Modern Languages and Literatures Department

The department of modern languages and literatures offers students the opportunity to develop a high degree of competence in a foreign language and to examine and understand values, beliefs, and practices different from their own through the study of language, literature, and culture. Students may study intensively French, German, or Spanish, and, to a lesser degree, Chinese and Italian. The department actively encourages students to engage in collaborative scholarship with faculty members in the fields of language, literature, or culture. To facilitate the study of language in an interdisciplinary context the department participates in international studies, Latin American studies, and international management and economics. The department also participates in the interdisciplinary minor in linguistics offered at Hamline.

To provide students with direct experience in their chosen language, the department helps students choose appropriate study abroad programs, facilitates interaction with Amity Scholars and other native speakers, and offers interested students the possibility of living in the Spanish House.

In addition to the major, the teaching major, and the minor in French, German, and Spanish, the department offers the “certificate of proficiency” to students who wish to acquire communication skills and cultural awareness for basic professional purposes. The minor in linguistics, described below, is also offered for those wishing to broaden their understanding of language.

Certificate of Proficiency

The certificate recognizes that students have acquired basic communication skills in their chosen language. See the individual languages for details.

Undergraduate Research and Honors

Students interested in undergraduate research are urged to communicate their interest to a faculty member in their chosen language as soon as possible. Students wishing to be considered for honors in French, German, or Spanish should request detailed information from the faculty no later than the fall or spring mid- term of their junior year. Both undergraduate research and honors projects offer students the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member, to formulate a question, to explore it in depth, and to write a significant paper. Students who successfully complete their honors project will be awarded honors at graduation, and their accomplishment will recognized on their transcript.

Honorary Societies

Sigma Delta Pi and Pi Delta Phi. Qualifying students are nominated for memberships.

Postgraduate Opportunities

Students who study in the modern languages and literatures department find that they have been helped to think analytically, to read carefully, to express themselves well in writing and orally, and to conduct themselves with sensitivity in interpersonal and multicultural settings. Language majors have entered careers in journalism and communications, in business, in social welfare, in education (elementary, secondary, and university levels), in nonprofit and government agencies, and in law. Students wishing advice on postgraduate opportunities or wishing to contact alumni in fields that interest them should consult with faculty members in the department, as well as the Career Development Center.

Faculty

Andrea Bell, professor, chair. BA 1982, Whitman College; MA 1984 and 1985, PhD 1991, Stanford University. Spanish, Peninsular and Latin American literature, culture and history; Latin American science fiction.

Walter Blue, professor. BA 1963, Muhlenberg College; MA 1965, Rice University; PhD 1975, Yale University. French, Italian, medieval and Renaissance literature, African culture and literature.

Russell Christensen, professor. BA 1966, Carleton College; MA 1971, PhD 1988, University of Minnesota. German, the Wilhelminian Era, the Weimar Republic, fascism, gender studies.

Kari Richtsmeier, assistant professor. BA 1992, Hamline University; MS 1995, PhD 2000 Georgetown University.

Tamara Root, professor. BA 1963, University of Toronto; MA 1966, PhD 1970, University of Illinois. French, 17th- and 18th-century literature, feminist criticism, Canadian literature.

Huiying Hellen Yin, instructor. BA 1965, University of International Business and Economics (Beijing, China); MA 1991, University of St. Thomas. Chinese language, professional and business language application.

Barbara Younoszai, professor. AB 1955, MA 1962, University of California-Berkeley; PhD 1971, University of Minnesota. Spanish, Peninsular, and Latin American literature, sociolinguistics, Latin American studies and gender studies.