World Languages and Cultures, B.A.

Anthropology Track (21 credits)

Anthropology is the study of the human being. In this discipline, we study how humans have come to be who and what we are today: the ways we organize ourselves in groups, the beliefs and values shared within and across cultures, and the ways we mark our identity with the languages we speak. Our track includes archaeology, cultural anthropology and linguistics. Students in this track receive training in these areas, participating in on-going faculty research. Career opportunities for this track include positions in Cultural Resource Management, Natural Resource Management, Teaching, Ethnic Studies, Medicine & Public Health, Human Resources, Market Research, Historic Preservation, Museum Curation, and social work.

Arabic Track (17 credits)

The Bachelor of World Languages & Cultures with a track in Arabic aims to place the study of Arabic language and literature within a broad cultural framework to offer students a solid proficiency in language and culture and global education. Students learn language proficiency listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interactive class settings. The program offers a broad range of courses in the culture, history, literature, cinema, and media of the Arabic-speaking world, all aimed at developing skills for the 21^st century. Graduates with the WLC degree with an Arabic track will be competent to interact with native speakers in culturally appropriate ways, use the Arabic language in a variety of academic, social and professional situations, have a rich understanding of Arab culture, value alternative perspectives and act with cultural sensitivity, meeting the challenge of a globalized world. These measures aim to prepare students for a wide range of professional opportunities, including careers in governmental positions and jobs in education and business. Hence, the Arabic track renders excellent service to the CSU community as well as to the students of other academic institutions in Northeast Ohio.

French Track (19 credits)

The Bachelor of World Languages & Cultures with a track in French, the second most widely learned world language after English, develops linguistically, culturally competent, and ready to be global citizens. Students learn language proficiency listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interactive class settings. The program offers a broad range of courses in the culture, history, literature, cinema, and media of the francophone world (35 countries, 750 million speakers by 2050), all aimed at developing skills for the 21^st century. Upon completion of the WLC degree with a French track, graduates will be competent to interact with native speakers in culturally appropriate ways, use the French language in a variety of academic, social and professional situations, have a rich understanding of Francophone culture, value alternative perspectives and act with cultural sensitivity, meet the challenge of a globalized world and continue to develop their skills as lifelong learners.

Linguistics Track (18 credits)

The Bachelor of World Languages & Cultures with a track in Linguistics trains students in the scientific inquiry into the nature of the human language, focusing on the core areas of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax. Linguistics students explore the cutting-edge topics in the field today, such as theories of how language works in the human cognition, how it relates to culture and society, as well as how linguistics is used in computer science. Students will also learn how linguists find evidence for their hypotheses, which will train them in collecting and analyzing data. The resulting skills can be practiced in computer industry, business, government service, law, teaching, translation and interpreting services, as well as applied in graduate studies in linguistics.

Spanish Track (21 credits)

A WLC major with a track in Spanish develops students’ familiarity with Hispanic cultures the world over and the language skills to engage directly with them. Our graduates take their expertise into careers in business, community work, health and legal professions, and education, to name a few. The comprehensive curriculum includes traditional components of Hispanic studies: linguistics, Latin American Studies, and Iberian Studies. It prepares students for a lifetime enriched by work and experiences with Hispanics in the United States and abroad. In addition, the program provides the comprehensive foundation necessary for students to pursue graduate studies in Spanish.

Dual Track (36-44 credits)

Dual Track offers students with interest in two disciplines an opportunity to combine courses counting toward two minors to earn a single major. Students’ expertise in World Languages and Cultures can be suited to varied interests and workforce needs. Some will gain intercultural competence, linguistic proficiency and professional communication skills in two languages; others will choose to become proficient in linguistics and anthropology fieldwork while learning to communicate with a global community. Students will develop a multidisciplinary set of skills in which the toolboxes of two different areas of study should allow them to effectively enter the workforce in both fields.

In keeping with the workforce-oriented nature of this dual competency major, students will not be allowed to pursue a Dual Language and Culture Track in which the combination of both sets of skills would have lots of overlap, as this would reduce their value to the job market (i.e., Anthropology and Native American Studies; Spanish and Spanish for Health Sciences).

Students interested in this track declare a major to the Chair of the WLC department and complete the requirements associated with two minor tracks, in addition to the WLC core courses. In doing so, students will be able to complete courses in two of the disciplines taught in the Department before choosing, in the final year of study, in which discipline they will complete a capstone course. Students may not earn both a WLC major with Dual Track and a WLC minor.

1. Required Courses (range of credits depends on the chosen minors, plus Capstone in the area of their choice) Required courses from the 2 chosen minors (see below the requirements for WLC Department minors).
2. Electives (range of credits depends on the chosen minors) Elective courses from the 2 chosen minors (see below the requirements for WLC Department minors).