Objectives

The foreign language programs in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish recognize academic, cultural, and practical purposes:

Academic

Foreign language study aims at broadening the scope of the student’s intellectual development by affording both a facility in foreign languages and knowledge of other cultures. This end is achieved through the major programs in foreign languages or double majors that couple a major or minor in a foreign language with a major in another field.

Cultural

Learning about another culture and civilization—its history, geography, literature, and art—through the medium of its language leads to a better understanding of one’s self and the world in which we live. To achieve this goal, all foreign languages are taught in their cultural context. Courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish are taught in the vernacular.

Practical

Career opportunities involving foreign languages are expanding. For the university graduate with a specialization in a particular field and with proficiency in foreign languages, openings exist in the following fields: engineering, foreign trade, foreign service, international business, international law, librarianship, military, social work, teaching, tourism industry, and transportation. In addition, many graduate programs require proficiency in foreign language.