Foreign Languages and Literatures

Pamela Cheek, Chair
Ortega Hall 229B
MSC03 2080
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131–0001
(505) 277–4771
pcheek@unm.edu

Programs: Arabic, Chinese, Classical Studies, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, East Asian Studies, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Italian, Japanese, Languages, Latin, Russian

Affiliated Programs: Biblical Hebrew, Sanskrit (Religious Studies), Navajo (Diné) or other Native American languages (Linguistics), Swahili (Africana Studies)

Professors
Monica S. Cyrino, Ph.D., Yale University–Classics
Francis Higginson, Ph.D., University of California (Berkeley)–French

Associate Professors
Susanne Baackmann, Ph.D., University of California (Berkeley)–German
Stephen Bishop, Ph.D., University of Michigan–French
Lorna Brau, Ph.D., New York University–Japanese
Pamela Cheek, Ph.D., Stanford University–French and Comparative Literature
Lorenzo F. Garcia Jr., Ph.D., University of California (Los Angeles)–Classics
Tania Ivanova-Sullivan, Ph.D., Ohio State University–Russian
Carmen Nocentelli, Ph.D., Stanford University–Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
Katrin Schroeter, Ph.D., Brown University–German
Rajeshwari Vallury, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh–French

Assistant Professors
Xiang He, Ph.D., New York University–Chinese and Comparative Literature
Emma Trentman, Ph.D., Michigan State University–Arabic
Osman Umurhan, Ph.D., New York University–Classics

Lecturers
Machiko Bomberger, M.A., Columbia University–Japanese
Rachele Duke, Ph.D., University of California (Los Angeles)–Italian
Irina Vasilyeva Meier, Ph.D., University of South Carolina–Russian
Marina Peters-Newell, Ph.D., University of Washington–French, Lower–Division Coordinator
Heather Sweetser, M.A., Ohio State University–Arabic
Jason Wilby, Ph.D., University of California (Irvine)–German
Peng Yu, M.A., George Mason University–Chinese

Visiting Lecturer
Luke Gorton, Ph.D., Ohio State University–Classics

Faculty Emeriti
Bruno Hannemann, Ph.D., University of California (Berkeley)–German
Robert Jespersen, Ph.D., Stanford University–German
Natasha Kolchevska, Ph.D., University of California (Berkeley)–Russian
Byron Lindsey, Ph.D., Cornell University–Russian
Peter K. Pabisch, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Urbana–Champaign)–German
Walter Putnam, Ph.D., University of Paris III, France–French and Comparative Literature
Diana Robin, Ph.D., University of Iowa–Classics
Claude M. Senninger, Ph.D., University of Paris–French
Warren S. Smith, Ph.D., Yale University–Classics

Undergraduate Programs

Majors

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers undergraduate degrees in the following fields of study:

B.A. in Classical Studies
B.A. in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
B.A. in East Asian Studies
B.A. in French
B.A. in German
B.A. in Languages
B.A. in Russian

Minors

Minors are also available in the following:

Arabic
Chinese
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Languages
Latin
Russian

Undergraduate Advisors

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Carmen Nocentelli– nocent@unm.edu
Arabic: Dr. Emma Trentman– etrentman@unm.edu (Fall 2017 contact Heather Sweetser– hsweetser@unm.edu)
Chinese: Dr. Xiang He– xhe@unm.edu
Classical Studies: Dr. Osman Umurhan– umurhan@unm.edu
Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies: Dr. Francis Higginson– fhigginson@unm.edu
East Asian Studies: Dr. Lorna Brau– lbrau@unm.edu (Fall 2017 contact Dr. Pamela Cheek– pcheek@unm.edu)
French: Dr. Stephen Bishop– sbishop@unm.edu
German: Dr. Susanne Baackmann– theodor@unm.edu
Greek: Dr. Lorenzo F. Garcia, Jr.– lfgarcia@unm.edu
Italian: Rachele Duke– rduke@unm.edu
Japanese: Dr. Lorna Brau– lbrau@unm.edu (Fall 2017 contact Machiko Bomberger– machib@unm.edu)
Languages: Dr. Jason Wilby– jwilby@unm.edu
Latin: Dr. Osman Umurhan– umurhan@unm.edu
Russian: Dr. Tania Ivanova-Sullivan– tivanova@unm.edu (Fall 2017 contact Dr. Irina Vasilyeva Meier– imeier@unm.edu)

Placement

101 courses are reserved for students who have not previously studied the language in which they plan to enroll. Students who have had previous exposure to a language and plan to continue the study of the same language must consult the appropriate advisor. Students who enroll in advanced courses may obtain credit by the challenge procedure for any courses below the level of the one in which they enroll.

How to Challenge a Course for Credit

Students may obtain credit for a lower–division language course by completing a course at a higher level with a grade of "A" or "B." For example, one could challenge French 101 and 102 on the basis of obtaining a "B" in French 201. Upon completing this requirement, the student must first go to the A&S Advisement Center and fill out a Course Challenge form. The student may then pay for the lower–division credit hours at the regular UNM tuition rate.

Graduate Programs

Majors

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers graduate degrees in the following fields of study:

M.A. in Comparative Literatures and Cultural Studies
M.A. in French
M.A. in German Studies
Ph.D. in French Studies

All graduate programs are administered by a Graduate Committee composed of three members of the FLL graduate faculty, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chairperson of FLL. Except for the internal regulations and requirements outlined below, all degree programs are subject to the terms of The University of New Mexico Catalog in effect at the time a student is admitted into a specific program.

All graduate students must demonstrate proficiency in another language either through a four-semester sequence of course work, a proficiency exam, or proof of equivalent knowledge acquired elsewhere.

Graduate Advisors

Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Lorenzo F. Garcia, Jr.– lfgarcia@unm.edu
Classics: Dr. Lorenzo F. Garcia, Jr.– lfgarcia@unm.edu
Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies: Dr. Francis Higginson– fhigginson@unm.edu
German Studies: Dr. Katrin Schroeter– katja@unm.edu
French and French Studies: Dr. Stephen Bishop– sbishop@unm.edu

Application and Admission

For information about admission to our graduate programs, contact the Director of Graduate Studies or visit the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Web site.

The strongest applicants will have a record of study in the languages and literatures associated with their target field and will be able to demonstrate skills in critical thinking and clear writing. Our small graduate seminars create an environment for focused group learning and for individual achievement; students must be able to work supportively with their peers and effectively on their own. We welcome letters of intent and letters of recommendation that specifically address the applicant's record, skills and aptitude for literary and cultural study.

Assistantships

The Department awards a limited number of assistantships, either as a Teaching Assistant or as a Graduate Assistant. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.