Advising "Tidbits" for CJ majors (but applicable to Sociology majors, too)

This brief file contains some other assorted advice divided into the following sections:

Advice on language requirements

more sections coming soon!

Advice on language requirements:

Although a foreign language is not required for the CJ major, it is a general education requirement and one about which I receive a lot of questions. For that reason, here's some quick advice about language requirements.

All incoming students have to take a 102 level foreign language class. For most students, that will mean they have to take both 101 and 102 in a language of their choice. Due to the way languages are taught and learned, it is advisable to take both courses as close to one another as possible. Because summer is longer than winter break, you should try to take the first class in Fall, followed the the second course in Spring. In fact, taking the courses during sequential summer sessions makes sense because you will experience more of a language immersion process, which will make it easier to learn.

At which level should you start? For some students, that's a difficult question because those who take three (or four) years of a foreign language in high school are automatically placed in higher level courses. The rule is that those who took three years of a language in high school may not take the 101 course for credit, while those who took four years of the same language in high school cannot take the 102 course for credit (those whose language courses were taken 10 more years ago may begin at 101 again). If you are not ready for those higher level courses (e.g., I had one student who lamented that she hadn't paid any attention at all in her Spanish classes and consequently didn't remember anything other than how to greet waiters and order tacos), you might consider switching languages for college study. If you did not take a language at all in high school, you may have a "language deficiency," which you need to make up while here at Rutgers. For more information, see the handy placement test page at: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/RUCAM/studentaffairs/placement_tests.html#forlangguide

Which language should you take? I recommend Spanish for CJ majors, since it is a language that may not only benefit you in the workplace, but it might give you a leg up in getting a job in the first place as Spanish speakers are in demand in all of the service professions. If you have cultural or other ties to other languages, however, you could take them. If you are interested in learning an African language, several have been offered from time to time via distance learning (the classes are broadcast live to Armitage Hall where our students can listen and actively participate in the courses).