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Associate of Arts

Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies are increasingly looking for employees with real world international experience who are able to communicate in a second language. The Foreign Language program is designed precisely for students to gain this experience and develop their abilities to communicate in a second language. The program offers major concentrations in French, German, and Spanish, as well as minors in French, German, Italian Studies, Russian Studies, and Spanish. The goal of the program is to broaden students’ multicultural perspective and to develop their ability to communicate across cultures so they can succeed in diverse professional environments. The degree encourages students to develop and utilize their abilities to communicate in different languages and to understand the powerful role that language and culture play in shaping every aspect of society. The Foreign Language curriculum places particular emphasis on the study of language as spoken in and shaped by everyday contexts, including work, rest, and recreation, and in and through popular film, music, and media. The Foreign Language degree provides a strong foundation for understanding language and culture and flexibility for students to pursue their own course of study. As is true with World Studies’ degrees in Anthropology, International Studies, and Religious Studies, Foreign Languages offers students opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs.

Completing a degree in foreign languages strengthens student ability to secure work in global communications, marketing, public relations, and management; foreign aid and development; journalism; education; foreign service; international affairs, immigration services and the Peace Corps; organizations involved in development, disaster relief, immigration, human rights, and environmental justice advocacy; business and management in a multicultural environment. Graduates of our program will also find opportunities in teaching at home or abroad, as well as in work with a variety of public-service organizations. In addition, an undergraduate degree in foreign language provides excellent background and qualifications for admittance to graduate degree programs in a number of humanities disciplines, including foreign languages and international studies, as well as in international law, diplomacy, business or journalism. We encourage students to double-major in Foreign Language and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Anthropology, International Studies or Religious Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.