Program Overview

The languages and transcultural studies program seeks to empower students to thrive in a multi-cultural, global society and to think beyond conventionally and culturally-determined boundaries. We help students develop the intercultural communication skills, language-learning strategies and the confidence to engage in thoughtful and meaningful ways with people from all over the globe. At the same time the program trains students to recognize and contextualize their own values, traditions and perspectives.

The language competency in one of the three emphases (French, German or Spanish) will hone creative problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills while providing regular practice at intercultural negotiation. These marketable skills add to students' professional competitiveness in a wide range of fields.

The faculty in the program achieve these outcomes by teaching language in a cultural context. By focusing on cultural and linguistic proficiency, students learn to identify and examine questions of identity central to diverse communities and reflected in their institutions, literatures and cultural icons.

Some courses at every stage of the program are also taught in English, thereby fostering more exchange with students in the different language emphases and facilitating more nuanced cultural comparisons. Students are required to apply their skills during an immersion experience. For many this will take place in another country, but some will accomplish this in a local, transcultural environment.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• Critically analyze their own culture in relation to other cultures across the world and identify their own biases.
• Demonstrate successful communication that respects cultural and linguistic norms, both orally and in writing, with people form the culture of emphasis.
• Compare and contrast cultures using knowledge of their literatures, history, traditions, cultural products and values.