World Languages & Cultures

Five languages. One global department. A world of ways in.

Every language you learn opens doors that stay open for the rest of your life: new careers, new countries, new friendships, new ways of thinking. At the Department of World Languages & Cultures, languages are not just something you study. They are something you live, every day, on campus and around the world.

Choose your world

We offer majors and minors in Chinese, French, French and Francophone Studies, German, German Studies, Japanese, Spanish and Professional Spanish. You can also add the TESOL Certificate, open to every major on campus, and prepare to teach English anywhere in the world.

Learn it by living it

Our classes are small, interactive and taught by faculty who know your name. Beyond the classroom, you can join six student language clubs, drop into weekly conversation hours, celebrate film nights and cultural festivals, and practice for free at the Myers Language Resource Center in LIB 244, Oesterle Library. Here, your language grows with you all week long.

Take it somewhere

Employers and graduate schools actively seek people who can work across languages and cultures. Whatever your field, from business and healthcare to education, science and the arts, a second language sets you apart. And when you are ready to live it abroad, WLC students study in Spain, Costa Rica, Peru and Chile through the Center for Global Education.

Your journey starts one tab over: explore our languages and find yours.

Find your language

¡Hola! · Spanish

The language next door, and of more than 20 countries.
Major · Minor · Professional Spanish track

Bonjour ! · French

300 million speakers, from Paris to Dakar to Montréal.
Major · Minor · French & Francophone Studies

Hallo! · German

The language of Europe's largest economy, and of Beethoven.
Major · Minor · German Studies

More worlds to enter

こんにちは · Japanese

Anime, robotics, tradition and business. One language, all of it.
Major · Minor

你好 · Chinese

Over a billion speakers. One giant head start.
Major · Minor

Hello! · TESOL

Teach English anywhere on Earth. No teaching background required.
Certificate, open to all majors

Chinese, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

The Chinese major consists of a minimum of thirty-three credits at or above the 102 level, with at least twenty-eight credits in CHNS courses and at least five credits from CHST courses. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the  B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog

Chinese Courses

At least two credits from one of the following areas:

Enrichment

Internship

Practicum

Additional Requirements

Semester Study Abroad

Complete a semester study abroad program in a Chinese-speaking environment or complete 12 credits from the following:

Note:

*CHNS May Term coursework may count toward the major as long as all course work is completed in Chinese

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

French and Francophone Studies, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A major in French and Francophone Studies (FRST) consists of at least 33 credit hours. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the  B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

French Language

Four credit hours taught in French (FREN) at the 300-level. *

Note:

*FREN courses leading to the 300-level apply to the Additional Electives category below.

French Studies Courses

Seven credit hours from the following:

Additional Electives

Remaining credit hours from the following:

Note:

*With department approval, the following courses may also serve as electives:

  • GSST 390 - Gender and Sexuality in the World
  • GLST courses focusing on French or Francophone areas
  • POLS 300 - Great Decisions in International Politics
  • POLS 321 - Model United Nations

Note:

Students may not complete both the French major and the French and Francophone Studies major.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

French, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

The French major consists of a minimum of 33 credit hours (FREN or FRST), at or above the 201-level. Of the 33 credit hours, at least 28 credit hours must come from courses taught in French (FREN) and five credit hours must be at the 400-level including FREN 480. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

German Studies, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A major in German Studies (GRST) consists of at least 33 credit hours including the following coursework. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the  B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

German Studies Electives

Seven credit hours from the following:

Note:

Up to four credit hours from the following electives may be substituted for any of the above electives:

  • ARTH 100 - World Histories I 
  • ARTH 102 - World Histories II 
  • ARTH 302 - Modern Art 
  • COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication 
  • HIST 256 - Renaissance and Reformation Europe 
  • HIST 258 - Early Modern Europe 
  • HIST 285 - Twentieth-Century Europe: Hitler Versus Stalin 
  • PHIL 265 - Modern Philosophy 
  • PHIL 270 - Aesthetics 
  • PHIL 370 - 20th Century Philosophy 
  • With approval, the following courses may also serve as electives:
    • GLST courses focusing on German Studies
    • POLS 300 - Great Decisions in International Politics 
    • POLS 321 Model United Nations 

*Students may not complete both the German major and the German Studies major.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

German, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

The German major consists of a minimum of 33 credit hours (GRMN or GRST), at or above the 102 level. Of the 33 credit hours, at least 28 credit hours must come from courses taught in German (GRMN) and five credit hours must be at the 400-level including GRMN 480. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Japanese, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

The Japanese major consists of at least 33 credits at or above the 201-level, with at least 28 credits taught in Japanese including the following coursework. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

One of the following:

Semester Study Abroad

Complete a semester study abroad program in Japan, with a minimum of eight credit hours taught in Japanese or complete the following 16 credit hours:

One of the following:

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Spanish, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

The Spanish major consists of a minimum of 34 credits. Thirty-two credits must be in SPAN at or above the 201-level including the following coursework. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Note:

Students seeking teaching licensure must also complete the Secondary Education major requirements.

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Chinese Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A minimum of 24 credit hours in Chinese, including four credit hours at the 300-level or above and one of CHST 105 - China Today or CHST 205 - Understanding China.

French Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A minimum of 20 credit hours in French language, including four credit hours at the 300-level or above.

German Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

At minimum of 20 credit hours in German language, including four credit hours from the following electives:

Japanese Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A minimum 24 credit hours, with at least 20 credit hours of courses taught in Japanese, including:

Four credit hours from the following:

Professional Spanish Minor

Students may not complete both a Professional Spanish minor and a major in Spanish.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:

One of the following:

Four credit hours from the following:

Spanish Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.

A minimum of 24 credit hours in Spanish, including four credit hours at the 300-level.

Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate

The TESOL Certificate program provides students with the content, methodologies and skills to communicate effectively with speakers of other languages and/or teach English online or abroad the US, and the credentials to apply for positions in the field.

A minimum of twelve credit hours from the following:

Core Courses

Electives

One of the following:

Student Opportunities

 

Campus Activities

  • Chinese Club is a community of students dedicated to learning, sharing, and appreciating the Chinese language and culture
  • Fusión Española helps students continue learning the Spanish language through cultural events, volunteer work and unity in the community
  • German Club promotes the language and culture of all German-speaking countries through weekly conversation hours, cultural events and excursions
  • International Club fosters cross-cultural understanding among American and international students
  • Japan Club promotes cultural awareness through events featuring events featuring games, traditional cultural activities, film nights, and cooking
  • The Language Resource Center serves language students and faculty with equipment, supplies, and spaces for language & culture learning and teaching
  • Tous Ensemble: Le Cercle Francais provides students with opportunities to use French in real-life situations

 

Study Abroad

Previous students in the Modern and Classical Languages Department have studied abroad in:

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Costa Rica
  • France
  • Germany
  • Honduras
  • Japan
  • Morocco
  • Sénégal
  • Spain
  • Uruguay

Visit the Center for Global Education for additional study abroad opportunities!

Because the world does not do business, science, art or friendship in just one. A second language is not an elective. It is an advantage you carry into every career, every trip and every conversation for the rest of your life.

Your career speaks languages

Employers in business, healthcare, education, tech and public service actively seek graduates who can work across languages and cultures, and many graduate programs expect it. In the U.S. job market, bilingual candidates simply reach further.

Your world gets bigger

Study abroad in Spain, Costa Rica, Peru and Chile. Six student language clubs, weekly conversation hours and cultural events all year. At North Central, a language is not a class you take. It is a community you join.

Your starting point is here

Begin with any of our five languages: Spanish, French, German, Japanese or Chinese. Practice for free at the Myers Language Resource Center (LIB 244, Oesterle Library, 2nd floor), and take your language abroad with the Center for Global Education.

Curious fact: the United States is one of the world's most linguistically diverse countries. See the most spoken language in every state.

Your home base for languages

The Language Resource Center

Free tutoring, conversation hours, recording tech and cultural events — LIB 244, Oesterle Library, 2nd floor.