The Global Cultures and Languages Major gives you a competitive edge in today’s international workforce. By combining foreign language study with advanced cross-cultural analysis, you’ll learn to navigate global and diverse professional environments.
In the classroom, you’ll explore the histories, traditions, identities and contemporary realities of global communities learning to recognize patterns and connections across cultures. Through internships and experiences locally and abroad, you’ll build intercultural proficiency, professional communication strategies and analytical skills that will enable you to work effectively across cultural boundaries. You will graduate prepared to facilitate international collaboration, adapt communication styles to diverse contexts and turn cross-cultural insights into strategic advantage.
Why Study Global Cultures and Languages?
- Faculty Mentors: Learn from fluent experts with published works and global experience
- Professional Certification: Earn an official language proficiency certificate to provide credibility
- Cultural Immersion: Live and study abroad to deepen your cultural understanding and strengthen your language proficiency
- Career Integration: Build professional networks through funded internships and receive one-on-one career coaching
- Diverse Community: Engage in campus-wide cultural events or live in our international theme house
- Adaptive Global Skills: Develop the flexibility, resilience and problem‑solving abilities needed to respond effectively to changing cultural, social and professional contexts—a critical skill set in today’s dynamic and interconnected global landscape
Explore Courses
In addition to taking courses in your chosen language, you can tailor your studies to your personal interests and career goals. Courses range from Imagining a Just World Through Action, Eating Cultures and Feeding Identities, and contemporary topics such as K-Pop in the Global Content. You also have the option to add a Global Cultures and Languages Minor to any area of study.
Language Proficiency Certificates
Master professional communication skills with a Language Proficiency Certificate in French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish. To earn the credential, you’ll complete five courses in your chosen language. This includes the option to apply credit from a study abroad program. Best of all, these courses also count toward your major, allowing you to earn a professional certification without the extra coursework.
Career Exploration
Alongside faculty mentors, you’ll also work one-on-one with a Career Navigator in our Life and Career Design Institute. Starting your first semester, you’ll explore your personal and professional interests and learn how to connect them to your courses, internships, cultural experiences, campus activities and clubs. Throughout your Wheaton journey, you’ll continually refine your college-to-career roadmap to discover the perfect fit for you.
Potential Career Paths
- International Business: Global Project Manager, International Marketing Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Human Resources Professional
- Diplomacy and Non-Profits: Foreign Service Officer, Human Rights Advocate, Immigration Specialist
- Communication and Media: Journalist, Travel Writer, Public Relations Manager, Localization Specialist, Consultant for Media Productions
- Education and Tourism: ESL Teacher, Cultural Heritage Officer, International Student Services Coordinator
- Law and Healthcare: Community Outreach Coordinator, Immigration Legal Assistant, Patient Advocate
Cultural Immersion
The best way to explore different cultures and learn another language is through experience. At Wheaton, you have the unique opportunity to study abroad your first semester in Australia, France, Greece, Spain or Switzerland.
If you choose to start your Wheaton journey on campus, you can study abroad at a later time choosing from 100 global experiences in more than 45 locations, spanning six continents. While abroad, you may also gain access to internship opportunities, allowing you to apply linguistic and cultural skills in real‑world professional settings. In addition, you can participate in the Faculty‑Led Summer Abroad Program in Spain and Morocco. You’ll gain academic credit while engaging deeply with local cultures under the guidance of Wheaton faculty.
If you prefer to stay closer to home, we offer many cultural enrichment programs in the U.S. We also encourage you to get involved with the many cultural events, clubs and activities right here on campus. Whether you’re celebrating Holi, ringing in the Lunar New Year or exploring the International Bazaar, campus is always alive with culture and community.
Related Programs
Double majoring in Global Cultures and Languages and another area of study makes you a competitive candidate in any field. This major pairs well with all of our programs, especially Business and Management, International Relations, Digital Media and Communications or Psychology. You may also be interested in related minors such as Global Fashion Industry, Teaching Multilingual Learners, Anthropology, or Race and Medical Humanities.
Meet Our Faculty
There are no teaching assistants or large lecture halls here. You’ll learn in small classrooms from faculty with advanced degrees and global industry experience. Meet our faculty to learn more about their published works and teaching interests.
- Alberto Bianchi, Associate Professor of Italian Studies
- Francisco Fernández de Alba, A. Howard Meneely Professor of Hispanic Studies
- Tommasina Gabriele, Professor of Italian Studies
- Domingo Ledezma, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies
- Tessa C. Lee, Associate Professor of German
- Montserrat Pérez-Toribio, Chair, Cultures and Language Department, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies
- Mary Pistorino, Affiliated Instructor, Hispanic Studies
- Alexandra Place, Affiliated Instructor, French Studies
- Francoise Rosset, Associate Professor of Russian, Women’s and Gender Studies
- George Watson, Affiliated Instructor, Hispanic and Italian Studies