World Languages and Cultures

World Languages and Cultures
Academic Bulletin

Area of Study: Languages, Literature, and Culture
Programs:

• Arabic : Minor
• French : Minor
• German : Minor
• Spanish : Major and Minor

Discontinued Program: 

• French Major (last in 2023-2024 Bulletin),
• Chinese Minor (last in 2021-2022 Bulletin)
• Latin Minor (last in 2018-2019 Bulletin)

When advising a student interested in World Languages and Cultures, please note:

• Students who have previous experience in a language that we teach at Allegheny must take the placement test and may consult with members of the department for help interpreting their results. They will begin our program in the course indicated by that progress; the paths through the programs that we lay out below will vary based on this and other factors.
• When a student is interested in continuing a language or beginning the study of a new one, the study should begin as early as possible in the student’s college career.
• Students intending to major in International Studies or Global Health Studies should enroll in language study in the first year.
• Students learning a second language are encouraged to study abroad.
• Students pursuing a major should plan to take at least one course in the major each semester in the first two years, and two in the second two years.

In addition to the majors and minors described in detail below, WLC offers courses in

• American Sign Language: WLC 100 and 200. Contact the department for more information about these courses, which are generally not suitable for first-year students.

Questions may be directed to Barbara Riess, Chair of World Languages and Cultures (briess@allegheny.edu  Ruter 107, 814-332-2323) or to the Section Heads for each language.

• Arabic: Reem Hilal (rhilal@allegheny.edu, Ruter 105, 814-332-3310)
• French: Marie Dufay-Verbie (mdufayverbie@allegheny.edu, ruter 202) or Briana Lewis (blewis@allegheny.edu, Ruter 102, 814-332-2322)
• German: Julia Ludewig (jludewig@allegheny.edu, Ruter 206, 814-332-2327)
• Latin: Judson Herrman (jherrman@allegheny.edu, Arter 202A, 814-332-4303)
• Spanish: Barbara Riess (briess@allegheny.edu, Ruter 107, 814-332-2323)

The Major available in World Languages and Cultures is Spanish