World Languages and Cultures
Emphases: Arabic, Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies, Italian, Korean, Persian, Portuguese
Courses
Getting Started
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Choose your emphasis and begin with classes in your language or area of choice
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If you have experience in a language, take a placement test and/or contact an advisor
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Take WLC 2010
Making Progress
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Use your degree audit to track progress
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Meet with an advisor to collaborate and ensure proper course sequencing
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Continue in your language sequence to stay on track
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Take CLCS 3610: Thinking Comparatively (taught in Fall semesters)
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Create a schedule that balances Gen Ed, required, and exploration courses
Finishing Up
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Take CLCS 4610: What Matters (taught in Spring semesters)
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Apply for graduation
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If you haven’t already, complete your WLC practicum experience
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Review your Degree Audit to confirm you’re on track to finish all requirements
Community
Getting Started
Be on the lookout for activities and groups that interest you:
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Check out language clubs or conversation classes
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Visit the Bennion Center to volunteer
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Join the MUSS/intramural sports
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Consider applying to live in the Humanities House
Making Progress
Consider taking a leadership role to increase your sense of belonging:
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Become an officer for a language club
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Join the Bennion Center Community Engaged Scholars Program
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Work on campus
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Join student Government/ASUU
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Participate in Undergraduate Research
Finishing Up
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Join alumni groups to stay in touch after graduation
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Present your experience at an undergraduate conference or to a broader community
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
Build skill sets outside your language/area of study:
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Consider taking UGS 1050-Major Exploration or attend a Major Expo to learn more
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Use a Gen Ed class to explore an area that interests you. Many students like LING 1200: Intro to the Study of Language (BF)
Making Progress
Diversify your knowledge and put it into practice through various options:
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Complete an internship in various languages through the Hinckley Institute
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Pursue undergraduate research with UROP
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Utilize the Writing Center and Math Lab for academic support
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Take a technology class to broaden your base like IS 2010—Computer Essentials
Finishing Up
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Present a project at the Undergrad Research Symposium
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Consider submitting a relevant paper to the Hinckley Journal of Politics or other undergraduate publications
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Write an honors thesis
Transformation
Getting Started
Consider and plan for meaningful additions to your education:
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Explore learning abroad opportunities. Register for the Learning Abroad 101 workshop
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Join a campus organization relevant to your interests
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Consider an internship
Making Progress
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Language students will benefit from learning abroad; start planning now by collecting program and scholarship information
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Some languages have local internship options with the Hinckley Institute
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Spanish and French students can take summer intensive language classes at the U
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Visit your advisor to learn how these opportunities can fulfill requirements
Finishing Up
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Reflect and notice the changes in yourself over the years
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Share your milestones
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Submit a speech to deliver at commencement
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Participate in graduation activities
Impact
Getting Started
Begin by exploring the impact you want to make:
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What examples do you hope to emulate?
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What do you consider to be impactful?
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Is it important to you to use your language skills in this effort?
Making Progress
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Consider making an impact through a community service project or register for an Alternative Break
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Take a CEL class
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Attend a Hinkley Forum
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Intern with a non-profit organization
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Talk with your peers to discover their experiences
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Explore Lassonde Entrepreneurship programs
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Attend a Social Impact Forum through the Sorenson Impact Center
Finishing Up
Put your learning to use beyond the University:
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Create/design a service project
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Embark on a new business venture
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Mentor other students
Careers
Getting Started
- Visit the Career and Professional Development Center to engage with their many resources and get a head start building your future professional life. It’s never too early to begin your career journey.
Making Progress
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Make an appointment with a Career Coach; they will help you explore potential careers that align with your strengths, values, interests and personality
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Attend Career Fairs, pursue local/national/global internships and explore job shadowing
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Create a LinkedIn profile and refine your resume with the help of the Career Center
- Consider taking HUM 3960: Humanities Career Success
Finishing Up
- Career Coaches can help you search for a job, practice interviewing, learn how to negotiate offers, and refine your application materials. You have access to Career Coaches after you graduate.
- Join ForeverUtah to stay connected with U of U alum and mentor other students
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
The World Languages and Cultures major allows students to explore themes across cultures and time periods, compare national literatures and cultures, and analyze diverse types of texts (literary, visual, musical, etc.). The major has seven emphases—Arabic, Italian, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Comparative Literature, and Cultural Studies. If you select a language emphasis, your upper-division work in non-English languages will allow you to approach the cultures you study at an in-depth level that is especially beneficial for future academic study and intercultural understanding. The emphasis in Comparative Literature allows you to study two or three languages at an advanced level. The only emphasis completely in English (other than the BA requirement), the Cultural Studies emphasis allows you to select coursework from across campus on global and cultural topics. All students complete the WLC core—courses on global topics that help provide depth or opportunities to connect ideas and themes, as well as a practicum experience.
Learning Outcomes
- Cultural Competency
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Students will be capable of identifying and appreciating differences between cultures and traditions with sensitivity to cultural nuance
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Students will develop a comparative understanding of world literatures and cultural artifacts in the context of a globalizing world, and an ability to situate texts in their cultural and historical contexts
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Professional/Scholarly Skills
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Students will be able to formulate and present cohesive, critical arguments about cultural texts.
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Students will be able to engage in research activities appropriate to their academic level and course of study.
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Language Proficiency
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Students will be able to speak, understand, write, and read at least one non-English language. Levels will vary by emphasis.
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Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.