREN 3100 - French Business Communication
              • FREN 3200 - French Abroad
              • FREN 3443 - Cultures of France
              • FREN 3444 - Francophone Cultures of the World
              • FREN 3700 - Selected Topics in French or Francophone Studies
              • FREN 4215 - French Phonetics
              • FREN 4336 - Introduction to Translation
              • FREN 4555 - France of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
              • FREN 4556 - France from Classicism to the French Revolution
              • FREN 4557 - France from the Napoleonic Period to World War II
              • FREN 4558 - The Francophone World: Colonization to Independence
              • FREN 4560 - The Contemporary French and Francophone World
              • FREN 4700 - Selected Topics in French or Francophone Studies
              • And other FREN elective courses
              • And other FREN elective courses with the approval of the department chair.
            French education concentration - 36 s.h.
            • FREN 3001 - French Conversation
            • FREN 3222 - Grammar and Composition
            • FREN 3550 - Introduction to Cultural Analysis
              • Choose 27 s.h. of FREN electives above 2999 with a minimum of 9 s.h. of FREN electives above 3999
              • FREN 3100 - French Business Communication
              • FREN 3200 - French Abroad
              • FREN 3443 - Cultures of France
              • FREN 3444 - Francophone Cultures of the World
              • FREN 3700 - Selected Topics in French or Francophone Studies
              • FREN 4215 - French Phonetics
              • FREN 4336 - Introduction to Translation
              • FREN 4555 - France of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
              • FREN 4556 - France from Classicism to the French Revolution
              • FREN 4557 - France from the Napoleonic Period to World War II
              • FREN 4558 - The Francophone World: Colonization to Independence
              • FREN 4560 - The Contemporary French and Francophone World
              • FREN 4700 - Selected Topics in French or Francophone Studies
              • And other FREN elective courses
              • And other FREN elective courses with the approval of the department chair. 
            German studies concentration - 30 s.h.
            • GERM 3001 - German Composition and Conversation I
            • GERM 3420 - Culture of the German-Speaking World
            • GERM 3510 - Introduction to German Literature
            • Choose 6 s.h. of German literature above 2999
            • Choose 21 s.h. of German electives above 2999
            German education concentration - 36 s.h.
            • GLST 2600 - The Holocaust OR
            • HIST 3435 - History of Europe Since 1914 OR
            • HIST 3461 - Germany Since 1914 OR
            • equivalent course

            • GERM 3001 - German Composition and Conversation I
            • GERM 3002 - German Composition and Conversation II
            • GERM 3210 - Conversation
            • GERM 3330 - Composition and Advanced Grammar
            • GERM 3420 - Culture of the German-Speaking World
            • GERM 3510 - Introduction to German Literature
            • Choose 6 s.h. of German literature above 2999
            Global studies concentration - 30 s.h.
            • GLST 1000 - Introduction to Global Studies
            • GLST 4500 - Seminar in Global Studies
            • Choose 15 s.h.
              • OR
            • Choose 9 s.h.
            • Choose 15 s.h. of FREN or GERM or SPAN electives above 2004
              • Choose 9 s.h. of GLST electives from:
              • GLST 1050 - Dis/Order@the Border
              • GLST 1060 - Global Understanding Through Literature
              • GLST 1551 - Introduction to Russia: Land of the Firebird
              • GLST 1662 - Introduction to Hispanic Studies
              • GLST 2000 - Fashion Representations in Culture
              • GLST 2220 - Sci-Fi: East and West
              • GLST 2520 - Special Topics in Global Cinema
              • GLST 2600 - The Holocaust
              • GLST 2665 - Don Quixote
              • GLST 2680 - Fairy Tales
              • GLST 3700 - Special Topics in Global Studies
              • GLST 4700 - Special Topics in Foreign Languages and Literatures
            Hispanic studies concentration - 30 s.h.
            • SPAN 3001 - Intermediate Spanish Communication Skills
              • OR
            • SPAN 3003 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers

            • SPAN 3310 - Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
            • SPAN 3440 - Spanish Culture and Civilization
            • SPAN 3441 - Latin-American Culture and Civilization
            • SPAN 3550 - Introduction to Cultural Analysis
              • Choose 15 s.h. of SPAN electives above 2999 with the exception of SPAN 3001 and SPAN 3003

              (Include 9 s.h. from the following with a minimum number from each area as designated below.)

                Choose a minimum of 6 s.h. from:
                • SPAN 4010 - Hispanic Cultural Studies
                • SPAN 4020 - Contemporary Issues of the Hispanic World
                • SPAN 4030 - Discursive Analysis in Hispanic Studies
                • SPAN 4555 - Medieval Spain (900-1499)
                • SPAN 4556 - Renaissance and Baroque Spain (1500-1681)
                • SPAN 4557 - Spain from Neo-Classicism to Realism (1681-1898)
                • SPAN 4558 - Contemporary Spain (1898-Present)
                • SPAN 4560 - Major Latin American Authors
                • SPAN 4561 - Colonial Latin America in Texts and Images
                • SPAN 4562 - Latin American Texts of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
                • SPAN 4563 - Latin American Texts: The Boom and Beyond
                Choose a minimum of 3 s.h. from:
                • SPAN 3325 - Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
                • SPAN 3335 - Structure of the Spanish Language
                • SPAN 4320 - Spanish Applied Linguistics
                • SPAN 4330 - Spanish in the United States
            Hispanic studies education concentration - 36 s.h.
            • SPAN 3001 - Intermediate Spanish Communication Skills
            • SPAN 3002 - Spanish Composition and Review of Grammar
              • OR
            • SPAN 3003 - Spanish for Heritage Speakers

            • SPAN 3210 - Advanced Composition
            • SPAN 3310 - Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
            • SPAN 3440 - Spanish Culture and Civilization
            • SPAN 3441 - Latin-American Culture and Civilization
            • SPAN 3550 - Introduction to Cultural Analysis
              • Choose 15-18 s.h. of SPAN electives above 2999

              (Include 9 s.h. from the following with a minimum number from each area as designated below.)

                Choose a minimum of 6 s.h. from:
                • SPAN 4010 - Hispanic Cultural Studies
                • SPAN 4020 - Contemporary Issues of the Hispanic World
                • SPAN 4030 - Discursive Analysis in Hispanic Studies
                • SPAN 4555 - Medieval Spain (900-1499)
                • SPAN 4556 - Renaissance and Baroque Spain (1500-1681)
                • SPAN 4557 - Spain from Neo-Classicism to Realism (1681-1898)
                • SPAN 4558 - Contemporary Spain (1898-Present)
                • SPAN 4560 - Major Latin American Authors
                • SPAN 4561 - Colonial Latin America in Texts and Images
                • SPAN 4562 - Latin American Texts of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
                • SPAN 4563 - Latin American Texts: The Boom and Beyond
                Choose a minimum of 3 s.h. from:
                • SPAN 3325 - Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
                • SPAN 3335 - Structure of the Spanish Language
                • SPAN 4320 - Spanish Applied Linguistics
                • SPAN 4330 - Spanish in the United States
                Note:

                15 s.h. of electives for students who take SPAN 3001 and SPAN 3002; 18 s.h. of electives for students who take SPAN 3003.

            4. Professional studies - 24 s.h.

            (Applies only to French, German, and Hispanic studies education concentrations.)

              French education:
              • EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education
              • EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education

              • EDUC 4400 - Foundations of School Learning, Motivation, and Assessment OR
              • PSYC 4305 - Educational Psychology

              • FREN 2611 - Early Experiences for the Prospective Teacher
              • FREN 4880 - Internship in French
              • FREN 4881 - Internship Seminar: Issues in French Education
              • READ 3990 - Teaching Reading in the Content Areas in the Secondary School
              • SPED 4010 - Effective Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms
              German education:
              • EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education
              • EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education

              • EDUC 4400 - Foundations of School Learning, Motivation, and Assessment OR
              • PSYC 4305 - Educational Psychology

              • GERM 2611 - Early Experiences for the Prospective Teacher
              • GERM 4880 - Internship in German
              • GERM 4881 - Internship Seminar: Issues in German Teaching
              • READ 3990 - Teaching Reading in the Content Areas in the Secondary School
              • SPED 4010 - Effective Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms
              Hispanic studies education:
              • EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education
              • EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education

              • EDUC 4400 - Foundations of School Learning, Motivation, and Assessment OR
              • PSYC 4305 - Educational Psychology

              • READ 3990 - Teaching Reading in the Content Areas in the Secondary School
              • SPAN 2611 - Early Experiences for the Prospective Teacher
              • SPAN 4880 - Internship in Spanish
              • SPAN 4881 - Internship Seminar: Issues in Spanish Teaching
              • SPED 4010 - Effective Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms
            5. Specialty area studies - 11 s.h.

            (Applies only to education concentrations specified below.)

              French education:
              • EDUC 3002 - Introduction to Diversity OR
              • PSYC 2777 - Ethnocultural Psychology

              • ELEM 3000 - Curriculum and Standards in Elementary School
              • FREN 4611 - Teaching Second Languages in Grades K-12
              German education:
              • EDUC 3002 - Introduction to Diversity OR
              • PSYC 2777 - Ethnocultural Psychology

              • ELEM 3000 - Curriculum and Standards in Elementary School
              • GERM 4611 - Teaching Second Languages in Grades K-12
              Hispanic studies education:
              • EDUC 3002 - Introduction to Diversity OR
              • PSYC 2777 - Ethnocultural Psychology

              • ELEM 3000 - Curriculum and Standards in Elementary School
              • SPAN 4611 - Teaching Second Languages in Grades K-12
            6. Minor and/or electives to complete requirements for graduation.

            The Classical studies, French, German, global studies, and Hispanic studies concentrations require a minor and general electives to complete requirements for graduation.

            The French education, German education, and Hispanic studies education concentrations require electives to complete requirements for graduation.

              7. Oral qualifying examination requirement

              (In the second semester of the junior year, all foreign language and literatures majors, with the exception of Classical studies and global studies must pass an oral qualifying examination.)

                For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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