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College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 632
October 17, 2002
Recommendation of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the L&S Course and Curriculum Committee to Establish a Minor in Portuguese
- Program Identification
| 1.1 |
Title of Program: Minor in Portuguese |
| 1.2 |
Department or Functional Equivalent: Department of Spanish and Portuguese |
| 1.3 |
School, College, or Functional Equivalent: College of Letters and Science |
| 1.4 |
Timetable for Initiation: Spring, 2002-2003 |
- Program Description
The minor in Portuguese consists of 18 credits in Portuguese courses numbered 203 or above. Since Portuguese is a less-commonly taught language, achieving proficiency is a part of the minor. Many students enter the university with experience in commonly taught languages, such as Spanish or French. Due to this prior experience, it often is much easier for students to achieve proficiency in one of these languages and then begin working on a minor in that language. For less-commonly taught languages, such as Portuguese, the study of grammar demonstrates an interest in the language and a desire for further study. Because students come with little or no preparation in Portuguese, it seems appropriate to count toward the minor all credits earned beyond the first-year courses. This minor is structured after similar minors at UC-Berkeley, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Kansas. It also is similar in number of credits and requirements to the minor in Business Spanish and the minor in Italian at UWM.
- Rationale
UWM hired a full-time assistant professor in Portuguese and officially began building a Portuguese language program in 2001. Portuguese had been offered irregularly prior to that time. Enrollments for 2001-2002 have doubled those of 2000-2001. Multiple sections of first-semester Portuguese are being offered in Fall, 2002. In order to facilitate the study of Portuguese and to encourage students to continue with language study into upper-division courses, a minor is necessary. Nine current Portuguese language students have expressed interest in pursuing a minor in Portuguese, if it were available.
- Relation to Institutional Mission, Strategic Plan, Goals and Objectives
Portuguese language study complements UWM's commitment to the Milwaukee metropolitan area through the Milwaukee Idea. A number of large and small corporations in the greater Milwaukee area recently have acquired interests in Brazil. Harley-Davidson, S.C., Johnson Wax, Bemis Manufacturing, and Rockwell International are just a few. A number of these businesses have expressed an interest in providing paid student internships for UWM students who are proficient in Portuguese. A Portuguese minor will encourage students to achieve proficiency and communicative skills in Portuguese that the students later can use in the workplace.
- Relation to Other Academic Programs in the UW System, the Region, and, if Appropriate, the Nation
Portuguese is offered at only two universities in the entire state of Wisconsin: UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. Madison has both undergraduate and graduate programs. UWM is the only school in the Milwaukee area that offers the language. A minor in Portuguese at UWM will not affect the Portuguese program at Madison, since these two campuses offer different environments for their students and Portuguese in not necessarily a primary "draw" that encourages a student to choose Madison over Milwaukee. Also, UW-Madison does NOT offer an undergraduate minor in Portuguese, only a major. The availability of a Portuguese minor at UWM may encourage some students to go on to Madison for further study of the language.
- Projected Source of Resources
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese currently has one full-time assistant professor of Portuguese. Additional resources will be needed only if classroom demand requires the appointment of TAs and/or part-time lecturers. In such cases, it is expected that tuition revenue will cover the cost of these hires. The administrative aspects of the new minor (processing declaration of the minor, advising, clearance for graduation) will be handled by the existing structures in the Department and the College.
- Special Comments
The following is the description that will be placed in the UWM Undergraduate Catalog:
Course of Study: Minor in Portuguese
The minor in Portuguese consists of 18 credits of Portuguese taken in courses numbered 203 or above. Nine credits must taken at the 300 level or above in residence at UWM. Students with no previous Portuguese language experience should enroll in Portugs 103. After consultation with the Portuguese coordinator, a student may enroll in a course higher than 103, if appropriate. Students placed into a course beyond the 103 level, who complete their first course with a grade of at least B, may receive retroactive credits, to a maximum of 14 credits, for the courses leading to the one into which they placed.
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