Foreign Language

About the major.

Communicating in a foreign language is more than merely learning to translate text – it means becoming literate in another culture. With a bachelor’s degree in foreign language, you’ll develop linguistic and cultural knowledge, helping you become a globally educated citizen in our increasingly historic and connected world.

The program will explore topics on ancient and contemporary social structure, history, politics, psychology, world view, art and religion of other societies. You’ll gain an increased awareness of and sensitivity to ways of thought and expression and more fully understand how language is linked to every aspect of culture. Learning new languages will even improve your creative, analytic and problem-solving skills.

As an important complement to your time spent on campus, you’re encouraged to study abroad. Programs during the fall and spring semesters, as well as the summer travel to Austria, Costa Rica, France, Ireland, Prague and Spain. You’ll have an immersive atmosphere to practice your foreign language skills, gain valuable cultural insights and make lasting personal relationships.

These practical skills will enable you to pursue positions in non-English-speaking countries and to work with people domestically who do not speak English. With a foreign language degree from the Mount, you’ll be able to pursue a career as an English foreign language instructor, a study abroad coordinator for a university, or volunteer with the Peace Corps.

About the concentration.

If you’re seeking a career in international business, politics or service, a concentration in Italian can introduce many opportunities in European organizations, businesses and government agencies. If you’re interested in teaching foreign languages, having a solid understanding of Italian can provide you with additional skills that educational institutions need. In addition to learning about the linguistics of the Italian language, along with the country’s rich culture and history, you’ll also improve your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

About the concentration.

With a concentration in Latin, you’ll develop an understanding of the basis of many different foreign languages and explore how Latin played a major role in shaping the communication, education and religion of cultures from more than two thousand years ago.