Many courses cross disciplinary boundaries to examine topics in philosophy, comparative literature, religion, political theory, and also cultural, gender and diaspora studies.

In addition to regular course offerings, the department also provides a number of opportunities for immersion through our study-abroad programs.

Students with previous foreign language experience must take a placement test to continue study in that language at the appropriate level.

The study of languages is an integral part of undergraduate liberal education. It is also an essential component of graduate education in many fields, such as art history, history, literary and cultural study, anthropology, and linguistics. Knowledge of foreign languages and cultures can be key to any career path having a global dimension, such as engineering, agriculture, the military, journalism, business, law, and medicine.