Department of Modern Languages and Cultures


Department of
Modern Languages and Cultures
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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
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April 12, 2021
Applied Modern Language and Culture Majors Make Dean's List
A number of students majoring in Applied Modern Language and Culture have earned a spot on the Dean's List for Fall 2020.
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March 19, 2021
College of Liberal Arts honors students for writing excellence
RIT's College of Liberal Arts honored student achievements in writing with 15 writing awards on Friday, March 19. This year marks the 41st year the awards were presented, though the first time the ceremony was held virtually.
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May 18, 2020
LaVerne McQuiller Williams named COLA interim dean
LaVerne McQuiller Williams, senior associate dean of RIT’s College of Liberal Arts, has been named interim COLA dean effective June 1. McQuiller Williams succeeds Dean James Winebrake, who is leaving RIT on June 30 to become provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
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.
Applied modern language and culture is a distinctive foreign language degree that pairs a proficiency in a Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish with a major in the arts, business, computing, engineering, or the sciences.
Learn More about Applied Modern Language and Culture BSThe 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 Chinese Option - Applied Modern Language and Culture BSThe 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 Japanese Option - Applied Modern Language and Culture BSThe 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 Spanish Option - Applied Modern Language and Culture BSMinors and Immersions
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 ImmersionThe 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 MinorThe Latino/Latina/Latin American studies immersion allows students to study Latino or Latin American culture. The goal is to introduce students to the customs and culture (history, art, literature, politics, anthropology, music) of Latin America or of Latinos in the U.S. Students become aware of the relationship between language and culture, and of the differences between their own language and culture and those of Spanish-speaking countries or Brazil.
Learn More about Latino/Latina/Latin American Studies ImmersionThe Latino/Latina/Latin American studies minor provides at least two full years of instruction to prepare students for living and working within an intercultural society both at home and abroad. The minor's five courses foster cultural, or linguistic and cultural, proficiency. Part of the minor requirements may be taken abroad.
Learn More about Latino/Latina/Latin American Studies MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 MinorThis 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 advisor 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 MinorThis 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 advisor 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 MinorThis 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 advisor 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 MinorThis 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 ImmersionThis 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 ImmersionThis 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 ImmersionThis 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 ImmersionThis 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 ImmersionThis 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 advisor for placement evaluation before they register.
Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures – Japanese ImmersionThis 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 advisor for placement evaluation before they register.
Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures – Portuguese ImmersionThis 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 advisor for placement evaluation before they register.
Learn More about Modern Languages and Cultures – Russian ImmersionThis 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 ImmersionModern Languages Technology Center
The MLTC provides a broad range of services for faculty and students related to language instruction. This includes facility maintenance, room reservation, equipment loans, curriculum development assistance, professional development opportunities and more. The MLTC is home to a library of audio files and foreign-language films, many of which are available to stream remotely. Additionally, the MLTC has computers tailored for use in foreign languages.