Modern Languages Department Mission Statement
Consistent with the mission of the University, the Department of Modern Languages serves as the main source for studying world cultures in their own languages, thus preparing students to communicate in other languages and be knowledgeable about other cultures, so they can compare and connect their culture to others and become engaged citizens in the global community.
Faculty members and language instructors, trained in humanities and linguistics studies, strive to share their knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures. The department collaborates with many other units, such as Music, History, Business, Education, and the Honors program to offer a vast array of opportunities to students wanting to bridge discipline boundaries. Through study abroad programs, and service opportunities within the community and at the international level, the department continues to support the mission of the university in developing skilled, engaged, and informed global citizens. Our department reaches out to the community by inviting guest speakers to campus and by fostering a relationship with local schools and other community engagement groups.
The department offers a minor in International Studies; majors and minors in French, German, and Spanish; collaborates with the School of Business in their minor in International Business; and also offers a minor with the History Department in Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a Studies. It also maintains course offerings in other languages, currently Latin, Japanese, and Chinese.
Thus, the Department aims to serve students who:
- Major or minor in a foreign modern language
- Must fulfill the foreign language requirement (BA degree)
- Wish to combine foreign language with a professional program, e.g. business
- Plan to teach
- Plan to go on to graduate school
- Demonstrate the ability to understand, interpret, discuss and explain a wide variety of written and oral communications in the target language.
- Apply the ability to use with accuracy the grammar, syntax, basic vocabulary and idioms of the target language and to compare these usages with English.
- Demonstrate the ability to explain, compare, and contrast the institutions, history, social practices, and artistic and literary tradition(s) of the countries and culture(s) in which the language is spoken in their socio-historical background and/or their cultural significance.
- Utilize strategies for independent and continuing learning of the target language.
Our most recent departmental assessment data indicate that we are successfully meeting benchmarks for each of our student learning outcomes.
GET IN TOUCH WITH Department of Modern Languages
Department of Modern Languages
Morgan Hall, Room 350
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Phone: 785.670.1714
modern-languages@washburn.edu
