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College of Liberal Arts

Foreign Languages and Cultures

Academics

Mission Statement

We live in a complex world. Global awareness, cultural understanding and intercultural communication are vital aspects of business, government, and education, indeed of all human interaction. The Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures provides the training necessary to function successfully in this world. Courses and degrees currently offered and/or under development at Washington State University Vancouver are in French and Spanish; courses and degree programs in other languages will follow.

In today's global economy, students are encouraged to minor or double major in a language, combining language study with any field from Architecture to Zoology, although fields such as Apparel Merchandising/Design/Textiles, Engineering, Hotel/Restaurant Administration, International Business, Management Information Systems, Social Work, Health Care, Criminal Justice, Music, and Veterinary Studies are among those which particularly value knowledge of a foreign language. The ability to speak and understand a foreign language gives unmediated access to cultures in which that language is spoken, thus broadening students' perceptions of the diverse, multicultural world in which they live and deepening their appreciation of that world. Fluency in a foreign language is also a highly valued asset in today's job market and can set one's candidacy for employment apart from that of others.

Study of the literature, film, and traditions of foreign cultures also gives students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and the appreciation of humanistic endeavors, skills that will enrich them personally and serve them well professionally. This intellectual development prepares students to comprehend and function in the world of the present and to adapt to the world of the future.

In short, foreign language study and/or a degree in a particular language from the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures can lead students toward an increased understanding and appreciation of other cultures, as well as their own, transforming them into engaged global citizens.