World Languages Cultures B.A.

With emphases in Japanese and Spanish, World Languages and Cultures prepares you to be an active participant in an ever-shrinking and increasingly interdependent world. WLC does this by developing your literacy in global matters, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, as well as helping you achieve a formidable level of proficiency in a world language other than English.

Depending on your emphasis, you will reach an intermediate-high to advanced level of proficiency and usage in your chosen language of study. You will also focus on two general areas from the culture, literature, history and social sciences connected with the language that you select. As you progress toward graduation, you will design an area of emphasis that may be thematic, discipline-focused or career-oriented to acquire deeper knowledge relative to your specific interests and goals.

To learn more about the major, visit the World Languages & Cultures website.

Required Courses

All WLC Majors will complete the following courses:

• WLC 300: WLC Major ProSeminar
• WLC 400: WLC Major Capstone

In addition, students must demonstrate that they have been actively immersed in and have internalized the culture of their selected emphasis by meeting MLO 7: Cultural Praxis.

Students who will use a Study Abroad experience to meet this outcome are strongly encouraged to enroll in JAPN 420: Maximizing Study Abroad: Strategies for Language and Culture Use prior to their study abroad experience.

WLC Major requirements are determined by emphasis. Students select one of the following emphases below:

Please note: An emphasis is an informal grouping of courses designed to prepare students for particular careers. Emphases do not appear on final transcripts.

Japanese Emphasis

Complete the following course:

• JAPN 320S: Advanced Japanese SL

Complete TWO of the following courses:

• JAPN 301: Advanced Japanese Culture and Communication
• JAPN 302: History of Japan
• JAPN 303: Business Japanese
• JAPN 304: Introduction to Translation & Interpretation
• JAPN 312: Japanese for the Professions
• JAPN 380: Japan: Land and People
• JAPN 401: Structure of Japanese Language
• JAPN 402: Japanese Literature

Complete SIX of the following courses (Note: you may include up to two courses from the list above):

• JAPN 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture & Civilization
• JAPN 306: The Japanese Mind
• JAPN 307: Japan-American Experience
• JAPN 308: Japanese Pop-Culture
• JAPN 309: Japanese Literature in Translation
• JAPN 310: Japanese Cinema
• JAPN 311: Social Issues In Japan
• JAPN 313: Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
• JAPN 405: Economic History Of Japan
• JAPN 407: Japan in Asia
• JAPN 408: Business In Japan

Complete ONE of the following courses:

• SPAN 307: History&Politics Of Mex
• SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US
• SPAN 309: Hist & Polit Of Latn Amer
• SPAN 311: US Foreign Policy Pac Rim
• SPAN 325: Hispanic Cinema
• SPAN 365: The Chicano Novel
• SPAN 370: The Chicano Community

Students are strongly encouraged to complete:
JAPN 400: Advanced Interpersonal Communication OR JAPN 403: Pre-Capstone OR JAPN 404: Advanced Japanese Research and Communication

 Spanish Emphasis

Complete the following course:

• SPAN 301S: Service Learning in the Chicano / Latino Community

Complete TWO of the following courses:

• SPAN 301: Comp/Oral Practice
• SPAN 302: Hist/Phonetic Struct Span Lang
• SPAN 303: Adv Spanish Grammar
• SPAN 305: Spanish for The Professions
• SPAN 313: Intro to Spanish Linguistics
• SPAN 315: Introduction to Translation: Spanish/English

Complete SIX of the following courses:

• SPAN 304: Intro To Hispanic Literat
• SPAN 306: Cultur/Civ Span Ltn Amer
• SPAN 307: History&Politics Of Mex
• SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US
• SPAN 309: Hist & Polit Of Latn Amer
• SPAN 310: Hispanic Children Literature
• SPAN 311: US Foreign Policy Pac Rim
• SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Lit
• SPAN 328: Latina Life Stories
• SPAN 329: Auto/Biografias
• SPAN 365: The Chicano Novel
• SPAN 370: The Chicano Community
• SPAN 425: La Literatura Mexicana
• SPAN 426: Narativa Hispanoamericana
• SPAN 427: Latin Amer Women Writers
• SPAN 428: La Literatura Afrolatina

Complete ONE of the following courses:

• JAPN 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture & Civilization
• JAPN 306: The Japanese Mind
• JAPN 307: Japan-American Experience
• JAPN 308: Japanese Pop-Culture
• JAPN 309: Japanese Literature in Translation
• JAPN 310: Japanese Cinema
• JAPN 311: Social Issues In Japan
• JAPN 313: Manga, Anime & Modern Japan
• JAPN 405: Economic History Of Japan
• JAPN 407: Japan in Asia
• JAPN 408: Business In Japan

Learning Outcomes

MLOs 1-4: Language Proficiency

Achieve and demonstrate intermediate-high or advanced proficiency in the four major skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) of the world language you have chosen to emphasize.

To attain this level of proficiency, you should expect to enroll in six-to-eight upper-division classes that are taught in your target language including a minimum of two upper-division language courses.

You will be assessed for your level of proficiency in WLC 400: WLC Major Capstone.

MLO 5: Primary Cultural Knowledge

Develop a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the tangible/intangible cultural products (for example, art, history, literature, music) of the society or major cultures reflected by the language which you have chosen to study.

• Complete a total of six courses in order to fulfill the MLO. Four of the courses comprise the Core, and 2 comprise the Depth of MLO 5.
• MLO 5 - Core: Complete a total of four learning experiences in each of two general areas (for a total of four classes) that focus on the culture or society reflected by the language you have chosen to study. General areas to choose from are literature, history, culture, art history, etc.
• MLO 5 - Depth: Complete an additional two classes in one of the general areas selected for a total of six classes for MLO 5.

MLO 6: Second Culture Knowledge

Demonstrate general knowledge of a sociocultural group other than the one emphasized for the major. Develop a basic understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the tangible/intangible cultural products (for example, art, history, literature, music) of the second culture. The second culture studied must be totally different from the target culture and majority American culture.

Complete at least one upper-division class focusing on a sociocultural group not reflected by the language or culture emphasized for the major.

Note: Student majors may take a total of no more than twonon-WLC coursesto satisfy WLC MLO 5 or 6. Please consult with your major advisor.

MLO 7: Cultural Praxis (Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion)

Demonstrate that you have been actively immersed in and have internalized the culture of the chosen language at an intermediate level.

• This is not a course-based outcome. You demonstrate your abilities and knowledge by participating in a study-abroad program for at least one semester; by having lived as an adult over an extended period of time in a country whose primary language and culture are those being emphasized by the student major; by living and working in a local heritage community over an extended period of time; or by participating in and completing ten cultural learning scenarios approved by the School for World Languages and Cultures.
• Assessment of the Cultural Praxis learning outcome is completed via portfolio in which you document and verify the pathway chosen above.

MLO 8: Technology Skills

Demonstrate an ability to use new multimedia technology and the Internet to support interactive linkages and distance learning activities between the CSUMB community and individuals and organizations in the countries of the language chosen as a major.

This is not a course-based outcome. You demonstrate your abilities and knowledge by exhibiting your Senior Capstone project in a technology-based format. Examples of such projects are culturally relevant PowerPoint presentations, webpages and CD-ROMS.

Course Pathways

These pathways are examples of how you might complete all the requirements for your degree in an order that makes sense given prerequisites. They are meant to give you a general sense of what your education will look like.

Your own unique situation and a number of other factors may mean your actual pathway is different. Perhaps you'll need an extra math or language class, or one of the courses we've listed isn't offered in a particular semester. Don't worry - there is flexibility built into the curriculum. You'll want to work closely with an advisor and use the academic advisement report to take all that into account and develop a pathway that's customized for you.

In the meantime, use this example as a starting point for choosing classes or discussing your plans with an advisor. Your advisor is your best resource when it comes to figuring out how to fit all the courses you need, in the right sequence, into your personal academic plan.

Japanese Emphasis Freshman Pathway

Fall Freshman

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Fall Sophomore

Spring Sophomore

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior

Japanese Emphasis Transfer Pathway

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior

Spanish Emphasis Freshman Pathway

Fall Freshman

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Fall Sophomore

Spring Sophomore

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior

Spanish Emphasis Transfer Pathway

Fall Junior

Spring Junior

Fall Senior

Spring Senior

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