Languages and Cultures

We live in a multilingual, multicultural world

Drawing on a long Jesuit tradition of scholarship on and respect for the world's diverse languages and cultures, we offer a wide range of courses and degree programs aimed at developing your linguistic proficiency and cultural competence

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The Department of Languages and Cultures at Fordham

Group of students in front of Parthenon - SM

We are a diverse, multicultural, international, and multilingual faculty whose teaching and research reflect a wide range of interdisciplinary interests and expertise. Learn more about our faculty.

The Department of Languages and Cultures draws its mission from the university’s Jesuit tradition of scholarship on world languages and cultures, with the goal of cultivating thoughtful, respectful leaders in a global society. 

Our curriculum emphasizes language proficiency, advanced disciplinary and interdisciplinary study, engagement with American and global diversity, and the development of socially responsible attitude through service beyond the university. The skills and knowledge developed in upper-level courses prepare students for graduate study in the humanities and professional schools, such as law school, as well as for careers in education, the media and communication, business, social and community service, international studies, foreign service, marketing, publishing, fashion, and trade, among other career tracks. 

Our programs also build on the university’s longstanding connection to New York City and its vibrant communities and institutions.

Students can develop linguistic fluency and cultural competence in nine languages, from introductory to advanced levels:

  • Arabic
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Russian
  • Spanish

In addition to foundational language courses, the department offers a wide range of advanced courses leading to minors and majors:

  • Arabic minor
  • French minor + French and Francophone Studies major, 
  • German minor + German Studies major + German Language and Literature major 
  • Italian minor + Italian Studies major + Italian Language and Literature major 
  • Mandarin Chinese minor + Chinese Studies major
  • Russian minor 
  • Spanish minor +Spanish Studies major + Spanish Language and Literature major
  • Linguistics minor 

Our majors and minors complement a wide range of academic interests, including International Studies, History, Political Science, International Political Economy, Communication and Media Studies and Philosophy, making language study a valuable component of many interdisciplinary academic paths.

“The world is a great book. Those who neither travel nor know languages read only the first page.” 
(Adapted from St. Augustine of Hippo)

Student resources

Faculty research