World Languages & Cultures

The World Languages & Cultures curriculum takes you beyond the classroom, immersing you in language and culture to help shape you into a global citizen. When you study in the IU School of Liberal Arts World Languages & Cultures Program, you don’t just learn how to communicate in another language—you learn to understand people, perspectives, and cultures. This powerful combination of language proficiency and cultural insight prepares you to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

As you build skills in your target language, you also sharpen your command of your own, strengthen your cognitive abilities, and develop the cultural awareness employers actively seek. Today’s job market rewards people who can communicate across cultures, adapt quickly, and bring a global perspective to their work— and that’s what you gain here.

Go beyond the languages

Our programs go far beyond grammar and vocabulary. You explore culture through literature, media, history, and lived experience. You learn how language shapes identity, how culture influences communication, and how global perspectives inform everything from business to healthcare to community engagement. This is where you become a more thoughtful, informed, and culturally aware global citizen.

Instruction is offered in seven languages, including opportunities for you to earn a B.A. in Spanish or pursue minors in areas such as Arabic & Islamic Studies, Chinese Studies, East Asian Studies, French & Francophone Studies, German, Japanese Studies, Latino Studies, and Spanish & Hispanic Studies. You can also take courses in American Sign Language Studies.

In your studies, you’ll not only develop strong communication skills in the target language but also gain insight into the cultures, philosophies, and global perspectives connected to these languages. Each option allows you to build language proficiency while exploring the rich cultural contexts that shape how people think, live, and interact.

To gain the practical, real world experience employers value, you can strengthen your skills through translation courses, internships with local community organizations, or international experiences abroad. These opportunities go beyond résumé building—they give you meaningful, hands-on ways to apply your language and cultural knowledge as you shape your future career path.

Majors

B.A. in Spanish & Hispanic Studies

Expand your opportunities. Connect with your community. Shape your future.
When you major in Spanish & Hispanic Studies at the IU School of Liberal Arts, you gain the language skills and cultural insight needed to thrive in an interconnected world. You build strong proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing the Spanish language while exploring the cultures across the Spanish-speaking world.

Your coursework strengthens your communication, critical thinking, and intercultural abilities—preparing you for careers in education, social services, business, government, nonprofit work, health outreach, and international communication. By the time you graduate, you’re ready to contribute to multilingual workplaces, pursue graduate study, and engage confidently with others.

Minors

Pairing a World Languages & Cultures minor with your major expands the ways you understand, connect, and engage with the world. It adds global versatility to any field of study, giving you tools to navigate cultural differences, interpret meaning across languages, and communicate with clarity and confidence.

You can pursue minors in the following areas, each offering unique cultural and linguistic perspectives:

• Arabic & Islamic Studies
• Chinese Studies
• East Asian Culture
• French & Francophone Studies
• German
• Latino Studies
• Japanese Studies
• Spanish
• American Sign Language Studies

Whether you’re preparing for graduate school, seeking to stand out in an increasingly international job market, or hoping to broaden your intellectual horizons, a World Languages & Cultures minor enriches your perspective and strengthens your ability to collaborate across cultures.

Career-focused

World Languages & Cultures offers a powerful foundation for students who want to work, understand, and engage with a rapidly globalizing world. Studying languages and global cultures strengthens your ability to communicate across differences, interpret complex social contexts, and navigate diverse communities—skills that open doors to careers in education, business, healthcare, public service, law, media, and beyond.

If you’re energized by cross-cultural connections and global perspectives, you may also be interested in pairing your studies with programs such as Law in Liberal Arts, anthropology, history, journalism, or political science, where you can apply these strengths to diplomacy, policy, and community engagement.

Explore our World Languages & Cultures areas of study

Discover the language and culture that inspires you. Our full complement of programs in World Languages & Cultures gives you the freedom to explore the world, build strong communication and critical thinking skills, and gain the global awareness that today’s careers demand. With active, engaging courses and a community rooted in curiosity and connection, you’ll be ready to succeed in a diverse, fast-changing world.

• American Sign Language Studies Program
• Arabic & Islamic Studies Program
• Chinese Studies Program
• French & Francophone Studies Program
• German Program
• Japanese Studies Program
• Spanish & Hispanic Studies Program

More information

For questions about any of these academic offerings, contact the Department of World Languages & Cultures chair, Kate Miller.

Everything you need to thrive academically, intellectually, and personally during your time at the IU School of Liberal Arts.