World Languages and Cultures

Do you love learning about other cultures? The bachelor of arts in world languages and cultures helps students develop the skills they need to communicate effectively, while also cultivating critical thinking skills, a comparative perspective on global issues, and the ability to work with diverse groups of people in a multilingual setting. Students who major in world languages and cultures choose a concentration in one of three languages: French, Italian, or Spanish. Each concentration is comprised of 12 courses in language, literature and/or culture. All majors complete an experiential learning course (internship, community service, or travel-study project), as well as a senior seminar where students design a research project on a topic of their choosing.

Our new Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies and Spanish combines the university’s growing healthcare studies program – which prepares students for non-clinical careers in healthcare – with courses from its world languages program, which offers a concentration in Spanish. The new combined major is designed to fill a need for healthcare professionals who are fluent in Spanish and who have demonstrable intercultural competence. The program is designed for both heritage-Spanish speakers and non-heritage-Spanish speakers. The BS in Healthcare Studies and Spanish provides an avenue for students to combine professional preparation in healthcare studies with Spanish language skills, making them stand-out candidates in a growing healthcare industry.

Our new Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Spanish combines the university’s established criminal justice program – which prepares students for a variety of careers in one of the nation’s fastest growing disciplines – with courses from its world languages program, which offers a concentration in Spanish. 

The new combined major is designed to fill a high demand for criminal justice professionals who have professionalized their Spanish and who have demonstrable intercultural competence. The program is designed for both heritage-Spanish speakers and non-heritage-Spanish speakers. The BS in Criminal Justice and Spanish provides an avenue for students to combine professional preparation in criminal justice with Spanish language skills, making them stand-out candidates in a growing criminal justice field. 

If you see yourself as a Spanish teacher at any level K-12, the combined degree 4+1 program is the way to get there. Start your studies in the bachelor of arts in World Languages and Cultures (Spanish concentration) and talk to your advisor about applying to the combined BA/M.Ed. program at the end of your freshman or start of your sophomore year. You will graduate with an endorsement  for a Massachusetts teacher’s license, a master’s degree, and ample experience teaching Spanish as a second language, ready to fill the critical need for Spanish teachers in our state!

The French concentration consists of 12 courses, including some interdisciplinary course options in other departments like art, history, geography, philosophy, and political science. All world languages and cultures majors complete an experiential learning course (internship, service-learning, or travel-study project) as well as a senior seminar where students undertake a major research project on a topic of their choosing.

Students double-majoring in International Business (BSBA-International Business concentration) and World Languages and Cultures (BA-French, Italian or Spanish concentrations) may count twelve credits of IB major concentration courses towards the Interdisciplinary courses requirement of the WLC French, Italian or Spanish flowsheets. Six credits of advanced language courses may count towards both the WLC advanced language major requirement courses and the IB concentration electives. Visit the catalog for additional details.

The world languages and cultures major with an Italian concentration is comprised of 12 courses (36 credits) including interdisciplinary course options in other departments like art, history and political science. All majors complete an experiential learning course (internship, service-learning, or travel-study project) and a senior seminar in which students complete a major research project on a topic of their choosing.

Students double-majoring in International Business (BSBA-International Business concentration) and World Languages and Cultures (BA-French, Italian or Spanish concentrations) may count twelve credits of IB major concentration courses towards the Interdisciplinary courses requirement of the WLC French, Italian or Spanish flowsheets. Six credits of advanced language courses may count towards both the WLC advanced language major requirement courses and the IB concentration electives. Visit the catalog for additional details.

Our liberal arts concentration includes interdisciplinary course options in other departments, such as history, sociology and political science to give students a well-rounded educational experience. This concentration is designed to be flexible, for students who are double-majoring or who plan to go to graduate school in the arts and sciences.

Students double-majoring in International Business (BSBA-International Business concentration) and World Languages and Cultures (BA-French, Italian or Spanish concentrations) may count twelve credits of IB major concentration courses towards the Interdisciplinary courses requirement of the WLC French, Italian or Spanish flowsheets. Six credits of advanced language courses may count towards both the WLC advanced language major requirement courses and the IB concentration electives. Visit the catalog for additional details.

The minor in Arabic studies is comprised of six courses: four language courses (elementary and intermediate Arabic) plus two electives chosen from courses in history, geography, or additional advanced Arabic language courses.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is not actively offering the language courses that are required to complete this minor. Students can complete this portion of the requirements through study abroad, transfer from an approved institution, or by examination.

Our minor in Chinese Studies prepares students to become active participants in an increasingly globalized and multicultural world and to be equipped for job opportunities. 

Many students and professionals around the world are studying Chinese, which also means learning about Chinese culture and worldview. Learning the language is an essential tool in preparing oneself for careers in political science, international affairs, international business, economy, business, international law, and others.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is not actively offering the language courses that are required to complete this minor. Students can complete this portion of the requirements through study abroad, transfer from an approved institution, or by examination.

The French program includes the study of French and Francophone cultures and literatures, in which you will develop sharp critical thinking ability, oral and written analytical skills, a comparative perspective on global affairs, cross-cultural awareness and the ability to work with diverse groups of people, a broad multidisciplinary knowledge base (including literature, history, art, politics, philosophy, linguistics, sociology, economics, and many more disciplines which intersect with French and Francophone cultures).

Our German studies minor prepares students to become active participants in an increasingly globalized and multicultural world and equipped for personal and professional success. German is the world’s third largest exporting economy and a vital business partner with the United States. Significant corporate leaders are based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland—BMW, Bayer, Volkswagen, Adidas, Puma, Bosch, Hugo Boss, Löwenbräu, Beck’s, Red Bull, Lufthansa, Swatch, Lindt, Nestlé, TAG Heuer, Swarovski, and Steinway & Sons.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is not actively offering the language courses that are required to complete this minor. Students can complete this portion of the requirements through study abroad, transfer from an approved institution, or by examination.

The Italian program will prepare you for your career in any number of fields where language skills, cross-cultural awareness and critical thinking are valued. 

In addition to developing proficiency in speaking, reading and writing Italian, the program also includes the study of Italian culture and literature, in which you will develop sharp critical thinking ability, oral and written analytical skills, a comparative perspective on global affairs, cross-cultural awareness and the ability to work with diverse groups of people, a broad multidisciplinary knowledge base (including literature, history, art, politics, economics, and many more disciplines which intersects with Italian culture).

Spanish is the language of over 400 million people in over 20 countries and the second most spoken language in the US. Hispanics have recently become the largest minority in our country and will comprise a quarter of the US population in just a few decades. For these reasons Spanish is the most studied foreign language in the country and there is a high demand for people who can communicate in Spanish, as well as for people who can teach it.

A Spanish minor can result in employment opportunities in many areas such as business, government, and social services, besides teaching, translating and interpreting. Also, it will give you a competitive edge in the job market no matter what your major is!

The minor in world languages consists of 18 total credits (six courses) in any two languages offered by the department with at least 12 credits above the 101-102 level. 

Salem State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish prepares students to teach Spanish at either the elementary (PreK-6) or secondary (5-12) level. Our program is unique because it runs through the Department of World Languages and Cultures and is taught entirely by full-time professors. The rigorous Spanish course package is entirely in Spanish and offers a solidly balanced preparation. The program is especially beneficial for initial-level students, but our MAT program addresses all coursework needed for the professional and initial licenses. All courses are offered online.

Are you an educator with an initial or professional license who wants to teach academic content in a dual-language or bilingual setting?  

The Graduate Certificate in Bilingual Education at Salem State is designed to meet the requirements for PreK through 12 teachers who wish to earn the DESE Bilingual Education Endorsement. The program provides a strong grounding in the research and practices to teach emerging bilingual students, including foundations of programming, language acquisition and biliteracy development, and the multicultural facets of teaching students and interacting with parents and the community.   

This program will introduce students to the important field of translation and allow students to develop and ultimately to demonstrate competency in essential translation skills. The sequence of courses will also provide students with an understanding of the skills needed to become professionally certified translators and/or to work as salaried or freelance translators. Students will complete translation projects and will compile a professional portfolio by the end of the certificate program.