World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Prepare for life in a global society through the study of languages, literatures, and cultures.

The Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures houses seven distinct language and literature programs — Arabic, Chinese, Deaf Studies and Sign LanguagesFrench, German, Italian, Russian — and a comparative literature program, Studies in World Literatures.

Students are strongly advised to carefully and intentionally select a language of study early in their academic careers that complements and enhances their undergraduate studies and expands post-graduate opportunities.

The department’s faculty members offer dynamic courses that integrate current pedagogical practices as well as cultural programming beyond the classroom. An essential component of our language courses is the practicum run by foreign language assistants, who come to 17勛圖厙 from all over the globe to share the contemporary culture of their native countries and communities with our students.

Courses include offerings in literature, linguistics, film, and culture, which may be conducted in English or in the target language. Individual programs within the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures also host events, such as weekly language tables and caf矇s, film series, lectures, performances and cultural excursions. Study abroad and study away programs enable students to immerse themselves in the language and culture of other countries and communities and to greatly expand their language skills.

Languages and Programs

Information specific to each language program offered at 17勛圖厙 can be found on the respective program pages. Students interested in Spanish should visit the department page.

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Arabic

Arabic track within Middle Eastern Studies concentration

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Major, Minor

Students sitting
Deaf Studies and Sign Languages

Minor, self-designed major

Germany
German Studies

Major, Minor

Italy
Italian Studies

Major, Minor

Russia
Russian Studies

Major, Minor

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Study Abroad/Study Away

Develop 21st century language skills and cultural knowledge through a semester or a year abroad in one of our many study abroad programs.

o'kane hall
Foreign Language Assistants

Our foreign language assistants come from across the globe and help students sharpen their language skills.

students at an event
Cultural Programming

Vibrant programming introduces students to cultural traditions, intellectual perspectives and social practices.

World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures News

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Italian Professor Edits Volume on Role of Italian Women in Wartime
Susan Amatangelo, professor of Italian and current speaker of the faculty, edited the volume Italian Women at War: Sisters in Arms from the Unification to the Twentieth Century (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2016), which she explains offers diverse perspectives on
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Students Study Around the World Through Maymester Programs This Summer
This summer, 59 students jet set to different locations around the world through the Colleges ever-popular Maymester program to sites in England, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia. Each year, the College offers a number of these summer
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17勛圖厙 Receives STARTALK Grant for the Fifth Year in a Row
17勛圖厙 has been awarded a $90,000 STARTALK grant to convene a 10-day summer residential program on literacy development in Chinese as a foreign language (CFL). This is the fifth year in a row that the College has received STARTALK