French class at Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg with Dr. Nathalie Cornelius

Languages and Cultures

  1. Academics
  2. All Programs
  3. Languages and Cultures

If you have strong second language skills, you are an asset to any employer. The Languages and Cultures program is a Bachelor of Arts degree designed to help students communicate effectively in cultural and linguistic contexts different from their own.

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.A.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
  • Mansfield
Department
College
Program Contact
Chair of the Languages and Cultures Department / Russian and Eastern European Studies Program Director
Illustration of Mountain

Notice: The Arabic Studies, French Studies, and Russian and East European Studies concentration programs are not currently accepting new enrollees. Students who previously declared for one of these concentrations may complete the program. Please consider a related concentration, such as Chinese Studies, Spanish, or another major in the College of Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences.

Why Study Languages and Cultures

"If you talk to a person in a language they understand, that goes to their head. If you talk to them in their own language, that goes to their heart." — Nelson Mandela

Learning a second language is a door and a mirror. The world is multilingual. It is multicultural. Navigating this world is about making connections and communicating with others. Studying a second language develops your social and linguistic skills while giving you entrance into human diversity. Language study is multi-disciplinary. It explores history, science, math, literature, language, and the arts. Studying a second language hones your analytical and problem-solving skills, increases your self-confidence, and develops your creativity. To learn a second language is also to reflect on yourself while you acquire the tools to become a better-adjusted individual, a more productive professional, and a global citizen who can make a difference.

Course Delivery Format

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Clearfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Courses and Curriculum

Available at the Bloomsburg campus.

Program Director: Dr. Yahya Laayouni

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Available at the Bloomsburg campus.

Program Director: Dr. Jing Luo

Degree Requirements Degree Works Chinese Studies Resources

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Available at the Bloomsburg campus.

Program Director: Dr. Nathalie Cornelius

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Available at the Bloomsburg campus.

Program Director: Dr. Mykola Polyuha

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Available at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses.

Program Director: Dr. Amarilis Hidalgo-de Jesús

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Available at the Bloomsburg campus.

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

  • Communication (Communicate in Languages Other Than English)
    • Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
    • Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
    • Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
  • Cultures (Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures)
    • Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
    • Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.
  • Connections (Connect with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information)
    • Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
    • Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.
  • Comparisons (Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture)
    • Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own.
    • Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.
  • Communities (Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World)
    • Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.
    • Students show evidence of becoming life‐long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

The Power of Second Language Proficiency

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and its Lead with Languages campaign say

56%
of Employers
say their foreign language demand will increase in the next five years.
90%
of U.S. Employers
rely on employees with language skills other than English.
47%
of Employers
state a need for language skills exclusively for the domestic market.

Careers

Deciding to combine a languages and cultures major with another major not only adds to your credentials, but it also provides you with greater opportunities in the job market.

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Language Specialist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Tourism / Hospitality
  • Law
  • Human Resources
  • Management
  • Law Enforcement
  • Immigration advocacy
  • Government
  • Education
  • Business
  • Non-Profit Sector
Ibrahima Barry near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

My study abroad adventure in France was truly transformative, immersing me in a new culture, refining my language skills, and allowing me to explore the captivating architecture and iconic monuments that make France so unique and fascinating. From the beauty of the Eiffel Tower, the content of the museums, to the intricate details of Gothic cathedrals, each structure told a story of history, innovation, and artistic mastery, enriching my experience and leaving a lasting impression on my journey.

Ibrahima Barry '25
Finance & French
Ibrahima Barry near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Program Contacts

CommonwealthU University Employee

Mykola Polyuha

  • Chair of the Languages and Cultures Department / Russian and Eastern European Studies Program Director
  • Bloomsburg
CommonwealthU University Employee

Jing Luo

  • Professor of French and Chinese, Director of the Chinese Program
  • Bloomsburg
D. Yahya Laayouni

Yahya Laayouni

  • Associate Professor / Director of Arabic Studies
  • Bloomsburg

Applying to This Program

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