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This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

Minor in Literatures, Cultures, and Languages

The Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages offers two undergraduate minors that draw upon courses in literature and language within the division's departments and elsewhere in the University.

Course work in these minors may not duplicate work counted toward language majors or other minors. Advanced Placement credit and transfer credit do not apply to the minors. All courses must be taken for a letter grade. By University policy, no more than 36 units may be awarded in these minors.

Prospective minors should obtain a Minor Declaration form from the DLCL office of undergraduate student services.

MINOR IN LITERATURE

The minor in Literature allows students from any major to develop skills in the interpretation and criticism of literature, while acquiring a familiarity with types of literature from different national traditions and periods. Students must complete 30 units of course work on literature or literary theory. Courses may be in the original language or in translation.

The courses must include a minimum of:

  1. One course on literary theory or the history of criticism.
  2. One course on literature prior to the eighteenth century.
  3. One course on literature reflecting perspectives outside of the European traditions.
  4. One course from each of three distinct national or linguistic traditions from among Arabic, Chinese, English (including Anglophone literatures broadly conceived), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Yiddish, and other national or linguistic traditions when appropriate courses are available. The pre-eighteenth-century course and the non-European course may be counted toward fulfilling this requirement.
  5. Courses from two different genres such as poetry, drama, and prose fiction. Theory does not count as a genre.
  6. One course requiring a research paper.

Students must consult with the minor adviser for approval of courses to meet these requirements. Second-year foreign language courses are not normally counted unless the syllabus reflects a primary emphasis on the reading of literature. Students are encouraged to acquire second-language skills and to explore courses in related disciplines; such courses, however, are not counted toward the 30 units required for the minor in Literature.

Course work in the minor may not duplicate work counted toward specific language majors or minors. Neither Advanced Placement credit nor transfer credit may be applied to the minor. All courses applied to the minor must be Stanford courses. At least 25 units of the course work must be taken for a letter grade.

The DLCL office of undergraduate student services verifies course work for the minor. The minor in Literature must be approved by a divisional faculty member designated by the DLCL.

MINOR IN MODERN LANGUAGES

The minor in Modern Languages is offered to students who want to supplement the course work in their major with course work in modern languages and literatures. The minor must be approved by the directors of undergraduate studies of the respective language departments. Students in any field qualify for the minor by meeting the following requirements:

  1. A minimum of 20 units at the intermediate level (second year) or beyond in two languages other than English offered by the DLCL. Normally, this involves 12 units in each language.
  2. At least one additional course whose subject code ends in -LIT or -GEN in each modern language in '1' above. These courses should be taught by Academic Council members or other senior members of the faculty. In the case of Slavic or Asian languages, the course should be marked as advanced.

Students are recommended to study, work, or intern abroad for at least eight weeks at a location where one of the languages is spoken.

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