The department prepares its students to thrive in a diverse world through the study of one or more languages (French, Japanese, and Spanish) and the cultural, social, philosophical, and/ or historical contexts in which these languages are situated. We also offer, on occasion, courses on topics in Chinese language, literature, and culture.

By acquiring the four basic linguistic skills— listening, speaking, reading, and writing—you will develop intercultural competency through thoughtful engagement with literary and other cultural texts. We encourage our students to put their language learning and cultural understanding into practice both locally and while studying abroad, where you can volunteer, complete internships, and pursue independent research projects through our unique Cities in Transition courses.