Each student must demonstrate reading proficiency in two modern languages of secondary scholarship (other than English) of direct relevance to their proposed subject of study. One of these languages must be either French or German. The second of these languages will be determined by the student's adviser in view of the student's proposed subject of study and the guidelines set out by the NELC sub-field. The student must demonstrate reading proficiency in one modern language by the beginning of the Fall semester of the second year of study. Students who have failed to do so will be placed into unsatisfactory status. The student must demonstrate reading proficiency in the second modern language by the beginning of the Fall semester of the third year of study. Students who have failed to do so will be placed into unsatisfactory status. Students will not be permitted to take General Examinations until six months after fulfilling the modern language requirements, so that they may credibly include articles and books in the research languages on their bibliographies. Applications to the PhD will be reviewed with this requirement in mind.
Advisors must assist their advisees in acquiring the needed proficiency, which, inter alia, will mean building language training into the planning of student programs in the first two years. Where necessary (as determined by the advisor) students will be advised to take three graduate level courses in one or both semesters of the first year, freeing up space to take a course or two in the required modern language. In addition, it will be the responsibility of advisors to work with their advisees to identify the best summer language program in the required language. Students will be expected to make use of the summer grants they receive as part of their funding package to attend such programs. Advisors will be expected to strongly encourage their (prospective) advisees to begin their language work before they arrive, either in the summer after they are admitted, or even earlier, where practicable.
Note: Courses in the languages of modern scholarship do not count toward the required sixteen 4.0 credit courses or the equivalent (see above).
Language exams in French and German are scheduled three times a year, ordinarily near the beginning of each term, and then again during Reading Period in the spring. Follow the links for sample French and German exams.
