Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Contact

 

Overview

Language and cultural skills are crucial in today’s globalized economy and society and are valued across nearly all industries. The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures is committed to preparing students for active participation in a global society by providing coursework that deepens understanding of different languages and cultures. Students are able to complete an immersion or minor in any of the 10 languages offered by the department, or complete a bachelor’s degree in applied modern language and culture in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish. The department also prepares students to participate in global experiences, such as study or work abroad.

10

Languages taught: ASL, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

24

Minor and immersion options: ASL, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Language Science, Latino/Latina/Latin American Studies, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

100%

Of students in the undergraduate degree program complete an international experience

Latest News

  • May 2, 2019

    Student poses sitting at table with notebook and laptop.

    RIT graduate on her way to Kosovo to teach English

    Growing up in Youngstown, N.Y., near Niagara Falls, Alessandra Santarosa always had the urge to explore. As she readies to graduate this month from RIT with a bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in German, and sociology and anthropology, Santarosa is ready for more adventures: joining the Peace Corps and teaching English in Kosovo for two years.

  • April 1, 2019

    Large group of students stands with dean.

    RIT’s College of Liberal Arts honors students for writing excellence

    RIT’s College of Liberal Arts honored student achievement in writing on Friday with the presentation of more than a dozen writing awards for essays varying from sanctuary cities, how democracies can withstand outside meddling, and the excavation, preservation and reconstruction of a London theater where Shakespearian plays debuted.

  • January 18, 2018

    The photo is split into three vertical sections. The left section features a red, Japanese Torii, the middle is a close up photo of colorful, embroidered Spanish fabric stacked on top of each other, and the third is a photo of a Chinese guardian lion.

    RIT offers new bachelor's degree in modern language

    A new bachelor's degree in applied modern language and culture will be offered to students at RIT this fall that will provide advanced studies of languages and cultures that directly apply to the global workplace and economy.
More News  

Faculty / Staff

View Department Directory  

Undergraduate Programs

Students complete a language and cultural track in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish along with a coursework in a technical or professional discipline such as computing, information technology, engineering, business, health sciences, art and design, or science, often leading to a minor or double major in that area. A required international experience immerses you in the language, culture, and traditions of your chosen track.

Increase your career options with a proficiency in a second language and its culture. Pair your study of Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish with a major in computing, information technology, engineering, business, the arts, or the sciences.

Learn More about Applied Modern Language and Culture BS 

The Chinese option of the applied modern language and culture degree provides advanced study of Chinese language and culture that directly applies to the global economy in which you’ll work. You will learn to speak, understand, read, and write in Chinese, as well as gain a proficiency in the culture and traditions surrounding the language and geographic region. You’ll pair your study of Chinese with a secondary major or minor computing, engineering, business, the arts, or the sciences.

Learn More about Applied Modern Language and Culture BS - Chinese option 

The Japanese option of the applied modern language and culture degree provides advanced study of Japanese language and culture that directly applies to the global economy in which you’ll work. You will learn to speak, understand, read, and write in Japanese, as well as gain a proficiency in the culture and traditions surrounding the language and geographic region. You’ll pair your study of Japanese with a secondary major or minor computing, engineering, business, the arts, or the sciences.

Learn More about Applied Modern Language and Culture BS - Japanese option 

The Spanish option of the applied modern language and culture degree provides advanced study of Spanish language and culture that directly applies to the global economy in which you’ll work. You will learn to speak, understand, read, and write in Spanish, as well as gain a proficiency in the culture and traditions surrounding the language and geographic region. You’ll pair your study of Spanish with a secondary major or minor computing, engineering, business, the arts, or the sciences.

Learn More about Applied Modern Language and Culture BS - Spanish option 

Minors and Immersions

The American Sign Language and deaf cultural studies minor prepares students in the multidisciplinary study of American Sign Language and deaf culture. The minor is open to hearing and deaf students enrolled in all bachelor's degree programs. Courses in the minor address topics in the field of ASL and DCS including the study of ASL and its structure, ASL literature, literature in English pertaining to the D/deaf experience, the history of D/deaf people in America and around the world, Deaf art and cinema, the experience of D/deaf people from racial, ethnic, and other minority groups, oppression in the lives D/deaf people, and various political, legal, and educational issues affecting members of the D/deaf community. The minor complements majors in fields such as business, imaging arts and sciences, health sciences, policy studies, professional and technical communication, psychology, and numerous scientific and technical fields.

Learn More about American Sign Language and Deaf Cultural Studies Minor 

The ASL and Deaf Cultural Studies immersion prepares students in the multi-disciplinary study of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. Open to hearing and deaf students, courses address topics in the field of ASL and Deaf Cultural Studies, including the study of ASL and its structure, ASL literature, literature in English pertaining to the Deaf experience, the history of Deaf people in the U.S. and around the world, Deaf art and cinema, the experience of Deaf people from racial, ethnic, and other underrepresented groups, intersectionality, oppression in the lives of Deaf people, and various political, legal, and educational issues affecting members of Deaf communities.

Learn More about American Sign Language and Deaf Cultural Studies Immersion 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad.

Learn More about Modern Language – Arabic Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad.

Learn More about Modern Language – Chinese Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – French Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – German Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad.

Learn More about Modern Language – Italian Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – Japanese Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – Portuguese Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – Russian Minor 

This minor provides two full years of modern language and culture instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor consists of five courses, either five language courses or a combination of language courses with up to two culture courses. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. Part of the requirements for this minor can be fulfilled by courses taken abroad. 

Learn More about Modern Language – Spanish Minor 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Arabic-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register for language courses.

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Arabic Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Chinese-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Chinese Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of French-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - French Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of German-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills will begin the language courses at their current level of proficiency as determined by a placement test. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - German Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Italy. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Italian Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Japan. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Japanese Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Portuguese Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Russia and Russian-speaking countries of the world. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Russian Immersion 

This immersion introduces students to the language, customs, and cultural aspects (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, and music) of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. The immersion consists of three language courses or two language courses and one culture course. Students with previous language skills must consult the minor adviser for placement evaluation before they register. 

Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures - Spanish Immersion 

Facilities

Student Resources

Here you will find additional resources for the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, such as information on the Modern Language Technology Center and placement exams and advising.

See Resources