History
Languages
Multiple Languages for History Majors
The UWL History department strongly encourages students to take courses in multiple languages. In an increasingly interconnected world, knowledge of languages other than English is and will continue to be an advantage. For those who ever wish to do research on the history or any other aspect of other societies at the graduate level and beyond, knowledge of corresponding languages is almost always requisite. Furthermore, those considering careers in government (especially diplomacy), business, the military, international law, the travel and tourism industry, or journalism - as well as individuals concerned with human rights, labor, and peace activism - will almost certainly find knowledge of multiple languages useful if not necessary.
At UWL, the Department of Global Cultures and Languages teaches multiple languages. Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish are all taught onsite by UWL faculty. A history major might consider a minor in or double major with French, German, or Spanish, in which case one would take courses other than language courses involving one's chosen region. Lastly, the Department of Global Cultures and Languages also offers certificates of proficiency in French and Russian.
Arabic and Japanese are languages offered to UWL students through distance learning. Other UW campuses' faculty members teach courses in these languages to UWL students under the umbrella of the UW System Collaborative Language Program (CLP). UWL students interact with their Japanese and Arabic teachers through video conferencing technology. In addition, UWL student "facilitators" who are native speakers of these languages help learners in La Crosse by interacting with them in Japanese or Arabic.