Requirements for Major
Department of Modern Languages

Students are held responsible for understanding and complying with all requirements, including deadlines.

Guidelines for Senior Comprehensive Project
Internship
Student Teaching and Creative Presentation

Forms:
Major Checklist of Requirements and Deadlines
Senior Project - Research Paper
Senior Project - Internship
Student Agreement
Intern Evaluation Form

I. Credit Hours
A major in French, German or Spanish shall consist of a minimum of 31 hours in the language (at the 100 level and above).
Specific requirements within the 31 hours in the language of the major:
Following study abroad:
II. Study Abroad*
Twelve of the 31 hours must be earned in a semester abroad in the language of the major. Upon returning to NWU, students must provide the Department Chair with copies of course syllabi, papers, and exams, when available. These materials will be included in the major’s portfolio and also used for assessment by the Department. [Also, you need to get the “Expectations for the Study Abroad Experience” form from your advisor before studying abroad. This form has more details about what is expected during your study abroad semester(s).]

* Beginning with majors declared Fall 2005 or later.

III. Senior Comprehensive Project.
Students will complete a Senior Comprehensive Project in the language of their major. The Senior Comprehensive, a university-wide requirement usually carried out when one has attained senior status, may be satisfied in a variety of ways in the Department of Modern Languages. The Senior Comprehensive may take the form of a written research paper, an internship, student teaching, or a creative presentation. For projects to be considered, they must be submitted in proposal form to the department chair for approval by the departmental faculty. A detailed description of requirements follows.

During their Junior year, students should discuss interests and possible options with members of the Modern Language Department. Project proposals are due the semester prior to the semester in which they will undertake the project. (You will find the proposal form and deadline for submission in this packet. Proposals must be typed.)

Guidelines for all forms of the Senior Comprehensive Project
  1. The Department of Modern Languages must approve the project proposal the semester prior to beginning the project. Project proposals are due the 9th week of the semester. It is a good idea to turn in your proposal in advance; if your project proposal is not accepted, you will need to submit another project proposal and still meet the deadline.
  2. The completed senior comprehensive project will be reviewed by no fewer than two university professors.
  3. The project, other than student teaching, must be taken for either one or two credit hours. A one-credit hour project will involve 45 hours of work. A two-credit hour project will involve 90 hours.
  4. The senior, in consultation with the Department Chair, needs to request a mentor, normally from within the department, to oversee the project.
  5. The student must meet all deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines will result in a lower grade and may delay graduation. Note: Students studying abroad during their Junior Year must also meet all deadlines.
  6. Student must complete his/her senior project no later than the 14th week of the semester. The department will not process an incomplete on a senior project during the summer or winter recesses.
  7. Senior Project Colloquium: The Monday of the 12th week of classes from 4:00-5:30, the department will host a Senior Project Colloquium in which all majors in the Department of Modern Languages will make a five-minute presentation, in English, of their senior project. This colloquium is an opportunity to share your research and experiences and to receive feedback on your work before turning in your final written papers. Exceptional senior projects may be recognized for Departmental award.


IV. Assessment Requirements
Prior to the Exit Interview you must complete the following steps:

You may obtain your portfolio and assessment forms (reading and speaking) from the Department Chair. Be sure to request these items early enough to allow the Chair time to get them to you. When completed, all materials must be turned in to the Department Chair by the deadline.

V. Exit Interview
The final requirement for majors is to meet with faculty of the Modern Language Department for an Exit Interview. You must allow at least 1 week between turning in the Completed Project and the Exit Interview and the interview must take place no later than the last day of classes in the semester (The student is responsible for scheduling this interview with his/her Project Mentor at least one month in advance).

Before arriving at the interview, the student must have submitted to the department Chair typed answers to the questions listed below. The interview itself involves an informal discussion in the target language about the student’s experiences in the Department of Modern Languages. Specific topics include the Senior Comprehensive, the student’s views on classes, study abroad, the major program, and suggestions for improving the program.

Please remember that you must complete and turn in all assessment requirements before the Exit Interview. See the previous section, “Assessment Requirements” for a list of assessment items.

Exit Interview Questions – answers must be typed
  1. How do you assess your own portfolio? (What you put in; the quality of the language; the change you observe in the language used; etc.)
  2. How do you assess your oral proficiency? In what ways do you see it having changed?
  3. How do you assess your study abroad experience? How did affect your studies and experiences after returning?
  4. Describe situations outside of the classroom in which you have spoken the language in which your are majoring (other than Study Abroad).
  5. Comment on positive aspects of your experience with the language major.
  6. What suggestions for improvements in the major (requirements, courses, professors, etc.) would you make?
  7. Comment on the senior project: what you did; its linguistic and cultural value to you; suggestions for future senior projects.

VI. Deadlines for all Senior Projects*:
*See specific project guidelines for additional deadlines.
Proposal Deadline 11th week of semester before project
Schedule Exit Interview12th week
Senior Project Colloquium12th week (Monday 4-5:30)
Completed Project Deadline14th week
Exit Interview16th week (Culmination Week)

Guidelines for Research Paper

  1. Topic: Research may be any topic related to the target language and cultures affected by the target language (literature, history, politics, culture and civilization, sociology, economics, art and architecture, linguistics, etc.). The research project will result in a 15-page paper written in the target language.
  2. Meetings: Minimum required meetings with your project mentor (see deadlines below – alternate deadlines may be arranged with your Project Mentor):
    1. turn in and discuss initial bibliography, working outline/rough draft
    2. turn in and discuss 2nd rough draft
    3. turn in and discuss 3rd rough draft
  3. Sources: Whereas you may make use of relevant internet materials, you must use and include a minimum of ten print sources.
  4. Format: Use MLA or APA style, according to the subject of the paper.
  5. Content: The department will not accept a research paper focusing on content from a course constituting part of your major.
  6. Presentation: In addition to fielding questions in the target language about the paper during your Exit Interview, you will be making a presentation in English at the Senior Project Colloquium.
  7. Deadlines:

Initiate discussion semester before project
Project proposal / Request project mentor 11th week semester before project
Bibliography, working outline; rough draft7th week
2nd draft10th week
Senior Project ColloquiumMonday 12th week
3rd draft12th week
Schedule Exit Interview12th week
Completed project due14th week
Assessment15th week
Exit interviewculmination week

Guidelines for Internship

It is the responsibility of the student to determine what kind of an experience s/he is looking for, to locate an appropriate opening, to obtain departmental approval prior to undertaking the experience, and to meet all deadlines. (Please note: If you are studying abroad, you must plan ahead in order to meet your deadlines.)

I. Setting Up the Internship
Early during the semester before you plan on completing your Internship (or before), you need to do the following:
  1. Investigate internship possibilities
    You must take the initiative to plan ahead and find a suitable position. Consider where your interests and strengths lie. Find an agency or company where your internship would be of mutual benefit. The internship does not have to be done in Lincoln, and may be done the summer before graduation. If you choose to do your internship abroad, it may not be done the same semester that you are completing the study-abroad requirement.

    You may consult the list of internships provided by the Department. Our list is not exhaustive; you are welcome to find other internship locations. If you have a lead on an organization that is not on the list, let the Internship Coordinator know, and we can make initial contact for you.
  2. Make an appointment to speak with your Project Mentor. We will discuss the various options and help direct you.
  3. Contact the organization and apply for the internship that you choose. You will be expected to interview with the organization. During this interview you should arrive at a detailed description of your job and responsibilities.
  4. Once you have reached an agreement with the supervisor of the intended internship, submit your formal proposal to the Department, detailing the project. The proposal should include the following information:
    • Type of organization
    • Type of work that you will do
    • Type of communication in the language
    • Type of contact with direct supervisor (native speaker?)
    • Why you have chosen this internship


II. Requirements for the Internship
  1. The internship must take place in a setting where the language of the major program is the dominant language.
  2. The internship must comply with credit guidelines. The internship requires 45 logged hours (fifteen weeks at three hours per week) per credit hour. Credit for internships is graded as Pass/Fail.
  3. Interns must maintain regular contact with their project mentor in the Department of Modern Languages during the course of the internship.
  4. Documentation:
    • Internship log (form): Interns must maintain a log of hours in which the dates and times of their internship work are recorded. The Site Supervisor must validate the hours.
    • Journal (typed): Interns must maintain a reflective journal during the course of the internship, written in the target language, that provides a substantial narrative of what they accomplish each time they work, including their experiences and reactions. This journal will be submitted midway through the experience and at the end of the semester.
    • Final paper (typed): At the conclusion of the internship, the student will write a 5-7 page essay in the target language. This paper should not merely repeat reflections or information from the journal, but should be more analytical and comprehensive in nature.
    • Intern Evaluation Forms (Form completed by Site Supervisor) (Form available on-line): Interns are responsible for confirming that their site supervisor has returned the Intern Evaluation Form. No credit can be given until the intern has submitted this form to the department.
  5. Presentation: In addition to fielding questions in the target language about the internship during your Exit Interview, you will be making a presentation in English at the Senior Project Colloquium scheduled for the Monday of the 12th week of the semester from 4:00-5:30.
  6. Deadlines:
    Graduation May 06
    Initiate discussionsemester before project
    Project proposal / Request project mentor 11th week semester before project
    Meet with project mentor4th week
    Journal - part 17th week
    Intern evaluation - part 17th week
    Meet with project mentor11th week
    Senior Project ColloquiumMon. of 12th week
    Schedule Exit Interview12th week
    Completed Project: Final Documentation
    (log, journal, paper, Eval. form)    		14th week
    Assessment15th week
    Exit Interviewculmination week

Guidelines for Student Teaching and Creative Presentation

Please speak with one of the members of the Department for specific guidelines for these projects.


Modern Languages Department Homepage