Global Languages and Cultures

Why study a Global Language

A command in multiple languages is a valuable asset for U.S. students and employees—not only in boosting their marketability in the workplace, but in helping them thrive in a global economy. Global languages and cross-cultural literacy are a perfect compliments to any degree program in addition to the following benefits:

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

  • Enhanced cognitive and analytical abilities
  • Improved ability to focus on concepts in a new way can give your brain a great workout
  • Improved communication, listening, and memory skills
  • Enriched self-confidence
  • Enhanced creativity

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

  • Meet specific industry needs
  • Venture in overseas marketing/industry
  • Engage in meaningful conversations
  • Build lasting working relationships
  • Increased opportunities for studying and working abroad

TRAVEL

  • Discover and experience like a local
  • See and do what many visitors cannot
  • Gain valuable communication skills
  • Appreciate the traditions, religions, arts and history of the country

STUDY AT UWO

Students at UW Oshkosh can select a major, minor or certificate in French, German, Japanese or Spanish and focus on the development of oral and written proficiency.

Students who took second language courses in high school may receive retroactive credits accelerating the path towards degree completion.

Contact Us

Dr. Nadia Louar, Department Chair
louarn@uwosh.edu
920-424-0219

Office Hours
M-F | 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Media Center
Clow Classroom Building 250

Add Opportunity to your degree

Studying a global language strengthens your career prospects. 

Most in-demand Global languages
as reported by U.S. employers

  • Spanish 85% 85%
  • French 22% 22%
  • Japanese 17% 17%
  • German 17% 17%

9 out of 10

rely on employees with language skills
other than English

Top 5 Departments

with the greatest language skills needs

  1. Customer Service 
  2. Sales
  3. Marketing
  4. Management
  5. IT   

Data from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Making Language our Business report

What can you do with a degree in global languages?

SECTORAREA OF FOCUSEMPLOYERS
Education and ServicesEducational administration
Civil service
Counseling
Health services
Library sciences
Linguistics
Mission work
Nonprofit or public interest law
Social work
Teaching
Translation / interpretation
Tutoring
University programs (student affairs, study abroad, international houses, cultural centers, international student services)		Adult education programs
English language Institutes
Foreign study exchange programs
Hospitals
International organizations
K-12 schools
Law enforcement agencies
Libraries
Nonprofit organizations
Preschools
Professional language schools
Overseas dependent’s schools
Religious and volunteer organizations
Social service agencies
Universities and colleges
Industry and CommerceAdministrative services
Advertising and marketing
Banking / Finance
Computer and software services
Consulting
Engineering / Technical
Human resources
Importing and exporting
Logistics and transportation
Manufacturing
Operations management
Research
Supply chain management
Translation and interpretation		Advertising agencies
Banks and financial institutions
Computer and software firms
Consulting agencies
Environmental firms
Foreign firms operating in the U.S. 
International companies
Law agencies
Manufacturers
Retail stores
Professional associations
Sport organizations
Telecommunications companies
U.S. firms operating in foreign countries
Interpretation and TranslationBusiness, conference, escort/guide, judiciary court
Interpretation – consecutive and simultaneous
Lexicography
Stenography
Translation – legal, literary, localization, machine, medical, technical		Business services
Courts
Educational services
Freelance
Government agencies
Healthcare organizations
International organizations
Libraries
Nonprofit and social service organizations
Publishers
GovernmentCivil service
Customs
Diplomacy
Foreign service
Immigration/naturalization
Intelligence
Journalism/broadcasting
Language analysis
Law enforcement
Linguistics
Security and protection
Translation/interpretation		Americorps
Agency for International Development
Central Intelligence Agency
Department of Commerce
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal government organizations
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies
Overseas aid agencies
Peace Corps
VISTA
Voice of America
United Nations
U.S. District Courts

What can you do with a degree in global languages?

Education and Service

AREA OF FOCUS
Educational administration, Civil service, Counseling, Health services, Library sciences, Linguistics, Mission work, Nonprofit or public interest law, Social work, Teaching, Translation / interpretation, Tutoring, University programs (student affairs, study abroad, international houses, cultural centers, international student services)

EMPLOYERS
Adult education programs, English language Institutes, Foreign study exchange programs, Hospitals, International organizations, K-12 schools, Law enforcement agencies, Libraries
Nonprofit organizations, Preschools, Professional language schools, Overseas dependent’s schools, Religious and volunteer organizations, Social service agencies, Universities and colleges

Industry and Commerce

AREA OF FOCUS
Administrative services, Advertising and marketing, Banking / Finance, Computer and software services, Consulting, Engineering / Technical, Human resources, Importing and exporting, Logistics and transportation, Manufacturing, Operations management
Research, Supply chain management and Translation and interpretation

EMPLOYERS
Advertising agencies, Banks and financial institutions, Computer and software firms, Consulting agencies, Environmental firms, Foreign firms operating in the U.S., International companies, Law agencies, Manufacturers, Retail stores, Professional associations, Sport organizations, Telecommunications companies, U.S. firms operating in foreign countries

Interpretation and translation

AREA OF FOCUS
Business, conference, escort/guide, judiciary court, Interpretation – consecutive and simultaneous, Lexicography, Stenography, Translation – legal, literary, localization, machine, medical, technical

EMPLOYERS
Business services, Courts, Educational services, Freelance, Government agencies, Healthcare organizations, International organizations, Libraries, Nonprofit and social service organizations, Publishers

Government

AREA OF FOCUS
Civil service, Customs, Diplomacy, Foreign service, Immigration/naturalization, Intelligence, Journalism/broadcasting, Language analysis, Law enforcement, Linguistics, Security and protection, Translation/interpretation

EMPLOYERS
Americorps, Agency for International Development, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Commerce, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal government organizations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Overseas aid agencies, Peace Corps, VISTA, Voice of America, United Nations, U.S. District Courts