Applied World Languages and Cultures
Major/Minor
Program Overview
Applied World Languages and Cultures is a major for students who want to use language skills in real settings. You’ll build strong ability in a world language and learn how culture shapes communication. Then you’ll apply those skills through hands-on experiences like study abroad or an internship.
You’ll choose a path in French, German, Spanish, or a multilingual option, based on how you want to focus your degree.
AT A GLANCE
What will you learn in applied world languages and cultures?
Every path in this program includes hands-on experience outside the classroom. Whether that means studying abroad or completing an internship, you'll use your language and cultural skills in real situations rather than just practicing them in a lecture hall.
That experience is built into the degree, not bolted on. You'll finish with real work that connects your language and cultural knowledge to a career and a clear sense of where you want to take it.
Applied world languages and cultures highlgihts
As an Applied World Languages and Cultures student:
- Build real language proficiency: Progress in a world language through sequenced coursework, starting at the right level based on placement or prior credit so you keep moving forward.
- Strengthen intercultural competence: Study language alongside cultural context so you can communicate across communities with clarity, not just translate words.
- Put your skills to work in real settings: Complete an applied experience such as study abroad or an internship (varies by option) where you use language and cultural skills outside the classroom.
- Bring it together in a capstone: Finish with the World Languages and Cultures capstone to synthesize what you learned and connect your academic work to next steps.
World languages and cultures careers and outcomes
The Applied World Languages and Cultures program prepares you for roles where language skills and cross-cultural communication matter. You can take what you learn into work that supports international operations, public service, health and human services, travel and hospitality, and other fields that involve working with people across cultures.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreter or Translator | $59,440 |
| Legal Researcher | $61,010 |
| Global Communications Manager | $81,205 |
| Foreign Language Teacher | $83,980 |
| Foreign Exchange Trader | $101,910 |
Language and culture are better in person
Applied World Languages and Cultures is built for this. Take your language and cultural skills out of the classroom and into one of more than 150 programs across 50+ countries.
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