Foreign Languages and Literatures

• Chair: John Iverson, Foreign Languages and Literatures

Please refer to the Chinese, French, German Studies, Japanese, and World Literature sections of this catalog.

Placement in language courses: Students who have previously studied a foreign language in secondary school, college, or elsewhere must take a placement test before enrolling in a course in the same foreign language at Whitman College. Each language area places students in the appropriate level of language study after considering the results of the placement examinations and the individual circumstances of the student. The French and German Studies tests first must be reviewed by the language faculty, who then will place students at the correct level and subsequently notify the Registrar’s Office.

Students with no previous language experience are not required to take the placement examination.

Students who have already taken a foreign language course at the college level cannot repeat the same level course and receive both transfer and Whitman credit for it. Placement of students who wish to continue studying that language at Whitman will be based on placement test results. Repeat of equivalent coursework will result in Whitman credit with the forfeiture of equivalent transfer credit.

Note: Courses taken P-D-F prior to the declaration of a language major or minor will satisfy course and credit requirements for the major or minor. Courses taken P-D-F after the major or minor has been declared may not be used to satisfy course and credit requirements for the major or minor.

Distribution Requirements:

Humanities:

All courses in foreign languages and literatures
All world literature courses taught by members of the department of foreign languages and literatures

Cultural Pluralism:

All courses in Chinese, French, German, and Japanese

Notes: The same course cannot fulfill both the humanities and cultural pluralism distribution areas. With the exception of Chinese 491 and 492 and Japanese 491 and 492, courses designated Independent Study will not satisfy either the humanities or the cultural pluralism distribution requirements.

101-104 Special Topics in Foreign Languages
2-4

Occasional offering of courses in foreign languages not regularly taught at Whitman. Distribution area: none.

181, 182 Independent Study
1-3, 1-3

Directed study at the beginning level of a language not regularly taught at Whitman. The proposed course of study must be approved by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Offerings will depend on the availability of instructional faculty. Prerequisites: consent of instructor.

220-222 Special Topics in Foreign Languages
1-4, 1-4

Occasional offering of courses in foreign languages not regularly taught at Whitman. Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Distribution area: none.

281, 282 Independent Study
1-3, 1-3

Directed study at the intermediate level of a language not regularly taught at Whitman. The proposed course of study must be approved by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Offerings will depend on the availability of instructional faculty. Prerequisites: consent of instructor.