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2026-2027 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog
Modern Languages, BA, World Intercultural Studies
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 Return to: Programs of Study
| Degree Awarded: |
Total Credit Hours: |
| Bachelor of Art |
120 |
| Career Opportunities: |
| Multinational companies, nonprofits, and global service providers require employees who can work effectively across cultural lines and understand the nuances of cross-border communication and collaboration. In industries such as healthcare, business, education, and public service, the ability to engage respectfully and knowledgeably with people from different cultural backgrounds is a highly valued asset. Service industries such as tourism, education, media, and customer relations increasingly require staff who are prepared to interact with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and expectations. A degree in World Intercultural Studies provides strong value in both the job market and academic advancement. It prepares graduates for a wide range of career paths where global awareness and cross-cultural communication are key, including roles in education, tourism, marketing, communications, cultural consulting, and more. For those pursuing further education, the concentration provides a solid foundation for graduate study in areas such as international education, communication, area studies, or global leadership. The credential also demonstrates to employers and graduate programs alike that a student has developed the cultural awareness, critical thinking, and adaptability necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. The program’s language foundation strengthens the value of the degree by ensuring graduates possess both the intellectual understanding and linguistic ability to engage meaningfully with different cultural contexts. |
| Program Description: |
| This concentration in Modern Languages focuses on the cultural aspects of the different languages we teach and provide students with the opportunity to develop language skills at the proficiency level of minors in the language while also allowing them to broaden their scope to include courses with an international focus but in different areas, such as politics, communications, geography, anthropology, and other humanities fields (history and literature), as well as areas outside the College of Liberal Arts, such as the arts, business, and law. This concentration affords students increased flexibility in their studies while maintaining their focus on intercultural relations among different countries and leverages the intercultural knowledge and competence of the faculty of Modern Languages. |
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World Intercultural Studies
The concentration in World Intercutural Studies requires: - Three courses (9 hours) at the 300-level or higher in the student’s chosen language (ARAB, ASL, FREN, GERM, or SPAN). All courses must be in the same language.
- Three courses (9 hours) in World Intercultural Studies:
- WICS 310 Foundations of World Intercultural Studies
- WICS 400 Topics in World World Intercultural Studies
- WISC 490 World Intercultural Studies Capstone, which may be fulfilled by a study abroad experience approved by the Department of Modern Languages.
- Five courses (15 hours) with an international focus, as listed below. A minimum of nine hours of these courses must be at the 300/400 level. Students may petittion the Department for any internationally-focused course to count toward the degree, but courses on the approved list will count automatically.
- One course (3 hours) in ANTH or POLS
- Two courses (6 hours) in the College of Liberal Arts
- Two courses (6 hours) in any college
Freshman Year (33 credit hours)
Language (6 credit hours)
Students must complete two courses in their chosen language (ARAB, ASL, FREN, GERM, or SPAN) depending on the results of their Placement Exam (if applicable) and in consultation with the academic advisor. Courses must be in the same language. History (6 credit hours)
Choose from the General Education Curriculum list of History courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
Choose any course from the General Education Curriculum list of Social/Behavioral courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.
Sophomore Year (30 credit hours)
Language (6 credit hours)
Choose from 300/400-level courses in student’s chosen language (ARAB, ASL, FREN, GERM, or SPAN) in consultation with academic advisor. Courses must be in the same language. International Elective (3 credit hours)
Choose from courses with an international focus in consultation with academic advisor. Courses on the approved list will automatically count. English Literature (3 credit hours)
Choose from the General Education Curriculum list of Literature courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.
Communication (3 credit hours)
Choose from the General Education Curriculum list of Communication courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.
Social/Behavioral Sciences (3 credit hours)
Choose any 200-level or above course from the General Education Curriculum list of Social/Behavioral courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. Minor (6 credit hours)
An 18 credit hour minor must be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. The minor need not be in the College of Liberal Arts. Six of the 18 credit hours must be on the 300/400-level.
Junior Year (27 credit hours)
World Intercultural Studies (3 hours)
Language (3 credit hours)
Choose from 300/400-level courses in student’s chosen language (ARAB, ASL, FREN, GERM, or SPAN) in consultation with academic advisor. Courses must be in the same language. Anthropology/Political Science (3 hours)
Choose from courses in ANTH or POLS with an international focus in consultation with academic advisor. Courses on the approved list will automatically count.
International Elective (3 hours)
Choose from courses with an international focus in consultation with academic advisor. Courses on the approved list will automatically count.
History (3 credit hours)
Choose from the General Education Curriculum list of History courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. Minor (6 credit hours)
An 18 credit hour minor must be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. The minor need not be in the College of Liberal Arts. Six of the 18 credit hours must be on the 300/400-level.
General Elective (3 hours)
Choose in consultation with academic advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.
Senior Year (30 credit hours)
World Intercultural Studies (6 hours)
Literature (3 credit hours)
Choose from the General Education Curriculum list of Literature courses. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. Humanities (3 credit hours)
Choose 3 credit hours from HUMN courses at the 300 or 400 level. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus. International Electives (6 credit hours)
Choose from courses with an international focus in consultation with academic advisor. Courses on the approved list will automatically count. Minor (6 credit hours)
An 18 credit hour minor must be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.The minor need not be in the College of Liberal Arts. Six of the 18 credit hours must be on the 300/400-level.
General Electives (6 credit hours)
Choose in consultation with academic advisor. Students are encouraged to select courses with an international or intercultural focus.
General Education Curriculum
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