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Global Cultures & Languages

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Enhance language skills and cultural competency to work globally in fields like government, business, and healthcare with UWL's language programs.

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Interested in one of our majors, minors or certificates? Fill out the declaration form to declare a major or minor.

Undergraduate programs

French

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Undergrad certificate Teacher license

Studying any language helps students hone important skills that employers are seeking such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, leadership and intercultural competency.

French is the fifth most spoken language globally and the third most spoken language in the U.S. French is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations, making it important for global relations.

Areas of study

Business Concentration

The business concentration is focused on the study of French in professional business contexts, addressing written and oral conventions in business and other professional settings, as well as professional expectations across Francophone and Anglophone cultures.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Business Catalogfor Business

Education

This major prepares students to teach French in grades K-12. Completion of the program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin Teaching License. Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements. 

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education Catalogfor Education

Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Completion of the French Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching licenses: French, grades K-12 (1355) and English as a Second Language, grades K-12 (ESL, 1395). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Catalogfor Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Catalogfor French
Quick glancefor French

German Studies

Undergrad major Undergrad minor

If you want to work in government or do business in Europe, German is the language to know.

Germany is an economic powerhouse. The German economy ranks No. 1 in Europe and No. 4 worldwide. Use your German language skills to take advantage of numerous connections between businesses in Germany and Wisconsin.

German is also a relatively easy language to learn for English speakers because of the Germanic roots of English.

Areas of study

Business Concentration

With this business concentration, you’ll focus your German education on learning to communicate effectively in the business world.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Business Catalogfor Business
Catalogfor German Studies
Quick glancefor German Studies

Spanish

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Teacher license

Spanish is one of the fastest growing languages worldwide. Because of the prominence of this language, it is likely you will interact with Spanish speakers in your future. By studying Spanish, you will develop not only language skills to interact, but also cultural competency. These skills help you to work with people from other cultures more effectively and appropriately.

Areas of study

Education

Completion of the Spanish Education Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin teaching license in Spanish for grades K-12 (1365). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education Catalogfor Education

Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Completion of the Spanish Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching licenses: Spanish, grades K-12 (1365) and English as a Second Language, grades K-12 (ESL, 1395). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Catalogfor Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Catalogfor Spanish
Quick glancefor Spanish

Chinese Studies

Undergrad minor Undergrad certificate

Many people think that Chinese is a complex language to learn. However, from a grammatical standpoint, the language is relatively simple. Unlike many languages, Chinese has no verb conjugation, no gender or number agreement, and the same basic word order as English. Chinese characters are artistically formed and loaded with meaning, so the more you learn, the easier it becomes. If you know the most frequently used 600 Chinese characters, you can recognize 80% of Chinese words in daily life. If you know 1,000 characters, over 90% of words are covered.

Catalogfor Chinese Studies
Quick glancefor Chinese Studies

Russian Studies Certificate

Undergrad certificate

Russian is a Slavic language spoken by hundreds of millions of people. It is primarily spoken in the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as Russia, and throughout the former Soviet Union. Understanding of Russian language is valuable in the business and government sectors. Russia is a large country with vast natural resources and a history of innovation in science and technology. All these points make the understanding of Russian valuable to diverse employers doing business and government work globally.

Quick glancefor Russian Studies Certificate

Spanish for Business & Organizations Certificate

Undergrad certificate

The certificate pairs well with any UWL major, especially international business and other paths that include some experience abroad such as anthropology or geography.

Courses in the certificate are very practical. You will learn Spanish with a community of learners participating in high-impact practices such as service-learning, virtual collaborations with international students, internships abroad, educational trips and more.

Quick glancefor Spanish for Business & Organizations Certificate

Spanish for Health Professions Certificate

Undergrad certificate

The certificate is designed to accommodate the demands of the many health-related programs offered at UWL. Students complete 15-16 credits in Spanish and other disciplines that allow students to balance pre-professional programs with a certificate in a liberal arts discipline. All courses are designed so that students can immediately apply their language and cultural skills to a real-world setting.

Quick glancefor Spanish for Health Professions Certificate

Featured courses

  • Faces of Spain: Conversation and Culture
    SPA 302 | 3 credits
    This course is an introduction to the concepts of diversity and social responsibility through the study of the construction of national identity in Spain. A main focus will be on describing these themes in their social and cultural contexts, especially through the analysis of films in Spanish. This course explores issues related to origins of Spanish identity, diversity in communities, changing social structures, and independence movements. Students will also develop all four language skills, with an emphasis on oral proficiency (focusing on listening and speaking), along with critical thinking. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or SPA 221 or placement based on UW System Placement Test scores. Offered Occasionally.
  • Spanish for Mental Health Professionals
    SPA 322 | 3 credits
    This intermediate-level Spanish course is specifically designed to prepare students to work with Latinx populations in the United States and abroad. Hispanics in the United States are expected to comprise nearly a quarter of the future workforce, and they are affected by mental health morbidity e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse, and family conflict, to cite a few, in part due to the lack of linguistically and culturally accessible services. In this oral proficiency course, to be conducted primarily in Spanish, students will not only learn the appropriate vocabulary and jargon associated with the discipline, they will also develop awareness of the strengths, resilience, and protective factors that emanate from Latina/o culture through a selection of adapted videos and readings, grammar exercises, in-class simulations, and a mock video consultation. At the end of the course students will be better positioned to deliver more linguistically and culturally congruent interventions. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or SPA 221 or placement based on UW System Placement Test scores. Offered Occasionally.
  • Spanish for Professional Communication
    SPA 325 | 3 credits
    This course enhances a student's ability to function effectively in an increasingly important commercial language locally, in the United States, and abroad. A variety of adapted readings and videos provide a solid foundation in the vocabulary and written discourse used in Spanish in a variety of professions such as business and marketing, sports sciences, psychology, and human resources, among others. This course also develops a cultural understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, which is key to being able to successfully conduct formal conversations with native professionals. The course, to be conducted primarily in Spanish, includes various activities, grammar topics, and assignments that provide preparation for the final task: writing a cover letter in Spanish for a job in the student's knowledge area where knowledge and/or proficiency of Spanish is required. This intermediate-level course has a strong written-proficiency focus. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or SPA 221 or placement based on UW System Placement Test scores. Offered Annually.
  • Spanish Speakers in the U.S.: Language, Community, (In)justice
    SPA 332 | 3 credits
    In this course students develop and refine their listening comprehension and speaking skills by listening to and discussing the experiences of Spanish-speaking communities in the United States. Students will learn about language and identity by exploring Spanish across the generations and Spanish dialects in context; language ideology by reflecting on Mock Spanish and Spanglish; and language in society by understanding language access in places like schools, healthcare, and other public services. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or SPA 221 or placement based on UW System Placement Test scores. Offered Occasionally.
  • Spanish Beyond the Classroom: Navigating the Personal and Professional World
    SPA 333 | 3 credits
    Throughout this course, students will explore diverse Spanish-speaking communities through the lens of both the professional world and the personal world. To do so, students will analyze the societal impacts of work and play in different cultural contexts while also reviewing and mastering important grammatical concepts in Spanish. Students will have opportunities to apply their knowledge regularly in real-world tasks related to the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Content and grammar instruction and practice will be presented in relevant cultural contexts, paying special attention to the ways in which different forms can be used to make meaning and do things with the language in different spheres of society. Students will build upon their previous language experience to achieve a greater level of proficiency for reading and writing in Spanish while also gaining a deeper understanding of diversity and social responsibility in both the professional and personal sectors. Prerequisite: SPA 202 or SPA 221 or placement based on UW System Placement Test scores. Offered Occasionally.
  • Latinx in the U.S.: Culture and Society
    SPA 355 | 3 credits
    This course is an introduction to the historic, social and cultural contexts of Latinx culture in the United States. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students analyze literature, art, music, media, film, performance, and social activism which reflect the main events and social movements in the trajectory of Latinx culture in the U.S. The course focuses on the impact of U.S. colonialism and imperialism on Latinx social systems in the U.S., as well as Latin American migrations and their impact on modern-day Latinx identities. The course also explores issues of statehood, racism, gender inequalities, cultural hybridization, and immigration. Conducted in Spanish with some materials in Spanglish. Prerequisite: three courses from the following: SPA 302, SPA 307, SPA 309, SPA 310, SPA 312, SPA 322, SPA 323, SPA 325, SPA 332, SPA 333, SPA 335. Offered Occasionally.
  • Spanish for the Health Professions
    SPA 370 | 3 credits
    In this course students will develop linguistic, professional, and cultural skills necessary to work with and advocate for Spanish-speaking patients in the healthcare professions. To do this, students will learn how Limited English Proficient patients experience the United States healthcare system and reflect on their own role as cultural brokers in this setting. Class activities and assignments are designed to allow the student to engage with and interpret the healthcare system from the perspective of Spanish-speaking patients. Prerequisite: three courses from the following: SPA 302, SPA 307, SPA 309, SPA 310, SPA 312, SPA 322, SPA 323, SPA 325, SPA 332, SPA 333, SPA 335. Offered Occasionally.
  • Business Spanish
    SPA 371 | 3 credits
    This course enhances students' ability to function effectively in an increasingly important commercial language locally, in the United States, and abroad. This course is designed to introduce students to essential business terminology and language situations in common business contexts, reinforcing strategies for understanding, interpreting, and responding to new information. Students learn the importance of cultural awareness in doing business in Spanish-speaking countries or with Spanish speakers in the United States in general. The course, to be conducted primarily in Spanish, includes some translating and interpreting activities of special importance for managers and leaders. The course also develops students' geographic literacy and cultural understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, as these are central to conducting business successfully in Spanish. Prerequisite: three courses from the following: SPA 302, SPA 307, SPA 309, SPA 310, SPA 312, SPA 322, SPA 323, SPA 325, SPA 332, SPA 333, SPA 335. Offered Annually.
  • Chinese Language and Culture in Action I
    CHI 201 | 4 credits
    This course continues to develop students' communicative competence in the four skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing. It also develops students' cross-cultural awareness and competence while building communicative strategies. Prerequisite: CHI 102 or placement. Offered Fall.
  • Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature
    CHI 305 | 3 credits
    This course provides a general survey of the most important Chinese writers of the 20th century and their works. Literary works are discussed in their social, cultural, and historical contexts. Taught in English and based entirely on translated texts, the course is ideal for students with little or no Chinese background who are nevertheless drawn to one of the most vibrant literary cultures in the world. Offered Spring - Even Numbered Years.
  • Business Chinese
    CHI 315 | 3 credits
    This course is aimed to enhance students' language skills in a business context and to promote their understanding of culture and the business environment in contemporary China. Intensive practice in oral comprehension, speaking, writing, utilizing special, topical vocabulary related to international commerce and interaction in a variety of business settings. Prerequisite: CHI 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall - Even Numbered Years.
  • Visual Encounters
    FRE 300 | 3 credits
    This course introduces students to a variety of art and technology-related topics that define French-speaking cultures today while practicing grammatical structures required to narrate and describe. Analysis of visual artifacts and development of writing skills take place in contexts such as regional cultures and traditions, culinary arts, cinema, music, art festivals, popular culture, artistic genres, and new technologies. Prerequisite: FRE 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall.
  • Exploring the Story
    FRE 305 | 3 credits
    This course introduces students to a variety of narrative structures in their cultural context. Students will increase their vocabulary, reinforce reading strategies, interpret cultural signifiers, and develop critical thinking skills as they confront the printed word in comics, short stories, fairy-tales, fables, poems, or newspaper articles. Prerequisite: FRE 300 or FRE 301. Offered Fall - Odd Numbered Years.
  • French for Professional Communication
    FRE 307 | 3 credits
    A course designed to prepare students to communicate effectively in professional contexts. It addresses written and oral conventions in business and other professional settings, determines/compares professional expectations across Francophone and Anglophone cultures, and prepares for all aspects of the job search for a company dealing with Francophone professionals, with a focus on Canadian and European exchanges. Prerequisite: FRE 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall.
  • An Introduction to German Literature
    GER 301 | 3 credits
    A beginning literature course designed to teach the student to read with depth and critical ability. Emphasis will be on German theatre, the short story, and poetry. Prerequisite: GER 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall - Even Numbered Years.
  • German Civilization: 1870-Reunification
    GER 320 | 3 credits
    A topical and contrastive approach to German culture and civilization. A study of the social and political organization of Germany from 1870 to reunification in 1989, based on an historical perspective with special emphasis on the forces which led to National Socialism and the division of Germany after World War II. Milestones in German cultural history prior to 1870 will be touched on briefly. Prerequisite: GER 202 or equivalent. Offered Occasionally.
  • German Thinkers and Popular Culture
    GER 398 | 3 credits
    A course that critically examines instances of popular culture such as Hollywood movies, reality TV, pop songs, social media sites, and bestselling novels through the lens of various philosophical traditions. Focusing predominantly on German thinkers from the 18th-20th centuries such as Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, and Benjamin, the course explores how their ideas can help a person today find deeper meaning in pop culture, as well as how pop culture might aid in understanding these thinkers' difficult theories. Taught in English. Offered Fall - Even Numbered Years.
  • Russian Language and Cultures in Action I
    RUS 201 | 4 credits
    The first of two intermediate-level Russian courses, this course continues to develop students' communicative competence in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It also develops students' cross-cultural awareness and competence while building their communicative strategies. Prerequisite: RUS 102 or placement. Offered Fall.
  • The Russian Mindset: Cultural Perspectives
    RUS 320 | 3 credits
    A topical approach to Russian culture and civilization, this course is designed to provide an examination of Russian socio-political and cultural history, art themes, geographical composition, and human settlement. The role and effects of leaders and personas in Russian history (Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Stalin) will also be analyzed. Students will further develop language skills by practicing grammatical structures and lexical items required to describe and analyze cultural products, practices, and perspectives. Prerequisite: RUS 202 or equivalent. Offered Spring.
  • Russian Identity through Film
    RUS 351 | 3 credits
    This course is an intermediate-language course exploring the topic of Russian identity through contemporary Russian films. Adhering to the World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (produced by ACTFL), the course will allow students to develop cultural competences and make connections with other disciplines such as political science and history. Students will further develop language skills by practicing grammatical structures and lexical items required to narrate plots, summarize films, describe characters, and analyze film themes. Prerequisite: RUS 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall.
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Portrait of Benjamin Levelius

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Benjamin Levelius

UWL helped me to think globally. Faculty members in my programs encouraged hands-on engagement with people at the ESL Institute and in local immigrant communities. These interactions gave me insight in differing world views and shared international challenges.

Portrait of Kali Goodwin

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Kali Goodwin

No matter what level you begin at, our professor does an amazing job of providing additional learning resources to learn more on your own, as well as making time to help her students.

Portrait of Sophia Schuessler

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Sophia Schuessler

Studying abroad in Germany was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. You fall in love with the culture and the scenery. Germany takes a part of your heart and keeps it.

Portrait of Avery Wellens

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Avery Wellens

I'm part of the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) program at UWL. Taking Russian is valuable to the army, and I have always been interested in Russian culture and language. Having the opportunity to pursue it and learn it has been really exciting for me.

Portrait of Annie Thurs

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Annie Thurs

I stay motivated to continue learning Russian because of a wonderful, patient instructor and because of my career aspirations, which include utilizing the language at some level ... Russian adds a uniqueness to my personality and my knowledge.