World Cultures & Languages

The World Cultures and Languages (WC&L) Program offers our students the expertise and the knowledge that specialists in culture, linguistics, and literature can bring. The program offers quality instruction that reflects the increasingly interdependent and global nature of culture, knowledge and the world in the 21st century, as well as the growing inter-connectedness of peoples and places in the local, regional, national, and global communities. Students are required to demonstrate competence in at least one language. Through interactive coursework at home and/or abroad, reflective papers, research, travel and presentations, the program enables students:

1. To develop an understanding of cultures and history of the regions they have chosen to study;
2.  To understand, read, write, and speak the language(s) of these regions;
3. To gain a thorough knowledge of the corresponding countries, traditions and peoples in these regions.

The inherent multidisciplinary nature of culture and language studies as well as the geographic variety of areas to be covered requires that the faculty work with other programs as well as similar programs in the neighboring universities.

The two major themes of the World Languages and Cultures program are:

1. Places, Traditions and Histories which leads into a Bachelor of Arts in Globalization Studies.
2. Places, Cultures and Languages which leads into a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies.

Students fulfilling the requirement for a Major in Hispanic Studies will be able to obtain certification to teach at the primary and secondary level, by following the K-12 program offered in cooperation with the Education Program.

WC&L students obtain a strong grounding in global affairs which teaches them how to engage in problem-solving across boundaries and cultures, and how to critically evaluate information from a comparative perspective. This training also involves learning how to become an effective communicator which includes learning how to argue and defend complex views before a variety of global audiences. Well developed global competency is of use to numerous companies and organizations. A WC&L major also offers excellent preparation for graduate school, law school, and careers in various global organizations:

• Global Culture Industries: music, film, sports, – MTV, Disney, Discovery, ESPN, the NBA
• U.S. Government and International Agencies and Organizations: UN, World Bank, Red Cross, UNICEF, Peace Corps, various relief funds, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Foreign Service, State Department
• International Businesses: Mars/M&M, BASF, AXA, pharmaceuticals
• Travel & Tourism: travel agencies, global tours, cruise lines