World Languages and Cultures B.A. Degree Requirements


World Languages and Cultures B.A. ~ Degree Requirements

Emphases in Japanese and Spanish

Credits Required

Total credits: 120

Credits in residence at CSUMB: 30

Credits in the major: approximately 44

Outcomes, Courses, and Assessment

You officially begin the major by enrolling in WLC 300 where you work with the instructor to develop an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) appropriate to your personal and professional goals. That ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs) and other requirements mandated by the program.

You are also required to engage in at least one semester of service learning involving the language and culture that you have chosen to emphasize for the major. It is recommended that you take this service learning course concurrently with WLC 300 during your first year in the major.

You conclude the major by enrolling in WLC 400 and completing a Capstone project that displays your cumulative learning in the major. The Capstone represents your opportunity to demonstrate depth of knowledge and advanced linguistic skills. [Learn more at CSUMB.EDU/capstone].

Major Learning Outcomes

The eight WLC Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs) are a set of specialized skills and knowledge associated with the major. They help you develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to fulfill your personal, social, and professional goals.

WLC 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 6-8 upper-division classes that are taught in your target language including a minimum of two upper-division language courses.

Japanese emphasis majors must complete two of the following: JAPN 301-302; JAPN 303; JAPN 304; JAPN 312; JAPN 380; JAPN 401-402

Spanish emphasis majors must complete two of the following: SPAN 301; SPAN 302; SPAN 303; SPAN 305

You will be assessed for your level of proficiency in the Senior Capstone seminar.

WLC 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 two learning experiences in each of two general areas (for a total of four classes), whose focus is the culture or society reflected by the language you have chosen to study. General areas to choose from are literature, history, culture, art history.

Japanese emphasis majors choose from the following: JAPN 305; JAPN 306; JAPN 307; JAPN 308; JAPN 309; JAPN 310; JAPN 311; JAPN 405; JAPN 408. Some courses taught in Japanese with a primary focus other than language learning (content course) can qualify for this requirement. Courses cannot be used to meet both MLOs 1-4 and MLO 5. Please consult your advisor.

Spanish emphasis majors choose from the following: SPAN 304; SPAN 306; SPAN 307; SPAN 308; SPAN 309; SPAN 310; SPAN 311; SPAN 321; SPAN 328; SPAN 329; SPAN 365; SPAN 370; SPAN 425; SPAN 426; SPAN 427; SPAN 428

All majors may take a total of no more than two non-WLC courses to satisfy WLC MLOs. For this MLO choose from the following: HCOM 322; HCOM 328; HCOM 329; HCOM 344; HCOM 345; HCOM 455; SBS 325; SBS 348; SBS 480; VPA 319

  • Depth Concentration: Complete an additional two classes in one of the general areas selected, for a total of six classes for MLO 5.

WLC 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.

Japanese emphasis majors choose from the following: SPAN 307; SPAN 308; SPAN 309; SPAN 311; SPAN 325; SPAN 365; SPAN 370; CHIN 305; ITAL 305; KOR 395; KOR 695

Spanish emphasis majors choose from the following: CHIN 305; ITAL 305; JAPN 305; JAPN 306; JAPN 307; JAPN 308; JAPN 309; JAPN 310; JAPN 311; JAPN 405; JAPN 408; KOR 395; KOR 695

All majors may take a total of no more than two non-WLC courses to satisfy WLC MLOs. For this MLO choose from the following: HCOM 322; HCOM 324; HCOM 326; HCOM 328; HCOM 329; HCOM 344; HCOM 345; HCOM 346; HCOM 455; LS 362; SBS 325; SBS 348; SBS 365; SBS 369; SBS 381; SBS 382; SBS 383

WLC MLO 7 Cultural Praxis ~ 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.

WLC 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.