Major/Minor

Guidelines for Harpur College Major/Minor Requirement

This page informs on what courses students that are already enrolled in Harpur College should take in order to complete their major or minor in one of our languages.

DECLARATION PROCEDURES: To declare or drop a major and/or minor in French, Italian or Spanish please submit the Major/Minor Declaration Google Form.

Information on Spanish

As the second largest spoken language in the United States and in the world, Spanish plays a key role in higher education. It is an invaluable tool for pursuing career opportunities and for enhancing graduates' performance in any field. The linguistic and cultural competency acquired through our courses allows students to communicate effectively with Latinos and Hispanics in the U.S. and their home countries. Additionally, our diverse curricula help students develop the analytical and argumentative skills valued in most professions.

Our faculty includes professors from the U.S., Puerto Rico and several Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela), which enhances our students' multicultural experience. They are internationally recognized scholars who often teach courses linked to their compelling research projects in linguistics, film, literary and cultural studies.

FAQs

Courses of Interest

Click below for more information about major/minor requirements for Spanish.

  • Major in Spanish

    Requirements (For students starting in 2018)

    • 10 Courses beginning at the Intermediate Spanish level (SPAN 211) or above.

    • A minimum of six (6) courses at the 300- and 400-levels.

    A. Required courses

    • SPAN 211 Intermediate Spanish I
    • SPAN 215 Intermediate Spanish II
    • SPAN 250 Advanced Grammar
    • SPAN 251 Advanced Writing and Debate
    • SPAN 344 Advanced Reading and Interpretation
    • Two of the following three courses: SPAN 351 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics, SPAN 360 Hispanic Culture, SPAN 370 Hispanic Literature (requirement for students starting Binghamton as of Fall 2018)

      • Note: for students who entered Binghamton prior to Fall 2018, both SPAN 360 Hispanic Culture and SPAN 370 Hispanic Literature are required (Spanish 351 Introduction to Spanish Linguistics is not required)

    • Three SPAN courses at the 400-level
      • Note: Teaching College Spanish (SPAN 491) does not count toward this requirement.

    Please note: 

    • Heritage learners (students who grew up in households where Spanish was spoken but did their formal education in English) should take 212 (instead of 211), 213 (instead of 215), and 249 (instead of 250)

    • Students starting at SPAN 215 or above can take extra advanced courses to complete the 10 required courses.

    • Majors can take one (1) course in English— by a faculty in the Spanish section or cross-listed with SPAN—relevant to their interests in the language and or the Hispanic world.

    B. Other requirements

    • A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course in Spanish applied toward the major (pass/fail courses do not count toward the major completion).

    • At least five (5) courses must be taken on Binghamton University campus, including one (1) 300/level course and two (2) 400-level courses.

    • Courses offered through the Binghamton University-sponsored program in Madrid/Malaga (no longer running), Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Cuzco are considered "on-campus" courses. Please check the updated tables of equivalent courses for each program, in the Study Abroad link under Resources.

    • Students must consult with a departmental advisor prior to their enrollment in abroad courses or programs.

    C. Declaration procedure
    Students can declare a Spanish major at any time during the completion of their BA. These are the steps involved in the declaration procedure:

    • To declare a major and/or minor, please submit the Major/Minor Declaration Google Form, you may use this form to request to drop your major/minor in Romance Languages and Literatures as well.

    Note: check your Degree Works periodically to make sure you are completing/have completed the requirements for the major — do not wait until your final year to check.

  • Minor in Spanish

    Requirements

    • Six 4-credit courses starting at the 200 level 

    • One of the six courses must be in literature.

    • Two must be at the 300 or 400 level.

    • Three of the six courses must be completed on campus or through* Binghamton, at least one of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.

    Please note:

    • Heritage learners (students who grew up in households where Spanish was spoken but did their formal education in English) should take 212 (instead of 211), 213 (instead of 215), and 249 (instead of 250).

    • No courses may be taken in English for the minor in Spanish.

    • A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course in Spanish applied toward the minor; as such, taking a course Pass/Fail would not count.

Information on Italian

In the global context of the 21st century, a degree in Italian offers students a distinct set of advantages, both personal and professional. We examine Italy as the geographic, cultural and economic heart of Europe; a center of Western civilization from Roman times to the present day.

The mastery of spoken and written Italian is developed through the study of an evolving artistic tradition: Medieval literature and culture, Renaissance philosophy, modern Italian poetry and prose, cinema and new media. Such textual landscapes deliver global perspectives that launch students into diverse fields, from education to diplomacy, travel journalism to museum curating, interpreting and translation to international trade and finance.

Click below for more information about major/minor requirements for Italian.

  • Major in Italian

    Standard program (code 330)
    (No previous preparation or some prior elementary Italian preparation)

    10 courses

    The 10 required courses for the major shall be distributed as follows: 

    • One of the following: ITAL 113, ITAL 115, or one course at the 200 level or above,
    • Three ITAL courses at the 200 level or above,
    • Two ITAL courses at the 300 level or above, and
    • Four ITAL courses at the 400 level or above.

    Campus requirements
    A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course in Italian applied toward the major and defines "satisfactory performance" in the course.

    • Occasionally one 300-level course may substitute for a 400-level course with permission of student's advisor.

    • Courses from other institutions or Study Abroad, especially at the 400-level, must be approved by student's advisor.

    • At least three (3) 400-level courses must be taken on campus.

  • Minor in Italian

    Requirements

    • Six 4-credit courses starting at the 200 level
    • One of the six courses must be in literature.
    • Two must be at the 300 or 400 level.
    • Three of the six courses must be completed on campus.
    • At least one 300 or 400-level course must be completed on campus.

    Please Note: 

    • A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course in French applied toward the minor; as such, taking a course Pass/Fail would not count.

Information on French

Undergraduates may choose to major in French and Francophone Studies or in French Language and Linguistics. Each track consists of a total of ten courses, as described below. Only courses at or above FREN 215 may be counted toward the major.

Note: Students should consult placement guidelines provided by the department. Depending on prior exposure to the language, introductory courses may be required prerequisites for the major.

Click below for more information about major/minor requirements for French.

  • Major in French

    Option 1: French and Francophone Studies
    Students who choose the French and Francophone studies track of the major can expect to develop a high level of fluency in both written and spoken dimensions of the language. Through an interdisciplinary approach, they will also gain knowledge of the literatures, culture, history, and politics of those parts of the world where the French language is an important medium of expression.

    This major consists of ten courses:

    • A. Four (4) 200-, 300-, or 400-level FREN courses
    • B. One (1) 300- or 400-level FREN course
    • C. One (1) 300-level topics course in French and Francophone studies
    • D. Three (3) 400-level topics courses in French and Francophone studies
    • E. One (1) 400-level course in French Language and Linguistics

    NOTE: At least three 400-level courses must be taken on campus. Any 400-level transfer credits, including study abroad, must be approved by the department.

    Suggested Sequence: 

    1. FREN 215
    2. FREN 241
    3. FREN Elective (300/400 level)
    4. FREN Elective (300/400 level)
    5. FREN Elective (300/400 level)
    6. FREN 381
    7. FREN 481 (variable topic)
    8. FREN 481 (variable topic)
    9. FREN 481 (variable topic)
    10. FREN 480 (variable topic) 

    Note: Students beginning their French courses at a higher level than 215 will be able to make adjustments in suggested course sequence, in consultation with their French major advisor.            

    Option 2: French Language & Linguistics
    Students who choose this track can expect to develop a high level of fluency in both written and spoken dimensions of the language. Through the study of language and linguistics, they will also gain knowledge of linguistic forms and structures, language use and variation, and sociohistorical context of French speaking communities throughout the world.

    This major consists of ten courses:

    • A. Three (3) 200-, 300-, or 400-level FREN courses
    • B. One (1) 100-level Linguistics course
    • C. Two (2) 300- or 400-level courses in French Language and Linguistics
    • D. Two (2) 300- or 400-level Linguistics courses (including FREN courses cross-listed as LING)
    • E. One (1) 300-level topics course in French and Francophone Studies
    • F. One (1) 400-level topics course in French and Francophone Studies

    NOTE: At least three 400-level courses must be taken on campus. Any 400-level transfer credits, including study abroad, must be approved by the department.

    Suggested Sequence:

    1. FREN 215
    2. FREN 241
    3. FREN 351
    4. LING 118
    5. FREN 380 (variable topic)
    6. FREN 380 (variable topic)
    7. FREN 381 (variable topic)
    8. FREN 480 (variable topic)
    9. FREN 480 (variable topic)
    10. FREN 481 (variable topic)

    Note: Students beginning their French courses at a higher level than 215 will be able to make adjustments in suggested course sequence, in consultation with their French major advisor.

  • Minor in French

    Requirements

    • Six 4-credit courses starting at the 200 level 

    • One of the six courses must be in literature.

    • Two must be at the 300 or 400 level.

    • Three of the six courses must be completed on campus.

    • At least one 300 or 400-level course must be completed on campus.

    Please Note: 

    • No courses may be taken in English for the minor in French.
    • A minimum grade of "C" is required for any course in French applied toward the minor; as such, taking a course Pass/Fail would not count.