EMU Today

YPSILANTI – As part of its strategic and timely emphasis on aligning academic resources with high-growth job areas and trends in the state of Michigan and beyond, Eastern Michigan University is merging several programs in the World Languages Department.

The move comes in response to the changing teacher education landscape, as the department is revising its education programs to focus on K-12 teacher education language programs, which are being retained.  

As part of these changes, Spanish and French faculty have consolidated existing majors into single Spanish (BA) and French (BA) majors. The phase outs represent a consolidation, so it’s important to note that the University is maintaining all of its language core courses, which are French, German, Japanese, and Spanish Language & Literature.

The five academic program phase-outs, all for bachelor’s degrees, include:

• Language and International Careers – French.

• Language and International Careers – Spanish.

• Secondary Education French.

• Secondary Education German Language and Literature.

• Secondary Education Spanish Language Teaching.

The World Languages department retains programs in:

• K-12 Teacher Certification for French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and TESOL.

• French, German, Japanese, and Spanish language.

• Japanese Language for International Trade.

• A recently added program in Bilingual Education, in all four of the listed languages.

• And language certifications in less commonly taught languages for educated speakers of any language.

“Our revisions will lower the number of degrees in World Languages from 16 to 11, essentially responding to the recent changes in college enrollments around the state,” said Jeff Popko, a professor of ESL and TESOL and head of the Department of World Languages. “The Michigan Department of Education is revising its requirements for Language Teacher Education Programs in Michigan, and these changes will help us to better address MDE’s directives and enable us to prepare language teachers in Michigan for the foreseeable future.”

The changes were approved at the EMU Board of Regents regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.