Proposal for new minor Rev. 04/03/2016 A. Program Identification
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Proposal for new minor Rev. 04/03/2016 A. Program Identification 1. Title of the proposed minor: Linguistics Minor 2. Mode of delivery: Primarily in­person; however, occasional individual course sections may be offered blended or online 3. Department(s) or functional equivalent: English Department 4. Proposed date of implementation: Spring 2017 5. Projected enrollment by year five of the minor: 25 B. Description of the Program 1. Describe why the minor is being proposed and what evidence there is for demand for this program. “Linguistics is the scientific study of language…. At the heart of linguistics is an understanding of the unconscious knowledge that humans have about language; how children acquire language; the structure of language in general and of particular languages; how languages vary; [and] how language influences the way in which we interact with each other and think about the world” (Macaulay & Syrett, “ Why Major in Linguistics? ”, a publication of the Linguistic Society of America). The proposers believe there is both a need and a demand for a Linguistics Minor at UW­L. A recent search for “linguist” on a popular national employment website resulted in >1000 hits spanning the public and private sectors. Some examples: The U.S. government is hiring individuals with a background in linguistics to work in areas such as national security and international relations. Sales and marketing professionals with knowledge of how human language functions are being sought to develop more effective product messaging, sales training, and customer service, because many companies rely on linguistic analysis of recorded calls or of sales force interaction with potential customers. In especially high demand are individuals with training in both computer science and linguistics for the ever­growing number of applications utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP), including speech recognition software, gaming, robotics, and machine learning. Some of these positions require only a Bachelor’s degree; a Linguistics Minor in addition to one of the already existing UW­L majors could make UW­L graduates more attractive to those employers. Many of these positions, especially in NLP, require graduate degrees; a Linguistics Minor could give UW­L graduates a competitive advantage when applying to graduate programs in fields as diverse as English, Anthropology, Computer Science, Engineering, Educational Studies, Marketing, Human Resources Management, and, of course, Linguistics. Also to consider are the many careers and other post­graduation plans that do not require a background in linguistics but are nonetheless inherently connected to issues of language structure and usage. Some examples: Pre­service teachers at all grade levels would benefit from more sustained, in­depth exploration of language structure and linguistic diversity. Artistic endeavors such as creative writing and theatrical production rely on awareness of dialect representation and language attitudes. Politicians at local, state, and federal levels may be asked to address issues of language planning and policy. 2. Describe how the minor fits into the institutional program array, including possible positive and negative impacts of the minor on existing programs. UW­L curriculum emphasizes an importance in becoming experts in a major field of study, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of a second field. The Linguistics Minor will add a much needed and desired area of study not found in any existing majors, let alone minors, on the UW­L campus. The goal of this minor is to give students a well­balanced understanding of human language, its structure and uses, and its impact on our world. Students who acquire an understanding of linguistic structure, non­English languages, and the role of language in everyday life are better suited for meeting the challenges of their post­graduation careers in our global, multilingual world. The Linguistics Minor will add to the existing interdisciplinary programs, facilitating cross­departmental and cross­college connections among students and faculty. Though housed in English, foundational requirements of the minor are also drawn from Modern Languages and Archaeology/Anthropology, and electives include courses from five other departments. We anticipate that the Linguistics Minor will bring together students from a variety of majors who are already interested in issues of linguistics and language. Rather than increasing competition for students across departments, we anticipate that the minor will help our current programs share our knowledge and resources, bridging common interests and creating new ties across the UW­L Schools and Colleges. There are some anticipated negative impacts of the Linguistics Minor, primarily in terms of the administration of the program. A faculty member will need to coordinate the program; however, the core faculty in English, Modern Languages, and Archaeology/Anthropology that contribute to the program will share the work related to future program assessment and revision. (See Section 3 for details.) 3. Describe the collaborative nature of the minor. The Linguistics Minor will draw upon already existing courses in a number of CLS departments and the School of Education. Primary courses come from Archaeology/Anthropology, English, and Modern Languages. Leadership for the minor will also come from these three departments. Additional courses to complete the minor will come from the departments of Communication Studies, Educational Studies (Special Education), History, Philosophy, and Psychology. By relying upon collaboration among the three primary departments in CLS, as well as already existing courses in four additional CLS departments, this minor capitalizes on the interdisciplinary strengths of CLS while also ensuring that no additional resources are needed to develop or maintain the minor. As previously mentioned, the program will be housed in English; however, a three­year rotating Linguistics Minor Coordinator (hereafter “Coordinator”) role will be established. The selection criteria and process for appointing the Coordinator will be documented through shared language in the bylaws of Archaeology/Anthropology, English, and Modern Languages, and the position will be open to any member of the faculty from these three departments. Because the program will be housed in English, the Coordinator, in consultation with core faculty members across the participating departments, will utilize existing procedures for assessment and curricular change already documented in the English Department bylaws. 4. Provide a brief overview of the learning outcomes and/or program objectives and curriculum. The 18­19 credit Linguistics Minor is organized around three foundational courses: “Introduction to Linguistics” or “The Study of Language” (ENG 331 or MLG 340.); “Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology” (ANT 196); and a 102­level or higher language course.1 Students would also choose an elective in each of three areas: linguistic structure (3 cr.), sociolinguistics/linguistic anthropology (3 cr.), and general linguistics (3 cr.). While some linguistics programs at other universities focus solely on either language structure (phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics) or language use (sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, pragmatics), the proposed minor at UW­L would require students to complete multiple requirements in each of these areas. Since there is currently no linguistics major, the minor has been designed to make it an attractive and useful addition to a major program in any of the UW­L Colleges or Schools. For example, education majors interested in language diversity, acquisition, and usage often add the TESOL minor. However, the TESOL minor does not go as in­depth into linguistic structure or sociolinguistics as some students desire. English majors often express interest in taking more linguistics courses after completing ENG 331 (“Introduction to Linguistics”); however, it is challenging for them to take subsequent courses, as the courses do not fulfill additional program requirements. The Linguistics Minor will give students a path that leads to both additional linguistic knowledge and a certified minor. Students who complete the Linguistics Minors should be able to: ● Explain the underlying tenets of modern linguistic theory as they apply to the systematicity of human language; ● Accurately describe key biological, cognitive, and social aspects of human language; ● Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to analyze the phonetic, phonological, morphological, semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic systems of a non­native language and support their analyses with appropriate methods and sufficient evidence; ● Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to analyze the social nature and role of language in society and cultures; ● Apply knowledge of core principles of linguistic theory to discussions of language variation, language change, and language acquisition; and ● Use linguistic terminology appropriately. 5. Describe resources needs for the minor. All required courses are already being offered as part of regular course rotations in each of the participating departments. Several courses in each elective category are also offered on regular rotation. As already indicated, the participating departments will have to revise bylaws and select a Coordinator who will oversee assessment and curricular development and will be the primary contact person for advising. Due to the small projected size of the minor in its first few years, no reassignment time will be needed for the Coordinator. Unless the minor grows beyond what has been projected, therefore, the minor can be fully supported with current courses and faculty. 1 Some students will be able to replace the language requirement with a general linguistics elective; see CIM for more details. Program Change Request New Program Proposal Date Submi ed: 04/03/16 1:44 pm Viewing: : Linguis cs Minor Last edit: 04/21/16 5:37 pm Changes proposed by: smann Changes made by: Stephen Mann ‐ 02/25/16 4:35 pm Natalie Eschenbaum ‐ 04/07/16 10:29 pm Chris ne Bakkum ‐ 04/21/16 5:37 pm In Workflow 1. ENGDEPT Chair 2. CLS College Academic Oversight Commi ee Chair 3. CLS Assistant to the Dean 4. CLS College Dean or Associate Dean 5. Faculty Senate Chair Effec ve Catalog: 2016‐2017 Effec ve Term: Fall 2016 7. Registrar Applies to students in: All Catalogs 8. UCC Curriculum Commi ee Chair 6. University APC Approval 9. Faculty Senate Chair 10. Records Office 11. Program/Plan Code Role 12. Advisement Report Role 13. Catalog Role Provide a jus fica on for your catalog choice. Be sure to indicate when this change would be effec ve and how it would impact current students: College/School: Department/Program: Level: Program Type: Approval Path This would allow students in older catalogs to add the minor to their current program of study. 1. 04/07/16 10:50 pm College of Liberal Studies Natalie Eschenbaum (neschenbaum): English Approved for ENGDEPT Undergraduate Chair Minor Program Code: Title Linguis cs Minor Is this a teacher educa on program? No Number of credits required: 18‐19 2. 04/13/16 5:01 pm Patricia Stovey (pstovey): Approved for CLS College Academic Oversight Commi ee Chair 3. 04/15/16 1:39 pm Sandra Keller (skeller): Approved for CLS Approved for CLS Assistant to the Dean Program or Policy Requirements and Descrip on 4. 04/15/16 2:12 pm Charles Mar n‐Stanley (All colleges) 18‐19 credits Courses listed in more than one category may be counted only once. At least 12 credits must be in courses at or above the 300‐level. Founda ons ENG 331 6 Introduc on to Linguis cs or MLG 340 The Study of Language ANT 196 Introduc on to Linguis c Anthropology Language 1,2 Select one of the following: CHI 102 Elementary Chinese II CHI 201 Intermediate Chinese I CHI 202 Intermediate Chinese II ESL 250 ESL Speaking ESL 252 ESL Wri ng/Grammar FRE 102 Elementary French II FRE 201 Intermediate French I FRE 202 Intermediate French II GER 102 Elementary German II GER 201 Intermediate German I GER 202 Intermediate German II MLG 102 World Languages: Elementary II MLG 201 World Languages: Intermediate I MLG 202 World Languages: Intermediate II MLG 204 Heritage Language: Intermediate RUS 102 Elementary Russian II RUS 201 Intermediate Russian I RUS 202 Intermediate Russian II SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II SPA 103 Elementary Spanish I and II SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I SPA 202 Intermediate Spanish II SPE 207 Teaching and Learning about Deafness and Communica on I SPE 214 Teaching and Learning about Deafness and Communica on II Linguis c Structure Select one of the following: ENG 330 History of the English Language ENG 332 Modern English Grammars FRE 301 Sound, Speech, and Proficiency 3‐4 3 GER 330 German Conversa on and Phone cs MLG 306 Introduc on to Second Language Acquisi on SPA 331 SPA 460 Spanish Phone cs Introduc on to Hispanic Linguis cs Sociolinguis cs/Linguis c Anthropology 3 Select one of the following: ANT 375 Language, Power, and Inequality CST 332 Intercultural Communica on CST 334 Gender Communica on CST 337 Communica on and Race ENG 334 Language Study for Teachers Elec ve 2 3 Select at least one of the following: ANT 375 ANT 399 ARC/HIS 368 ARC/HIS 369 CST 332 CST 334 CST 337 ENG 330 ENG 332 ENG 334 ENG 338 ENG 403 ENG 439 FRE 301 GER 330 MLG 306 PHL 302 PHL 311 PSY 436 SPA 331 SPA 460 SPE 431 Total Credits Language, Power, and Inequality Anthropology Forum 3 History of Babylonian Language and Culture I History of Babylonian Language and Culture II Intercultural Communica on Gender Communica on Communica on and Race History of the English Language Modern English Grammars Language Study for Teachers Linguis cs and Literature Individual Projects 3 Topics in Linguis cs Sound, Speech, and Proficiency German Conversa on and Phone cs Introduc on to Second Language Acquisi on Symbolic Logic Philosophy of Language Psychology of Language Spanish Phone cs Introduc on to Hispanic Linguis cs Language Development and Communica on Disorders 18‐19 1All courses in this category will also sa sfy General Educa on requirements except SPE 207 and SPE 214. 2Students who are able to demonstrate proficiency in a second language may choose to take a second elec ve in lieu of the language requirement. Second language proficiency may be demonstrated by one of the following: Advanced Placement (AP) foreign language score of 3 or higher; Placement into a 201 level or higher modern language course at UW‐L; For non‐na ve speakers of English: A score of 70 or higher on the La Crosse Ba ery; For heritage language speakers: Consulta on with the administrator of the Linguis cs Minor. 3 When appropriately focused.
