Campus illustration
On

Courses

Spring 2025

Instructor - Huichun Liang

6 credits

Multiple sections available: MTWRF 10-10:50AM, MTWRF 1-1:50PM

This course is designed for students who finished elementary Chinese I, or the equivalent.  Emphasis will be placed on all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).  After successful completion of this course, students will be able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese regarding everyday topics with a vocabulary of about 800 words. Students will also have a solid foundation in the character writing skills, basic linguistic structures, listening skills related to daily conversation, and pronunciation necessary for further study of the language. 

 

Instructor - Michael Volz

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45PM

The goal of this course is for students to gain a basic understanding of the people, culture, and nation of present-day China.  Since the present cannot be understood without knowledge of the past, we will approach this goal by building knowledge of China's history, traditional religions, philosophy, arts, literature, food, customs, and language with a focus on how these traditional aspects of Chinese culture are manifested in and influence modern day China.  

The course is divided into 3 broad themes: Traditional China, Modern China, and Life and Arts in China. Since this is a survey course, it is also hoped that students will come away with a desire to explore the subject more deeply. 

Instructor - Michael Volz

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:00-12:50P

This course is a continuation of Intermediate Chinese 1 (3rd semester Chinese) and builds on the basic vocabulary and language skills learned in that class. In this course students will be introduced to more complex grammatical constructions, and will extend their ability to use those constructions for both written and oral communication.

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese regarding everyday topics with a vocabulary of just over 1600 words. 

Instructor - Huichun Liang

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50P

This course aims to develop students' competence in advanced Chinese with an emphasis on the improvement of speaking, reading and writing skills. Different meaningful contexts will be created and provided. Students will be encouraged to actively involved and be engaged in different kinds of communicative tasks that require the use of the vocabulary words, grammatical patterns, discourse device, and cultural information learned in this class. Through learning and discussing the topics, such as childhood, describing a person, and music, students learn to express themselves in descriptively, persuasively, critically, and philosophically. 

 

Instructor - Huichun Liang

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-9:50PM

This course is a general introduction to the fiction, poetry, and essays of twentieth century China in the context of history. Students will read major works from the May 4th Period, the era of social realism, the Cultural Revolution, and the post-Mao era. Students are expected to savor the ingenuity of Chinese modern and contemporary Chinese literature and to conjure up pictures of Chinese literature development.  Authors to be discussed include Lu Xun, Lao She, Ba Jin, Mao Dun, Ding Ling, Zhang Ailing, Xu Zhimo, Wang Meng, Su Tong, and women and native writers from Taiwan and Hong kong.  Through studying these texts, we will approach these works for what they can tell us about the experience of living in a world of radical changes, but also to understand and appreciate their artistry and diversity as works of literature.  All literature readings will be in English. No knowledge of Chinese language or culture is necessary.

Instructor - Michael Volz

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-3:15PM

This course provides an introduction to the development of 20th century Chinese film and an exploration of contemporary China through film. Students will be introduced to samples of film genres currently popular in China as well as popular films of earlier times, which are still ingrained in the national consciousness. Our attention will be mainly focused on films produced in mainland China beginning in the 1980's. Through these films and accompanying readings, we will explore how present-day Chinese understand their own history, and the issues that they face in their drive towards modernization in a global context. 

5 credits

Multiple times available: MTWR 9:00-9:50AM, MTWR 10:00-10:50AM, MoTuWeTh 8:00AM-8:50AM, MoTuWeTh 12:00PM-12:50PM

FRENCH 1100 is a beginner French course devoted to the acquisition of basic communicative structures and vocabulary for daily life.  It will be conducted in French with emphasis on practical and meaningful communication.  French 1100 will also introduce the student to the culture of France and Francophone regions of the world. 

The aim of the course is to develop the ability to communicate in French through listening, reading, writing and speaking with a particular emphasis on oral communication. Class time will be primarily devoted to oral activities (conversations, surveys, partner-work, group discussions, etc.) while the time outside of class will be spent preparing for classes, reviewing materials, grammar and vocabulary exercises, and practicing your written French skills.

5 credits

Multiple times available: MTWR 9:00-9:50AM, MTWR 10:00-10:50AM, MoTuWeTh 11:00AM-11:50AM, MoTuWeTh 12:00PM-12:50PM

FRENCH 1200 is the continuation of French 1100 and is designed for those who have taken French 1100 or who have studied some French elsewhere. You must have earned at least a C- in French 1100 to continue to French 1200. In this course, you will continue to progress in speaking, listening reading and writing in French.

Since using the language is the goal of the course, rather than mere passive knowledge of the rules, participation in class is essential. The course is conducted primarily in French, and you will be expected to ask and answer questions, interact with other students, and participate actively in French. Because the study of a foreign language is cumulative – with each new lesson building on structures and vocabulary from previous lessons – it is extremely important that you do not fall behind in your work in French.

You will usually have online homework that will prepare you for class. After each class, other required online and assigned homework will help you to practice the new lesson. The online work will help you memorize structures and vocabulary. Verb conjugations will need to be memorized at home. Finally, additional classroom practice will help you to actively use the vocabulary and structures you have worked on at home and to get out of it. Your participation is what will make the class fun! 

3 credits

Multiple times available: MTWR 9:00-9:50AM, MTWR 10:00-10:50AM, MoTuWeTh 11:00AM-11:50AM, MoTuWeTh 12:00PM-12:50PM

FRENCH 2100 is the continuation of French 1200 and is designed for those who have taken French 1200 or who have studied Elementary French elsewhere. You must have earned at least a C- in French 1200 to continue to French 2100. It offers further introduction to the French language and the many cultures it encompasses.

Your course work will allow you to develop all four language skills: reading, speaking, listening and writing along with cultural background necessary to help you to communicate effectively in French. In order to expose you to as much French as possible and to develop your listening and speaking skills, this class is conducted in French. You will see that your ability to understand and to respond will develop quite rapidly.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to understand authentic dialogues and texts, engage in conversations on everyday topics and write compositions. Learning a new language can be very rewarding. We all hope that your experience will be positive and productive.

Instructor - Scott Taylor 

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM

The primary objective of this course is to develop the intermediate-level student's oral and written expression in French. Students will learn how to describe places and objects with greater linguistic sophistication and detail; they will give engaging and highly descriptive portrayals of people's characteristics, personalities, and physical attributes; they will learn how to analyze the various constituent components of a film in order to write a comprehensive and captivating review of it; and they will develop their digital literacy skills in French through the creation of a digital storytelling project. 

Prerequisite: French 2100 or equivalent.

Instructor - Daniel Sipe

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45P
 
In this course you will study history and culture through the objects that define them. From the medieval manuscript to champagne, from the Naopléon’s hat to the Statue of Liberty and beyond, art, artifacts, books, manuscripts, and everyday objects are sites of memory and of historical record. This course takes an object-based approach to learning about French and francophone culture. Readings and discussion in English. Fulfills Humanities / Fine Arts general education requirement.

Instructor - Don Joseph

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50PM

This course delves into the Mediterranean as a dynamic crossroads of cultures, exploring its rich diversity through literature, film, and graphic novels. With themes of migration, queer desire, and the interplay between queer studies, geopolitics, and media, it offers a fresh perspective on a vibrant region. Featuring groundbreaking voices like Amin Maalouf, Abdellah Taïa, and Nina Bouraoui, whose work has brought queer Mediterranean narratives to a global stage, the course invites you to examine Francophone texts on gender, sexuality, and politics. You'll sharpen your critical lens, engaging with both past and present media dialogues, while honing the ability to connect diverse ideas and develop a deep understanding of queer Mediterranean literature and geopolitics.

 

Instructor - Don Joseph

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 3:00-3:50PM


This course is designed to refine and advance your existing French language skills, offering a thorough approach to improving both spoken fluency and written proficiency. Conducted entirely in French, it immerses you in thought-provoking discussions, critical analyses of contemporary issues, and a deep dive into cultural and literary texts. You’ll engage with media excerpts, current events, and collective experiences, all while honing your ability to express complex ideas with clarity and style. Serving as a strong foundation, this course prepares you for more advanced study in cultural analysis and textual interpretation. Prerequisite: French 2160 or equivalent.  Writing Intensive.

 

Instructor - Daniel Sipe

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM - 12:15PM

In this course you will begin to acquire skills that will help you to develop and defend critical perspectives. By critical perspectives, I am referring to a position of reasoned understanding concerning the world around us, especially as it is represented in literature, media, and popular culture. In this course you will refine this crucial skill by learning how to read, analyze, and write about cultural objects. You will find that these skills are useful in almost every area of life.

A critical perspective differs from a mere opinion in these important respects: one arrives at it through an adherence to rules of discovery and analysis; it proposes widely-accepted, reproducible methods; and its outcomes are communicated, for the most part, through stylistic and rhetorical conventions.

Of course this is not to say that, when looking at cultural objects, we can somehow plug data into analytical formulae and arrive at a “correct” answer; what it does imply for us, however, is that, as we consider the cultural field, there are definitely some perspectives that more clearly demonstrate this reasoned understanding of the objects and phenomenon under consideration. In this course you will therefore:

  • develop a basic structural understanding of four major genres of cultural expression (prose, poetry, theater, film), their commonalities and differences;
  • acquire analytical tools and critical vocabulary for analyzing each of these genres;
  • learn to write a coherent analytical essay using techniques of self- and peer correction, dictionary usage, and electronic spell-check;
  • refine your mastery of complex grammatical structure and stylistics;
  • … and all of this EN FRANÇAIS!

Instructor - Scott Taylor

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM - 3:15PM

This course will introduce students to some of the greatest masterpieces of French literature throughout the centuries, from the Middle Ages to the present. Students will learn to analyze and critique poetry, essays, plays, short stories, novels, and films. Some of the authors to be discussed include: Marie de France, Rabelais, Pléiade poets, La Fontaine, Molière, Voltaire, Zola, Symbolist Poets, Camus, and others.

Prerequisite: French 3410 or equivalent.

Instructor - Scott Taylor

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30PM - 3:45PM

This is a semester-long "capstone" experience in French that culminates in an independent research project. The course will involve "journaling" about events students have attended in association with the French section's "Passeport Culturel" program; it will also involve short  oral presentations on current events happening in the French-speaking world. The final, project will allow students to develop their research and presentational skills by focusing on a topic related to French and Francophone Studies that is of personal interest to them. 

Instructor - M.J. Muratore

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM


This seminar is designed as a workshop focused on the principal aspects of scholarly writing. We will consider strategies for development of a meaningful and viable critical thesis; we will explore the means and modes of argument development; we will assess the various aspects of documentation; and we will study the fundaments of style in the context of professional communications. Students will 1) prepare and submit an abstract to a suitably chosen scholarly conference; 2) author a book review for journal submission; and 3) write a scholarly paper suitable for journal publication. COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH and is cross listed with LG_LT_CT 8005 . Open to all qualified graduate students.

5 credits

Multiple days and times available: MTWRF 10:00-10:50AM, MTWRF 11:00-11:50AM

This fun and interactive course will help you develop the foundational skills for using German as a means of communication in personal and professional life. You will explore culture, acquire vocabulary pertaining to day-to-day life, and develop oral, listening, reading, and writing skills.

5 credits

Multiple days and times available: MTWRF 10:00-10:50AM, MTWRF 11:00-11:50AM, MTWRF 1:00-1:50PM

A continuation of German 1100. This participation-centered course builds on German 1100 and will help you develop the skills you need to use German as a means of communication in personal and professional life. You will explore German culture, learn grammatical basics, practice speaking, listening, reading and writing, while engaging with your classmates. Es macht Spaß! 

Recommended: C- or better in German 1100, or equivalent

3 credits

Multiple days and times available: MTWRF 10:00-10:50AM, MTWRF 1:00-1:50PM

A continuation of German 1200, this highly interactive course helps learners develop the skills they need to use German as a means of communication  in their personal and professional life. Students improve their speaking, listening, reading, and skills, their accuracy, and their intercultural competency while engaging with their classmates and learning to express their opinions in another language! Media, government, environmental issues, and social engagement in the German-speaking countries are explored through projects and film. Es macht Spaß! 

Credit Hours: 3, various times available

Recommended: C- or better in German 1200, or equivalent

Instructor - Megan McKinstry

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM

As a bridge course, this participation-centered, fun-focused class will give students the skills they need to thrive in advanced-level German courses. Students will become more comfortable expressing themselves in German; hone their grammatical savvy; develop oral and writing skills and work with texts and videos which provide insight into contemporary German culture. Recommended: C- or better in German 2100, or equivalent

Instructors - Seth Howes and Kristin Kopp

3 credits

Meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00, with discussion sections that meet on Fridays from 10:00-11:00 or 11:00-12:00. May also be taken online and asynchronously.

In this course, we will encounter ideas, events, artifacts, individuals, and groups who shaped German culture from the late 19th century to the present. Major topics of discussion will include:

- German colonialism and the making of the German empire
- the First World War and its political and artistic legacies
- cultural pessimism, critical theory, and National Socialism in Weimar Germany
- the Holocaust and the interpretative paradigms used to understand it
- de-Nazification, military occupation, and democratic re-education after the Second World War; the division of Germany and cultures of the Cold War
- debates about immigration and nationalism in Germany’s post-genocidal society
- post-unification discontents and the rise of the extreme right in Germany today

Familiarizing ourselves with both world-historical changes and everyday realities in German history since 1850, we will develop the critical literacies and interpretative skills necessary to understanding the relationships between historical actors and the history they made, between texts and their contexts, and between media and the messages they carried.

Cannot be taken for foreign language credit, but does have three writing-intensive (WI) sections and will count toward a German minor or major. 

 

Instructor - Sean Ireton

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

This content-driven course provides insights into essential subjects of German history and contemporary society, using a variety of literature, journalistic sources and film.  The course will improve German conversation and literacy skills, and will strengthen critical reading and writing, as well as interpretative abilities.  Significant grammatical concepts will be thoroughly reviewed  throughout the semester.  Conducted in German.   

Instructor - Megan McKinstry

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

This course will introduce students to a wide range of Germanophone literature, including various eras of literary history and major literary genres such as poetry, drama, the short story, and the novella. The course will culminate in the reading of a contemporary novel. Readings and discussions in German.

 

Instructor - Carsten Strathausen

This online asynchronous course is writing intensive. The course takes the most famous European collection of fairy tales, namely the Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales) by the Brothers Grimm as its point of departure. We shall look at the genre of fairy tales, study the historical context of the genesis of the collection of tales, and study modern versions of the tales. We will compare and contrast Grimms’ fairy tales with folk tales of different cultural traditions, analyze and identify the formal structure of fairy tales and motifs, learn about various interpretive models/perspectives and read/view several historical and contemporary literary fairy tales and fairy-tale adaptations. Cultural units will be on Mongolian tales and the Maori culture of New Zealand.

Taught in English.

Instructor - Carsten Strathausen

3 credits

Online, asynchronous

Contemporary culture is haunted by the image of artificial killing machine as metaphor for technology run rampant. Fears may be prompted by feelings of alienation in automated society and underlying suspicion that humans may be nothing more than sophisticated machines. Course maps history of I’homme machine, focusing on fictional representation of creatures that consist of both human and technological “parts.” Goal is to discern source of fascination and sociopolitical mechanism behind evocation of “human machine.” Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. Taught in English; no knowledge of German required.

Instructor: Monika Fischer

3 credits

Online, asynchronous

This writing-intensive course takes the most famous European collection of fairy tales, namely the Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales) by the Brothers Grimm as its point of departure. We shall look at the genre of fairy tales, study the historical context of the genesis of the collection of tales, and study modern versions of the tales. We will compare and contrast Grimms’ fairy tales with folk tales of different cultural traditions, analyze and identify the formal structure of fairy tales and motifs, learn about various interpretive models/perspectives and read/view several historical and contemporary literary fairy tales and fairy-tale adaptations. Cultural units will be on Mongolian tales and the Maori culture of New Zealand. Taught in English; no knowledge of German required.
 

Instructor - Kristin Kopp

3 credits


Note: This class is structured as an 8-week late-spring course with a 2-week study abroad component that starts right after the end of finals week. We will meet 4-6 times on campus in late March-early May, and will meet in Germany from May 18 - June 1. There will be an option to add a 4-week summer intensive language course that meets June 2-27 in Leipzig. If you are interested in this study abroad course, please contact Dr. Kopp (koppkr@missouri.edu).


Course Description: Museums, memorials, and historical structures dot the landscapes of both Leipzig and Berlin everywhere one cares to look. In this two-week intensive course, students will engage with the history and the contemporary culture of each of these two major German cities, while supplementing their in-depth study with visits to Dresden, a city destroyed during World War II – and painstakingly restored in the generations thereafter – and to the memorial and museum complex on the grounds of the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald. In our travels, we will consider how visions of the past, economic and political concerns of the present, and fantasies about the future have shaped (and continue to shape) the memorialization of the past in German cities today. Taught in English.

Instructor - Sean Ireton

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:45PM

This capstone course will expose students to major literary genres such as poetry, the short story, the novella, and the novel. Taught in German. 

 

Instructor - Sean Franzel

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

Enlightenment and Revolution: German Literature and Culture, 1750-1850. Taught in German.

 

Instructor - Seth Howes

3 credits

Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30-4:45PM

The Aesthetics of Resistance (19751981), Peter Weiss’s three-volume magnum opus, is considered one of the most important novels published in German during the Cold War. A sort of Wunschautobiografie [“hypothetical autobiography”] written from the perspective of an antifascist activist whose service as a medic for the Republic in the Spanish Civil War gives way to precarity and exile in Sweden, The Aesthetics of Resistance is also an extended reflection on the capacity of art and literature to both document violence and oppression, and inspire resistance to these enormities. In this seminar, we will supplement our careful reading of this 1,000 page novel with considerations of the same literary texts, historical and archaeological data, and works of visual art that both Weiss and his protagonists consulted to make sense of their respective conjunctures. 

 

Sec 01 (Instructor: Carla Cornette) MoTuWeThFri 10:00-10:50AM in person, with an online, asynchronous lab (6 total credits)

Sec 02 (Instructor: Iva Youkilis) MoTuWeThFri 11:00-11:50AM in person, with an online, asynchronous lab (6 total credits)

Sec 07 (Instructor: Iva Youkilis) MoTuWeThFri 12:00-12:50PM in person, with an online, asynchronous lab (6 total credits)

ITAL 1200 is a 6-credit hour course (5 classroom hours + 1 online lab hour per week) which allows students to fulfill the foreign language requirement in two semesters together with the prerequisite course ITAL 1100. This course is designed for students who have successfully completed ITAL 1100 at Mizzou or who have a good fundamental grasp of the Italian language as demonstrated by equivalent courses taken elsewhere or by an assessment by the instructor. In ITAL 1200, students will continue in their journey of learning Italian grammar, speech, and culture through a variety of written and oral texts and exercises. Throughout the semester, students will continue to develop oral, aural, and written language proficiency in Italian and deepen their knowledge of Italian culture and society. The course will be conducted exclusively in Italian.

Instructor - Roberta Tabanelli 

3 credits

Online, asynchronous

In this interdisciplinary course, students will focus on a broad range of Italian achievements, sociopolitical events, and artistic and literary movements from the Middle Ages to the present. We shall seek to answer the question, “How did the qualities of ‘Italianess’ that make Italy unique arise in history?” by exploring some of the most influential examples of Italian literature, art, music, philosophy, film, and popular culture in their historical context.

Meets Humanities Requirement for Gen Ed. Taught in English

 

Instructor - Carla Cornette

3 credits

Explore the food, geography, history, architecture, and culture of the island of Sicily, a crossroads in the Mediterranean! Sicily’s unique position, situated at the intersection between Italy, Spain, Greece, and North Africa, has resulted in a plurisecular, fascinating mix of diverse peoples and cultural traditions, from the Romans to the Greeks, to north Africans, the Spanish, all of whom have left their traces on Sicilian cuisine, literature, religion, literature, architecture, and art. Prior to departure, students will complete an 8-week asynchronous course on campus in the spring 2025 semester, followed by a two week, coast-to-coast exploration of the island of Sicily led by a professional Sicilian tour guide (abroad dates: 5/18-06/01). No knowledge of Italian is required. Students must apply for the program through the Study Abroad website AND enroll on MyZou (instructor permission required).

 

 

Instructor - Carla Cornette

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

Post-Intermediate Italian builds on the communication skills acquired in ITAL2160. In an immersive environment enhanced with authentic Italian texts, films, and internet resources, students further develop reading, writing, speaking and listening language skills and deepen their knowledge and understanding of Italian cultures. The course will be conducted exclusively in Italian. Prerequisite: ITAL2160 or intermediate-medium/high level of Italian 

 

 

Instructor - Carla Cornette

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM-12:15PM

This course focuses on the historical construction of racialized identity in Italy, i.e., how the notion of Italian-ness was invented ex novo as necessarily white, for what purposes, and how a racialized sense of (non)belonging continues to be reified today through citizenship law, differential human rights, and access to full participation in Italian society and economy. The course will forefront the evolving experiences of Black Italians and their past and current contributions to the nation through their political engagement, artistic production (hiphop music, film, social media, literature), and founding of Black-owned businesses. No prerequisites. Taught in English.

 

 

Instructors: Eric Lancaster and Chieko Kellar

6 credits (3 lecture + 3 lab)

Lecture: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM

Laboratory: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM or 11:00AM-12:15PM

For beginners with some prior knowledge of Japanese. Three hours of lecture instruction and three hours of practice/drill per week in small groups. Prerequisites: C- or better in JAPNSE 1100, or equivalent

 

Instructor: Eric Lancaster

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50PM

Further develops oral and written command of Japanese as well as listening comprehension and further essay writing skills. Prerequisites: C- or better in JAPNSE 2160

 

Instructor: Chieko Kellar

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM


Develops reading and speaking skills and acquisition of more Kanji, vocabulary, and complex structures. Prerequisite: C - or better in Japanese 3160 or permission of instructor

 

Instructor: Eric Lancaster

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

Study of the history, scripts, and performance techniques of Japanese theatre primarily from 14th century through late 19th century. Examines major plays (in English translations) and the cultures that created them. Looks at staging and performance techniques of traditional puppet theatre. Course includes opportunities for stage performances on campus and/or in the community.

Instructor: Eric Lancaster

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM-12:15PM

Continues development of reading, listening, speaking, writing skills, with attention to vocabulary acquisition, expansion of knowledge of kanji, and understanding of complex grammatical structures.  Authentic readings in Japanese literature, exercises using authentic multi-media materials.  Encourages development of student autonomy in language learning with introduction and use of appropriate reference materials.  Prerequisites:  JAPNSE 3380 or equivalent, or instructor's consent.

Instructor: Eunyoung Choi

3 credits

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00-10:50 AM


Intermediate Korean Language 2160 continues to build on the skills students acquired in the second semester of the Korean language series with increasing work in authentic materials and situations in conversation and reading that encourage students to understand the use of the language in social and cultural contexts.
 

Instructor: Eunyoung Choi

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:45PM


This course provides an immersive learning experience in both the Korean language and culture using Korean dramas, films, and music. Each week, we will watch snippets of Korean movies or shows to showcase a different aspect of Korean culture. We will cover topics such as Korean food, traditional homes, and fashion. Additionally, we will practice filling in dialogue and song lyrics to enhance your comprehension and writing skills. This approach aims to deepen students’ understanding of Korean language, culture, and society through an alternative lens that is to be used in addition to traditional language learning methods.

 

Instructor: Eunyoung Choi

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-9:50AM


Intermediate Korean II is designed to advance your Korean ability as an extension of Korean 2160. To increase your language ability, it is important to be exposed to many different situations. With this in consideration, this class will provide you with different activities each week, such as songs, TV shows, and literature. This class will especially focus on speaking and writing. It is important for students to actively participate in small groups during class and individual projects. There will be composition homework assignments with different topics. Students should be able to do their homework based on what they have learned.   
 

1-3 credits

Meetings as arranged

This course, which may be taken for 1, 2, or 3 credits, provides a structure within which students can explore opportunities for undergraduate research, and have their work documented on their transcripts. To enroll in this course, students should identify a faculty mentor in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, and contact Associate Chair Seth Howes (howesw@missouri.edu) to discuss enrollment and expectations.

 

 

Online, synchronous course, meeting in small groups on Zoom, Thursdays 3:30-4:45pm

This interdepartmental course serves as one of the core seminars for students pursuing the undergraduate Certificate in Digital Global Studies. The course focuses on the impact of technological change and globalization on cultures around the world from various interdisciplinary perspectives. The course is open to students in any discipline. 

LG_LT_CT 3510 is Writing Intensive, satisfies DI requirement and offers an Honors section. This inter-departmental course focuses on dynamics of globalization and its impact on cultures around the world from various interdisciplinary perspectives.  Readings and other class material (TED talks, podcasts, etc.) will address and evaluate the roles of social, entrepreneurial, non-profit and for-profit organizations and their use of transformational technologies in a global setting as well as introduce students to fundamental problems and concepts of today’s global society. Emphasis is placed upon cultural diversity, life in an interconnected and precarious world, and the analysis of new media environments.

Graded on A-F basis only. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; 2.75 GPA or instructor's consent.  Honors eligibility required for enrollment in LG_LT_CT 3510HW. Taught in English. Cross-listed with PeaSt 3510W and TAM 3010W.

 

Instructor: Sean Franzel

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM-12:15PM

In this course we will examine various forms of web-based writing—blogging, texting, tweeting, posting on social media, podcasting, etc.— from both a theoretical and practical angle, focusing in particular on the question of how users define, consume, and interpret digital media online and how questions of media use are addressed differently in varied cultural contexts.

Instructor: Tim Langen

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

Focuses on questions raised by various critical theories, includes practice writing criticism that applies the theories to particular works. May repeat to earn six total credits, with department's consent.

 

Instructor: Monika Fischer

3 credits

Online, asynchronous (with small group meetings on Zoom)

This course examines the ways in which people across the globe are affected every day by an unprecedented array of linkages that defy geographic and political boundaries. As our point of reference, we will concentrate on three case studies. The first is an analysis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG Goal One that addresses ending extreme poverty. The second case study looks at strategic visions and shifting alliances in the Middle East and how history and global relations have reshaped that region in the 20th and 21st century. The third case study analyzes the presence of Islam in Europe and how it plays out in politics and culture in particular in regard to Europe’s border crisis and the new changing configurations of migration from Africa. Taught in English. This course satisfies the DI requirement for students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 

Instructor: Dan Sipe

1-6 credits

Online, asynchronous (periodic Zoom meetings)

The SLLC Global Internship will be offered in spring 2025. Students apply bilingual and multicultural skills to solve real-world problems while enhancing career prospects. This course guides students through assignments tailored to maximize their internship experience and includes periodic Zoom meetings for discussion and reflection. Successful students can expect to develop cultural fluency, adaptive communication skills, and enhanced language proficiency in multilingual and immersion environments. They will gain career-ready competencies, learn to assess workplace cultures, and build a professional network to launch a global career. 

Instructor: M.J. Muratore

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM


This seminar is designed as a workshop focused on the principal aspects of scholarly writing. We will consider strategies for development of a meaningful and viable critical thesis; we will explore the means and modes of argument development; we will assess the various aspects of documentation; and we will study the fundaments of style in the context of professional communications. Students will 1) prepare and submit an abstract to a suitably chosen scholarly conference; 2) author a book review for journal submission; and 3) write a scholarly paper suitable for journal publication. COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH and is cross listed with LG_LT_CT 8005 . Open to all qualified graduate students.

Instructor: Jack Davis

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM

The course explores the roots of Brazilian music in the African diasporic culture of Afro-Brazilians. Music covered includes rhythms, dances, lyrics, performances and celebrations from diverse regions of Brazil and ranging from early 20th century to more recent styles. Popular Brazilian genres like samba and tecnobrega will be considered, alongside Brazilian versions of genres from abroad, like jazz and hip hop. Students will also do some musical research themselves for a presentation on a genre of their choice. 

Instructor: Jack Davis

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

The course provides an introduction to Brazilian history, culture and society from the period of Portuguese colonization (1500-1822) to the present day. Students learn about Brazilian civilization through the work of historians, anthropologists and other scholars; through film, music, and sport; and also through related literature and cultural criticism. Students are encouraged to take a hemispheric perspective, considering Brazilian civilization with respect to other civilizations in Spanish and North America. The course also includes a strong focus on the contributions of non-European peoples in Brazil, particularly, Africans, Afro-Brazilians and Indigenous peoples and their descendants, as well as the influence of the Portuguese, and to a lesser extent, later European, Japanese and Middle Eastern immigrants.

Instructor: Jack Davis

3 credits

Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45PM

Film screenings: 7:00-9:30PM

The course explores the themes of migration and multicultural narratives in the cinema of Brazil and Portugal. The historical eras featured in course films range from the early 20th-century to the present day, including colonial and postcolonial periods in Portuguese-speaking countries. The films tell diverse stories of Brazilians, Portuguese, Cape Verdeans, Japanese and other nationalities and ethnic groups. Special attention is given to hybrid or "hyphenated" groups created by international migration over the last century, such as the Portuguese-American, Japanese-Brazilian or Afro-Portuguese communities, with some comparative consideration of earlier settler groups like Luso-African colonists in Mozambique. Class discussions and papers will explore how the films detail migration, cultural exchanges, colonial and postcolonial histories, and on a more personal level, emotions, memories, attachments and losses experienced as the characters and their friends, lovers, families and communities crisscross various continents including the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. 

Course lectures in English; course films in Portuguese with English subtitles. Course qualifies for Global Brazil Minor. Cross-listed with SPAN 3885 - Twenty-First Century South American Cinema.
 


 

Instructor - Jambul Akkaziev

6 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM, with an asynchronous lab completed online

Elementary Russian II is a continued introduction to the Russian language and Russian-speaking cultures. It includes the fundamentals of Russian pronunciation and grammar, as well as the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing with an emphasis on communicative skills. You will learn to communicate in Russian in a number of everyday situations at the elementary level. In addition, you will learn to read texts found in each unit of the textbook, and your writing (in Cyrillic!) will focus on yourself, your family and friends. Finally, you will learn about some cultural peculiarities that make Russia special.
This course follows a communicative, hands-on approach.  Class time is to be used primarily for oral communication practice and real usage of the language.  The main goal of the course is to develop basic communication skills necessary to understand and speak Russian. You will participate in various classroom activities, including small group and pair work, to give you ample opportunities to practice Russian.  

Instructor - Timothy Langen

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-9:50AM

Russian 2160 is the second course in the two-semester intermediate Russian sequence. By the end of the course you will be able to: converse with ease and confidence when dealing with the routine tasks and social situations; communicate information about work, school, recreation, particular interests, and areas of competence in sentences or series of sentences; narrate and describe in different time frames about everyday events and situations; understand, with ease and confidence, simple sentence-length speech in basic personal and social contexts; understand fully and with ease short, non-complex texts that convey basic information and deal with personal and social topics; understand some connected texts featuring description and narration.

 

Instructor - Jambul Akkaziev

How does Russia see itself? In this course we will use film to explore how Russians themselves understand Russia. We will watch 14 major Russian-language films from the post-Soviet era (starting in 1991) that depict moments in Russian history from the middle ages to the present. And we will critically consider what these representations of Russian history and culture suggest about Russian identity today. We will pay special attention to how Russian-language films present difference (ethnic, political, religious, gender, sexual, etc.), or "otherness," as a way of defining national identity. And we will analyze the relation of national identity constructs to social inequities. We will consider how films present groups of people within a society as "other"; how films present difference across Russian-speaking nations; and how Russia imagines itself as "other" or as a marginalized outsider. Students will gain foundational knowledge of Russian history and culture; will practice critical thinking through analyzing films in individual and collaborative modes; will develop written and oral communication; and will develop skills in intercultural fluency as they engage with Russian culture in its diversity.

Instructor: Jambul Akkaziev

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM

The course is designed to help students achieve Intermediate Mid/High proficiency in Russian in all modalities, particularly in listening, speaking, and reading. Students are expected to develop skills to hold conversations in Russian in a range of contexts with native speakers of Russian accustomed to speaking with foreigners, read texts, and understand some broadcasts in standard language on familiar topics. Students will acquire an understanding of various aspects of the cultures of Russian speech communities (e.g., major cities, customs, housing practices, etc.).

Coordinator: Rosa Morales

4 credits

Multiple time slots available (see MyZou). All sections meet for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and feature an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online.

This course, which is designed for students who have fewer than two years of previous experience in Spanish, offers an introduction to the Spanish language and the many cultures it encompasses. The course work will allow students to develop all four language skills: reading, speaking, listening, and writing along with the cultural background necessary to help them to communicate effectively in Spanish.  

This class is conducted primarily in Spanish. 

Instructor - Rosa Morales

4 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50

Course meets for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and features an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online. What makes the Honors section different?  In the honors section, we will delve more deeply into culture and communication by incorporating more in class talking, small projects and cultural discussions. There will be a book reading and discussion. One of the assignments will be related to this book.

Coordinator: (Maria) Daveiva Murillo Condo.

4 credits

Multiple time slots available (see MyZou). All sections meet for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and feature an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online.

This course offers a second-semester introduction to the Spanish language and the many cultures it encompasses.  It is designed for students who have taken Spanish 1100 or who have more than two years of previous experience studying Spanish.  Students will develop their skills in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening while learning advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary through topics such as daily routine, food, relationships, health, technology and the household. 

Instructor: (Maria) Daveiva Murillo Condo

4 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50

Course meets for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and feature an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online. This course offers a second-semester introduction to the Spanish language and the many cultures it encompasses. It was designed specifically for honors students who have taken Spanish 1100 or an equivalent class.  Students will be able to maintain basic conversations on a variety of topics including: food and restaurants, daily routine, health, technology and the household after taking this class. In the honors section, there is a greater emphasis placed on the integration of target language resources, interpretation of texts, cultural information, and authentic projects.

Coordinator: Carlos Mendez

4 credits

Multiple time slots available (see MyZou). All sections meet for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and feature an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online.

This course, designed for students who have taken Spanish 1200 or an equivalent course. It offers further introduction to the Spanish language and the many cultures it encompasses. Your coursework will allow you to develop all four language skills: reading, speaking, listening and writing along with the cultural background necessary to help you to communicate effectively in Spanish. In order to expose you to as much Spanish as possible and to develop your listening and speaking skills, this class is conducted in Spanish. You will see that your ability to understand and to respond will develop quite rapidly.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to understand authentic dialogues and texts, engage in conversations on everyday topics and write compositions. Learning a new language can be very rewarding. We all hope that your experience will be positive and productive.

Instructor - Carlos Mendez

4 credits

MTWR 11:00-11:50AM 

Course meets for 3 50-minute sessions in person, and feature an asynchronous hour of coursework completed online. This honors course is designed for students who have taken Spanish 1200 or an equivalent course. The course seeks to improve students’ fluency in Spanish and to expose them to the many cultures it encompasses. Your coursework will allow you to develop all four language skills: reading, speaking, listening and writing along with the   cultural background necessary to help you to communicate effectively in Spanish.

In order to expose you to as much Spanish as possible and to develop your listening and speaking skills, this class is conducted in Spanish. You will see that your ability to understand and to respond will develop quite rapidly. This course may integrate cultural events outside the classroom as well such as movies, guest lectures, art exhibits, seminars or concerts as available. Once a semester, the students may also meet with Honors Spanish 1100 and 1200 students as a cohort group for further intellectual exchange and enrichment.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to understand communicative acts and read texts from primary Spanish sources, engage in conversations on a variety of topics, and write compositions about your thoughts and opinions on matters studied in class. Learning a new language can be very rewarding. I all hope that your experience will be positive and productive.

Instructors: Ericka Herbias Ruiz, Dawn Heston, Pablo Serna

3 credits

Multiple days and times available (see MyZou).

SPAN 2160 is specifically designed to enhance the writing and speaking skills of intermediate-level students.  Students will further develop their abilities using expanded topics related to current events, cultural topics, personal experiences in different time frames (past, present, future) and real-life oriented scenarios. The speaking and writing portions of this class are balanced equally and developed through a variety of class projects. Regular class interaction with an emphasis on authentic communication is a major component of the course. 

Prerequisite: Span 2100 or equivalent course.

Instructor: Pablo Serna

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM

SPAN 2160H is the fourth semester of Spanish designed for honors students who have completed the elementary Spanish sequence at MU or equivalent prerequisite classes. This class is fundamentally different from other 2160 classes in that it focuses on the application and refinement of grammatical concepts through the introduction of new vocabulary and cultural topics. In this course it is assumed that students have mastered the vocabulary and    grammatical concepts taught in the elementary levels. Therefore, this course will continue to focus on refining the four language skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening through the use of authentic texts, group activities, and the incorporation of cultural activities throughout the semester.

Special attention is given to oral production as well and students are expected to actively participate every day of class. As students participate in many, mostly oral, guided activities, their speaking ability will improve in both accuracy and fluency. Students also will be expected to do a significant amount of reading and writing in this section of 2160.

The semester will culminate with the completion of a writing portfolio that will display all of the grammatical skills that students worked on throughout the semester as well as a multimedia project and presentation on a current cultural topic. 

Instructor: Guadalupe Pérez-Anzaldo

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45P

Organized study of selected topics. Subjects and earnable credit may vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit with departmental consent. Prerequisites: sophomore standing.

3 credits

Section 1: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-9:50AM

Section 2: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM

Section 3: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:00-12:50PM

Section 5: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM

Spanish 3150 is designed for students who have successfully completed Spanish 2160, or for those students who have been placed at this level. You must possess an ample knowledge of the grammar rules and know how to use them in context to succeed in this class. This class will help you improve on the production of the Spanish language to be able to communicate in daily life situations and also to express your opinion about different topics of concern.

Multiple days and times available.

3 credits

Section 1: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-9:50AM

Section 2: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM

Section 3: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:00-12:50PM

Section 4: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50PM

This course focuses on advanced writing skills in Spanish, encouraging a level of sophistication in exploring diverse topics and employing various composition strategies. Class activities primarily involve discussing the ideas and techniques found in different textual forms. 

 

3 credits

Section 1: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 10:00-10:50AM

Section 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45AM

Section 3: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM-12:15PM

Section 4: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:45PM

This course offers an introduction to Hispanic literature. Objectives: 

  1. To teach students the basic skills of literary analysis through close readings of narrative (short stories, novels or essays) representative of major periods and movements in Hispanic letters.
  2. To assist students in the acquisition of the critical vocabulary required for textual analysis in Spanish. To encourage students to communicate meaningfully in a second language by using oral communication and writing as the processes which value content as much as form.
  3. This is not a grammar course, but students will have to keep reviewing the different areas of grammar as needed or as suggested by the professor. Contextualized grammar review and practice in a grammar book or website such as:  http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/SLC/index.php
  4. There are several editions of our textbook. Therefore it is important to make     sure that you prepare the reading from the 7th edition.
     

3 credits

SPAN 3430

Section 1: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50PM

Section 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM-12:15PM

Section 3: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:45PM

SPAN 3430W 

Section 1 (Writing Intensive): Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM

 

Has a friend asked you what you thought about the last movie you watched or the last book you read? Most people answering this question would say, in case they liked it, that the characters were fun and the story interesting. However, if you consider every element that authors use to create a novel, a poem, a play or a film, you would be surprised how much more there is to portraying “interesting” characters and a “fun” story.

In this class we are going to learn how to read and interpret key Hispanic plays and poems through readings, discussions, and written analysis. We will investigate what the literary text talks about and how the text tells us such a story. In order to do this, the student will acquire the necessary tools—method, terminology, and concepts—required for a critical study of Hispanic drama and poetry. The reading and analysis of these works would not be complete without becoming familiar with the Hispanic socio-cultural context where they appeared. Therefore, we will also explore the major cultural movements and historical events that shaped these texts. May also be taken as a writing-intensive course.

Instructor - Jack Draper

3 credits

Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

Film screenings: 7:00-9:30PM

Broad overview of the major national cinemas of the 21st century in South America. Approximately 14 feature films screened from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and other nations of the region. Instructor provides a thematic framework for films within the context of film theory, Latin American cinematic history and cultural studies. Course taught in English. Graded on A-F basis only.  Prerequisites: ENGLSH 1000 or ENGLSH 1000H. Cross-listed with PORT 3005. 

Instructor: Iván Reyna

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM

This is an introductory course in Spanish American literature. The reading material in prose and verse is studied in chronological order from the early 16th to the early 20th century.  Readings include selections from 22 major Spanish American authors. Cross-leveled with SPAN 7470.   Prerequisites:  SPAN 3420 and SPAN 3430.

Instructor: Asier Alcázar

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00AM - 12:15PM

(same as LINGST 4723; cross-leveled with SPAN 7723). This class surveys linguistic and social issues pertaining to Spanish in the U.S. (past, present and future).  Topics include bilingualism, code switching (a.k.a. Spanglish), first language attrition, linguistic identity, and the role of Spanish in education, services and media.  Graded on A-F basis only.  Recommended:  four 3000-level courses in Spanish.

Instructor: Joseph Otabela Mewolo

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11:00-11:50AM 

May be repeated for credit.  Prerequisites: SPAN 3420 and SPAN 3430. 

Instructor: Iván Reyna

3 credits

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1:00-1:50PM

May be repeated for credit.  Prerequisites: SPAN 3420 and SPAN 3430. 

Instructor: Anna Marrero Rivera

3 credits

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15PM

This course provides students with an introduction to the sociolinguistic and pedagogical issues surrounding the teaching and research of Spanish as a heritage language in the United States. Throughout the course, students will read articles and book chapters to gain a comprehensive understanding of the most important topics in pedagogy and research in this area. This includes a description of the heritage Spanish learner, the field, teaching objectives, and practices. Additionally, we will cover critical pedagogies as the foundation for teaching and administrative practices for heritage languages. The course will include a practical component to prepare students for effective classroom practices.

Instructor - Jambul Akkaziev

How does Russia see itself? In this course we will use film to explore how Russians themselves understand Russia. We will watch 14 major Russian-language films from the post-Soviet era (starting in 1991) that depict moments in Russian history from the middle ages to the present. And we will critically consider what these representations of Russian history and culture suggest about Russian identity today. We will pay special attention to how Russian-language films present difference (ethnic, political, religious, gender, sexual, etc.), or "otherness," as a way of defining national identity. And we will analyze the relation of national identity constructs to social inequities. We will consider how films present groups of people within a society as "other"; how films present difference across Russian-speaking nations; and how Russia imagines itself as "other" or as a marginalized outsider. Students will gain foundational knowledge of Russian history and culture; will practice critical thinking through analyzing films in individual and collaborative modes; will develop written and oral communication; and will develop skills in intercultural fluency as they engage with Russian culture in its diversity.