?For each, the department seeks to broaden a student's understanding of a foreign culture through its primary manifestation: language. In addition to improving the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and listening in a foreign language, departmental courses expose students to literary, historical, and social artifacts of a foreign culture. Analysis of the formal aspects of a foreign language also heightens awareness of English language structures.?
A major in French or Spanish helps students to develop significant proficiency and makes them aware of the principal literary and other cultural manifestations of the language. With its emphasis on language, literature and critical thinking, the foreign language major prepares students for graduate work, teaching, government, and other careers with an international focus.