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Languages and Cultures (Minors)

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  3. Languages and Cultures (Minors)

If you have strong second language skills, you are an asset to any employer.

Degrees & Offerings
  • Minor
Department
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Program Contact
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Foreign language study will enhance your opportunities in just about any field, from government, business, journalism and writing, medicine, and law to science, technology, military, industry, and marketing. A second language improves your communication skills and understanding of people, comprehension of math and English. Analytical skills improve when you study a foreign language. If a major doesn’t fit your plans, a minor is also a great boost to any resume.

Contact the Department of Languages and Cultures to get started with a minor in any of the below programs.

Courses and Curriculum

Arabic Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • ARAB101 Elementary Arabic I
  • ARAB102 Elementary Arabic II
  • ARAB203 Intermediate Arabic I
  • ARAB204 Intermediate Arabic II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • ARAB211 MENA History, Culture, and Civilization
  • ARAB212 Arabic Film, Literature, and Culture
  • ARAB305 Arabic for Professional Communication I
  • ARAB306 Arabic for Professional Communication II
  • ARAB380 Special Topics in Arabic and East European Studies
  • ARAB393 Independent Study
  • WLCU200 Comparative Cultural Studies
  • WLCU201 International Short Story
  • WLCU202 Diversity in World Cinema
  • WLCU210 World City Studies
  • WLCU320 International Travel and Tourism
  • WLCU321 International Etiquette and Protocol
  • WLCU325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence
  • WLCU301 Introduction to Translation Studies
  • WLCU395 Service Learning
  • WLCU400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History
  • WLCU490 Global Experience
  • WLCU498 Internship

Note:

  • In the Minor Electives Category, minimum 3 credits must be ARAB courses

Chinese Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • CHIN101 Elementary Chinese I
  • CHIN102 Elementary Chinese II
  • CHIN203 Intermediate Chinese I
  • CHIN204 Intermediate Chinese II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • ARH230 Intro to Asian Art
  • CHIN211 Chinese History, Culture, and Civilization
  • CHIN212 Chinese Film, Literature, and Culture
  • CHIN380 Special Topics in Chinese Studies
  • CHIN393 Independent Study
  • *CHIN490 Advanced Chinese Conversation
  • *CHIN491 Advanced Chinese Reading
  • *CHIN492 Advanced Chinese Listening
  • DFC311 Security Fundamentals
  • HIST132 Asian History to 1500
  • HIST133 Asian History since 1500
  • HIST 313 Nationalism in Asia
  • HIST 324 Environmental History of Asia
  • HIST 334 China and India in Historical Perspective
  • HIST 354 History of Modern Japan
  • HIST 356 History of Modern China
  • HIST 360 Modern Korea
  • HIST 451 Imperial Japan, 1890-1945
  • PHI211 Eastern Approaches to Reality
  • POLI252 Asian Politics
  • POLI258 China and the World
  • POLI466 International Relations of Asia Pacific
  • SOC361 China Culture and Society
  • WLCU200 Comparative Cultural Studies
  • WLCU201 International Short Story
  • WLCU202 Diversity in World Cinema
  • WLCU210 World City Studies
  • WLCU320 International Travel and Tourism
  • WLCU321 International Etiquette and Protocol
  • WLCU325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence
  • WLCU301 Introduction to Translation Studies
  • WLCU395 Service Learning
  • WLCU400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History
  • WLCU490 Global Experience
  • WLCU498 Internship

Notes:

  • In the Electives Category, minimum 3 credits must be in CHIN.
  • Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are offered through study abroad.

French Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • FREN101 Elementary French I
  • FREN102 Elementary French II
  • FREN203 Intermediate French I
  • FREN204 Intermediate French II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • FREN112 Tour de France: Identity, Society, Diversity 
  • FREN211 French History, Culture, and Civilization 
  • FREN212 French Film, Literature, and Culture 
  • FREN214 French Cinema: Society and the Individual
  • FREN206 Structures of the French Language
  • FREN225 Applied Phonetic and Pronunciation
  • FREN227 Conversation Topics in French Society
  • FREN334 French through Film: Culture, History, Language
  • FREN349 French for Professionals
  • FREN380 Special Topics in French Studies
  • FREN393 Independent Study
  • FREN401 Advanced French Language
  • FREN412 Francophone Identity and Issues in Cinema and Media
  • FREN432 Masterpieces of French Literature

German and Central European Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • GERM101 Elementary German I
  • GERM102 Elementary German II
  • GERM203 Intermediate German I
  • GERM204 Intermediate German II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • CESS210 Introduction to Central and East European Studies 
  • CESS212 Central and East European Film, Literature, and Culture 
  • CESS310 European City Studies 
  • CESS380 Special Topics in Central and East European Studies
  • GERM212 German Film, Literature, and Culture 
  • GERM214 German Cinema: Society and the Individual
  • HIST220 World War Two
  • HIST308 Twentieth Century Europe
  • HIST309 Total War Europe
  • HIST311 The Cold War

Latin American and Caribbean Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (6 credits)

  • FREN101 Elementary French I
  • FREN102 Elementary French II
  • LATN101 Elementary Latin I
  • LATN102 Elementary Latin II
  • PORT101 Elementary Portuguese I
  • PORT102 Elementary Portuguese II
  • SPAN101 Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN102 Elementary Spanish II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • ANTH312 South American Archeology
  • ANTH310 Mesoamerican Archaeology
  • ARH330 Latin American Art
  • SPAN211 Spanish and Spanish American History, Culture, and Civilization
  • SPAN212 Spanish and Spanish American Film, Literature, and Culture
  • SPAN213 Latinxs Contributions to the US
  • SPAN214 Contemporary Problems in Spain and Latin America
  • SPAN330 Short Story
  • HIST362 Colonial Latin America
  • HIST363 Modern Latin America
  • POLI354 Latin American Politics

Note:

  • 6 credits in Language Foundation category must be from the same language

Russian and East European Studies Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • RUSS101 Elementary Russian I
  • RUSS102 Elementary Russian II
  • RUSS203 Intermediate Russian I
  • RUSS204 Intermediate Russian II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • CESS210 Introduction to Central and East European Studies
  • CESS212 Central and East European Film, Literature, and Culture
  • CESS310 European City Studies
  • CESS380 Special Topics in Central and East European Studies
  • DFC311 Security Fundamentals
  • ECON333 International Economics
  • EGGS102 World Cultural Geography
  • EGGS104 World Regional Geography
  • HIST220 World War Two
  • HIST308 Twentieth Century Europe
  • HIST309 Total War Europe
  • HIST311 The Cold War
  • HIST396 Topics in European History
  • HIST420 History of the Holocaust
  • MGMT383 Managing Multicultural Organizations
  • POLI160 International Relations: Conflict and Cooperation
  • POLI261 Global Issues
  • POLI326 International Political Economy
  • POLI353 European Politics
  • POLI366 Regionalism in Global Affairs
  • POLI427 International Law and Organizations
  • RUSS211 Russian History, Culture, and Civilization 
  • RUSS212 Russian Film, Literature, and Culture 
  • RUSS305 Russian for Professional Communication I
  • RUSS306 Russian for Professional Communication II
  • RUSS380 Special Topics in Russian and East European Studies
  • RUSS393 Independent Study
  • SOC360 Globalization and Culture
  • WLCU200 Comparative Cultural Studies
  • WLCU201 International Short Story
  • WLCU202 Diversity in World Cinema
  • WLCU210 World City Studies
  • WLCU301 Introduction to Translation Studies
  • WLCU320 International Travel and Tourism
  • WLCU321 International Etiquette and Protocol
  • WLCU325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence
  • WLCU350 Second Language Teaching Methodology
  • WLCU395 Service Learning
  • WLCU400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History
  • WLCU490 Global Experience
  • WLCU498 Internship

Note:

  • In the Minor Electives Category, minimum 3 credits must be in CESS, HIST, or RUSS

Spanish Minor (18 credits)

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

  • SPAN101 Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN102 Elementary Spanish II
  • SPAN203 Intermediate Spanish I
  • SPAN204 Intermediate Spanish II

II. Minor Electives (6 credits)

  • SPAN206 Structures of the Spanish Language
  • SPAN221 Conversation and Composition I
  • SPAN241 Spanish for Health Care
  • SPAN242 Spanish for Education and Social Services
  • SPAN243 Spanish for Business and Law
  • SPAN244 Spanish for Law Enforcement and Homeland Security
  • SPAN321 Conversation and Composition II
  • SPAN325 Phonetics and Pronunciation
  • SPAN330 Short Story
  • SPAN340 Introduction to Translation and Interpretation
  • SPAN346 English to Spanish Translation and Interpretation
  • SPAN347 Spanish to English Translation and Interpretation
  • SPAN380 Special Topics in Spanish
  • SPAN393 Independent Study
  • SPAN398 Internship
  • SPAN431 Survey of Spanish Literature
  • SPAN432 Survey of Spanish American Literature

Power of Second Language Proficiency

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and its Lead with Languages campaign say:

56%
Employers
say their foreign language demand will increase in the next five years.
An employer interviews a soon-to-be graduate during an on-campus career fair
U.S. Employers
9 out of 10 rely on employees with language skills other than English.
47%
Employers
state a need for language skills exclusively for the domestic market.

Languages and Cultures Contacts

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