FRENCH EDUCATION | SPANISH EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF ARTS

The French and Spanish education majors at Mercyhurst offer students hands-on experiences as they prepare to be language teachers in K-12 classrooms. With practicum experiences from the freshman year, our French and Spanish Education majors graduate with strong language skills and deep understanding of best practices in world language education. As the only university to certify French and Spanish education students in the Erie region, our graduates are sought-after by area school districts. However, 45 states have signed teacher certification reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania so language education graduates can teach all over the US.

Language education majors may also add a certification in English as a Second Language to their program, to enhance their employment options, with only three additional courses.

Minors

Arab and Islamic Studies

Students may pursue a minor in this area by taking eight courses, a minimum of four in Arabic language, and the rest in related coursework in religious studies, political science, history, archaeology, etc., and must maintain a 2.5 in the minor.

Asian Studies

Mercyhurst University's Asian studies minor program (formerly East-West studies) is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental minor in Eastern cultures. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall to remain in this minor. In addition, Mercyhurst students must take at least three courses in Asian language and five related courses in either Asian cultures, Japanese literature, Buddhism, Hinduism, Asian politics, world geography or modern Eastern history.

Chinese, French, and Spanish

Mercyhurst students who are interested in pursuing a minor in language, may choose to minor in Chinese, French or Spanish. These minor programs offered through Mercyhurst University's World Languages and Cultures Department offer students courses in language, literature and culture in the student's respective field of study. In addition, Mercyhurst students will have the opportunity to delve into the history of the culture they choose to study.

Students minoring in a Chinese, French or Spanish program must take eight core courses and two upper level courses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the minor.

Russian Studies

Mercyhurst students who are interested in pursuing a minor in language, may choose to minor in Russian studies. This minor program offered through Mercyhurst University's World Languages and Cultures Department offers students courses in Russian language, literature and culture. In addition, Mercyhurst students will have the opportunity to delve into Russian history.

Students minoring in Russian studies must take eight core courses and two upper level Russian language courses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the minor.

Teaching English Language Learners

Whether you’re planning to work in school districts in the U.S. or travel and work overseas, the ability to effectively teach students the English language will open employment opportunities across the board. Students in the Teaching English-Language Learners minor will learn not only the methods for teaching English as an additional language, but also the language acquisition theories, socio-cultural influences, and program development strategies that make for more culturally sensitive and effective instructors (and leaders) of English language education. The minor includes six core courses, one elective, and more than 60 hours of practicum experience working with trained education professionals in preK-12 and adult education.

Learning Outcomes

French/French Education

Speak and understand French at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Read and write in French at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Demonstrate cultural proficiency in cultures that use French
Discuss in both spoken and written French literary and visual texts or cultural artifacts of the target culture
Conduct and produce research in French
Demonstrate understanding of second-language acquisition and the history of foreign-language pedagogy (education majors only)
Demonstrate the ability to apply understanding in practice teaching situations and to analyze and critique the teaching of others (education majors only)

Spanish/Spanish Education

Speak and understand Spanish at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Read and write in Spanish at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
Demonstrate cultural proficiency in cultures that use Spanish
Discuss in both spoken and written Spanish, literary and visual texts or cultural artifacts of the target culture
Conduct and produce research in Spanish
Demonstrate understanding of second-language acquisition and the history of foreign-language pedagogy (education majors only)
Demonstrate the ability to apply understanding in practice teaching situations and to analyze and critique the teaching of others (education majors only)

Oral Proficiency Interview

All language majors sit for the Oral Proficiency Interview in their senior year. The OPI is an independent evaluation of a student’s language proficiency level by an outside evaluator. Students can use the OPI rating, which is recognized internationally, on their resumes and employment or graduate school applications.

French/Spanish Education Program Entrance

Entrance into the French or Spanish Education major at Mercyhurst is determined by the successful completion of SPAN 204: Intermediate Spanish II or FREN 204: Intermediate French II or by the demonstration of equivalent skills on the CLEP, A.P., International Baccalaureate examinations. The student’s candidacy for the degree is confirmed during the Sophomore Review process, when the student presents a portfolio with written and oral work in their language of study as well as evidence of the following:

3.0 GPA
Six credits in mathematics
6 credits in English
48 credit hours of university coursework
Scores from the Basic Skills Testing Requirement as outline by the PA Department of Education.

French/Spanish Education Sophomore Review

As stated above, Mercyhurst students must also successfully pass the Sophomore Review process before formal admittance into the French/Spanish Education major is granted. In order to receive your degree and certification in French/Spanish Education, Mercyhurst students must meet all of the requirements outlined by the Department of Education's section of the university's catalog. Please refer to all standards, policies and admission/retention criteria as specified for all education majors seeking a degree from Mercyhurst University and certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Honors Society

Phi Sigma Iota, international honors society for the study of foreign languages and cultures, is one of the highest honors one can achieve in the field. Language majors and minors are nominated in their junior or senior year based on:

the completion of a 300 level language course (or equivalent)

GPA of 3.0 or higher

recommendation of the language faculty

Induction is held each spring at the annual dinner.

For more information, go to the society's official website at www.phisigmaiota.org.

All majors must maintain an overall 2.5 GPA and at least a 2.75 GPA in world language major courses. World language education majors must also meet all the requirements of the education program. All majors and minors, as well as those students seeking teaching certification, are expected to maintain a portfolio, which will be important for assessment at Sophomore Review, before a student is permitted to student teach, and prior to graduation. An outline of requirements for the portfolio, which includes written and oral work, can be obtained from the student's language adviser or from the department director.