Languages and Cultures Curriculum

A diverse, multicultural, international, and multilingual faculty with interdisciplinary interests, who are research-active in the US and internationally, and who have distinguished themselves as leading scholars, teachers, and innovators in pedagogy, the Department of Languages and Cultures fosters a participatory learning environment in foreign languages, literatures, linguistics, and cultures to deliver excellent undergraduate education in nine different target languages. 

The Department's undergraduate curriculum understands as its mission the support and advancement of the multilingual, intersectional, and global competencies of its students. The Department prepares students to develop expertise in the following areas beyond language study: cultural studies, eloquentia perfecta (theater, performance, writing, and public speaking), humanitarianism (anthropology & international studies), intercultural theory, linguistics, literatures of the world, literary studies, translation, and visual culture/film.  With majors and minors in seven different languages, it has courses that intersect between the humanities, the arts, the sciences, the social sciences, and even business. An increasing number of courses offered in the department also satisfy important attributes in Fordham's core, whether EPs, ICC, G, P, or Advance Disciplinary courses.

At present, students can major in modern languages with options in French, German, Italian, or Spanish. They may also minor in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, or Spanish. Students also have the option of taking modern Hebrew and Japanese language courses.

Courses are designed to offer students extended study of the language, literature, and cultures of these language communities.

  • Arabic
  • French
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Italian
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Japanese

Language Course Sequence

All students interested in studying a foreign language at Fordham University may choose either to continue the language studied previously or to begin a new one. Course sequence differ depending on the foreign language students wishes to take.