Programs in Language Studies integrate culture, history, literature, and other creative production into the learning experience, as well as introduce students to inter and intracultural discourse. Language study teaches students to think critically and analytically and introduces them to the ways in which other language communities encode meaning and transmit culture.
The study of languages is necessary for employment in a range of fields and offers many opportunities for students in graduate study. A background in languages has been shown to be a fundamental skill in many business organizations as well as the social and technical sciences, and arts and humanities careers. Proficiency in a language is required by most graduate programs; therefore, undergraduate language study prepares students for work in a wide range of humanities and liberal-arts based graduate programs.
Major in Language Studies
Language studies offers two opportunities for students to major in a language. Specifically, students can choose to major either in Chinese, or Spanish.
Chinese Major
The Chinese major aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop advanced Chinese language proficiency and full understanding of the Chinese culture as they study a wide range of authentic texts and practice through meaningful communication and interaction.
Spanish Major
The Spanish major is designed to promote the development of advanced proficiency in Spanish and a deepening understanding of Hispanic cultures. It will provide authentic contexts for the expansion of communicative competence in Spanish with improved accuracy and fluency. Also, this major fosters an expanding appreciation for shared human experience across diverse cultures
Concentration in Language Studies
Utilizing the concentration format, students are able to choose from three different concentrations offered in Chinese, French or Spanish.
Chinese Concentration
The Chinese concentration aims to promote meaningful and proficient Chinese language skills and understanding of the Chinese people and Chinese culture, as foreign language proficiency has become indispensable in today’s economic and political interdependence of nations.
French Concentration
The French concentration is designed to promote proficiency in French and a strong understanding of Francophone cultures. As the knowledge of at least one foreign language has become indispensable in today’s economic and political interdependence of Francophone nations, the concentration will promote the development of trans-cultural competence.
Spanish Concentration
The Spanish concentration is designed to promote proficiency in Spanish and a strong understanding of Hispanic cultures. As the knowledge of at least one foreign language has become indispensable in today’s economic and political interdependence of nations, the Spanish concentration will promote the development of intercultural competence.
Minor in Language Studies
By selecting one of four minors offered in language studies, students can add an impactful area of knowledge and experience to any major from the College of Business or, via a double minor, any major from the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences or the College of Arts and Sciences. The program offers minors in Chinese, French, Italian or Spanish.
Chinese Minor
The Chinese Minor is designed to provide students with an advanced level of language proficiency in Standard Mandarin and a solid foundation for the development of cultural understanding and communicative competence across a broad array of social contexts and settings in China.
In addition to providing students with the necessary tools to become effective and creative communicators, the Chinese Minor also prepares students to live, study, and work in China and to take advantage of the steadily growing international market for professionals in all fields who have a background in Chinese language and culture.
French Minor
The French Minor is designed to provide students with an advanced level of language proficiency and an understanding of the culture of France and the French speaking countries where it has produced rich national literatures and diverse cultures (in Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada and the Caribbean).
French is now spoken as a first or second language by over 270 million people and is one of the official languages of the UN. There are an estimated 100 million speakers of French as a second or cultural language. It is the language of government, law, management, and business in many regions of the international community.
The French Minor will improve cross-cultural understanding and international awareness since the knowledge of at least one foreign language has become indispensable in today’s economic and political interdependence of nations.
Italian Minor
Italian is spoken by approximately 63 million people and is one of four official languages of Switzerland. Italian is the fifth most taught non-native language worldwide, after English, French, Spanish, and German.
The Italian minor is designed to provide students with an advanced level of language proficiency and a strong understanding of the Italian culture. Besides equipping students with the necessary tools to become effective and creative communicators, the Italian minor also prepares students to develop the global perspective and to live, study and work in Italy and the international community.
Spanish Minor
The Spanish Minor is designed to provide students with an advanced level of language proficiency and a strong understanding of the cultures of Spanish speaking societies. Besides equipping students with the necessary tools to become excellent communicators and rigorous thinkers, the minor also equips students to live and work within an increasingly international context. Given the numerous hemispheric trade agreements, the significant presence of Latina/os in the U.S., the considerable number of Spanish speaking transnational immigrants and the importance of Spain in the European Union, minoring in Spanish also grants the student an advantageous position in the job market.
Spanish For Healthcare Sciences Minor
The Minor in Spanish for Health Science is designed to provide students with an advanced level of language proficiency, a strong understanding of the cultures of Spanish speaking societies, and specialized vocabulary related to careers in healthcare. Besides equipping students with the necessary tools to become excellent communicators and rigorous thinkers, the minor also equips students to live and work within an increasingly international context. Given the significant presence of Latina/os in the U.S. and the considerable number of Spanish speaking transnational immigrants, minoring in Spanish for Health Science also grants the student an advantageous position in the job market.