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School of Arts and Sciences

World Languages and Cultures

Home

Academics

Areas of Study

This is where your journey into understanding the world begins.

Why Study a Language at Concordia?

Language is a bridge between people and cultures. Knowing a language opens up new career and internship opportunities worldwide. And at Concordia, there are even more reasons to study a world language.

Programs of Study

Students may pursue a major, minor, or undergraduate certificate in Chinese, French, German, or Spanish at Concordia. For specific program information, click on the individual languages below.

Degree Requirements and Courses

Concordia College is unique in offering world language students the opportunity to develop their oral proficiency at Concordia Language Villages. In addition to programs in Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, Concordia students can learn the fundamentals of Arabic, Danish, Finnish, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, or Swedish through internships in the summer programs for elementary and secondary students at the Language Villages.

Language Placement Inventory

Concordia College requires all students to complete a college-level world language course at the second-semester level or higher, unless they have transfer credit that fulfills this requirement.

If a current student has previous experience with a world language and needs assistance to determine what level they should register for, please contact the chair of the world languages and cultures department for a self-assessment.

Spanish

Spanish majors at Concordia learn the language, live the culture and love the opportunities for diving deeper into this rich program.

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French

Immerse yourself in French through food, films, literature, and unforgettable Francophone experiences.

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German

Dive into German culture through music, philosophy and art, learn the language of Europe's leader in innovation.

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Chinese

Study the most widely spoken language in the world and learn about China's rich history and culture.

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Italian

Study away in the birthplace of Western Culture or build a foundation in Italian language.

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Study Abroad

Expand your horizons and explore other cultures all across the world with Concordia's Study Away opportunities.

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Additional Opportunities

In addition to the five languages offered by the world languages and cultures department, students may take courses in Greek and Latin through the Greek and Roman studies department or biblical Hebrew through the religion department.

The Concordia Language Institute is offered through a partnership with Concordia Language Villages. Courses are open to anyone (post-high school) interested in exploring a new language.

The Graduate Certificate Program in [Language] prepares language teachers to teach their language through dual-credit programs with two-year and four-year partner institutions.

The Master of Education in World Language Instruction is a hybrid program ideal for working world language and TESOL teachers.

More in Four

Our programs are dedicated to engaging students in the classroom and providing opportunities to apply what you have learned in the real world as well, both at home and abroad. And with Concordia, your journey doesn't end after four years.

Creating Cultural Connections Through Poetry

Concordia students and Moorhead English Language Learners bond during poetry partnership.

Learning German by Singing

With the help of a tuneful teacher, a group of dedicated Concordia College students learning German have found a fun new way to hone their skills through song — Der Concordia Deutschchor.

6 Students' Trip to Cuba

Six Spanish majors and minors went on a trip led by Dr. Fanny Roncal Ramirez, associate professor of Spanish. The group traveled to Havana, Cuba, for a PEAK experience like no other in Fall 2023.

Faculty Activity

Building Opportunities Through Multilingualism

As part of her many efforts to promote multilingualism, Dr. Gay Rawson, professor of French and chair of world languages and cultures, met with several lawmakers to help shine a spotlight on the need for more support of language education across the United States. These meetings were part of Language Advocacy Days 2023, hosted by the Joint National Committee for Languages and the National Council for Languages and International Studies.