World Languages and Cultures
World Languages and Cultures offers exciting opportunities to learn a foreign language in a signing, visual learning environment and to work or study abroad through international internship and study abroad opportunities. The program offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses in Spanish, beginning and intermediate courses in French, and opportunities to learn foreign sign languages abroad through contact with international Deaf communities.
The program offers a major and a minor degree in Spanish. Students can also satisfy elective credits by taking any foreign language courses offered by the program. Spanish transfer credits from another University may be counted towards the completion of a Spanish major or minor, upon the program's review.
WLC also hosts the International Studies Program. Studying a foreign language is a requirement for International Studies majors. Students with previous knowledge of a foreign language should contact the Chair about taking a placement/waiver test.
The flexibility of the International Studies curriculum makes it easier to combine a double major in International Studies and Spanish. A Spanish/International Studies major combination is an excellent option for those students who are interested in Latin America.
Career outcomes
Students who majored or minored in foreign languages at Gallaudet have gone on to enter graduate programs in fields such as Linguistics, International Development, Translation, and Education, for example. Some have found jobs in the school system as teachers, as bilingual advisors for Latino families, and as Deaf community activists.
No matter what major you decide to pursue, many employers today are seeking job applicants with a global perspective. Additionally, many graduate programs require reading knowledge of a foreign language. Knowing a foreign language will enhance your employment opportunities upon graduation and will make you more attractive to graduate programs.
Undergraduate Majors and Minors offered: