Active language clubs host varied events (films, dinners, talks) and travel to nearby cities for theater, opera, museums, markets, etc.

Our classes are innovative, featuring student-centered study of culture, history, literature and language, often using video, computer software, and internet-based activities.

Coursework provides opportunities for service-based learning and community outreach activities that promote real-world use of language skills.

Our faculty include dedicated teachers and talented scholars who enjoy state, national and worldwide recognition. They pursue their research to the far corners of the earth and bring it back to the students in their courses. Faculty

Our students are equally adventuresome, and many of our majors and minors study abroad, in Europe, Asia, Central and South America. Information on available programs in addition to the above Fulbright projects may be found on the individual language program pages; please also consult our information and forms for scholarship awards for study abroad.

We offer beginning and intermediate language courses in Classics, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, as well as courses in exotic languages. We offer minors in Classics, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish, and majors and K-12 Certification in Classics, French, German, Russian and Spanish. Graduate Programs include the M.A. and M.Ed. in both French and Spanish.

Our undergraduate and graduate program graduates pursue many careers using these languages, including teaching at all levels, law, international relations, the travel industry, marketing, and services in a wide variety of regional and national companies. Our graduates bring to the job high quality professional training and multicultural perspectives on the world. We offer a new Internship program, LAN 425 and LAN 525, for 3-12 credits, for on the job language experience.

Students wishing to enter our language program should take the on-line Placement Test offered in French, German and Spanish through Brigham Young University. Other language placement tests are administered in printed form in our Language Learning Center in 200 Main. THE PLACEMENT TEST IS TAKEN FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF INDICATING THE LEVEL AT WHICH A STUDENT SHOULD BEGIN HIS OR HER STUDY OF THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Students do not receive university credit for any language course they place out of on the placement test. Credit may be obtained by taking the CLEP or Credit by Exam tests for a course BEFORE enrolling in a higher level course. Minors and majors in a language must still complete the number of courses required by the department.

Undergraduate Mission Statement of Department of Languages and Cultures:  

In keeping with the mission of West Chester University, the primary mission of the Department of Languages and Cultures is to provide high quality undergraduate education for majors and minors in languages, future teachers of languages and basic language and culture cluster core courses for hundreds of students from West Chester University, as well as other members of the local communities. A secondary mission is to provide graduate courses, mainly, but not exclusively, to present and future teachers of languages.  The department continually explores new ways to provide opportunities to improve global education at West Chester University, and in the communities that surround the University. The Department of Languages and Cultures offers the Bachelor of Arts (with elective certification as an option) with majors in Classical Languages, French, German, Russian, and Spanish.  The department also offers minors in Classical Languages, French, German, Russian, and Spanish, plus Italian. Minors are also available in Latin-American Studies and Russian Studies.   The program in languages is intended to provide an advanced education program for the student interested in the most human aspect of the humanities-language. It provides a flexible basis for a wide variety of vocations involving bilingual skills and cross-cultural social services.  It also serves as a preparation for graduate studies leading to advanced degrees.  The major should be planned with the help of the faculty advisor.  The department encourages students to consider intra-departmental or inter-departmental majors or minors, not only because the studies are valuable in and of themselves, but also because students with more experience in languages are usually most welcome employees in a variety of fields.  The department offers (2) years of Critical Languages, i.e. self-instructional programs with native assistants in languages seldom taught, for example, Chinese, Japanese, Modern Greek, Modern Hebrew, Portuguese, and others.  For information concerning these programs, consult the Director of the programs. The department is in a unique position to serve the West Chester University and local communities, as well as the international community in specific instances, most notably and very recently, in partnership programs with Eastern European countries, Russia, China and Japan.  Members of the department are involved in a variety of governance bodies, serve as resource people in local and state government, as volunteers and consultants in schools near West Chester, as well as throughout the United States and the world. The Department of Languages and Cultures is well staffed, productive in scholarly and grant- assisted programs and, at the same time, devoted to teaching, sometimes on a highly individual basis, to promote the broadest offerings possible with the most efficient use of staff. 

Goals:  In keeping with this mission, we aspire to maintain and strengthen our roles as:

1. Broad and thorough educators in the field of languages at both the undergraduate and post baccalaureate levels. We offer rigorous training in K-12 second language acquisition in accordance with the mandates of the PDE (Pennsylvania Department of Education) and NCATE (National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education) organizations. We have received National Recognition by the American Council on the Teaching of languages (ACTFL).

2. Providers of training and retraining (including teacher certification) of educators in the fields of languages, ranging from elementary and secondary education to graduate training of future and present faculty in schools.

3. Contributors to scholarly advancements in the areas of basic research, application, and pedagogy within the field of languages.

4. Innovators in the applications of advanced technologies in the field of languages, by providing students with training in the use of tools they will need to succeed in their chosen fields.   

5. Administrators of a leading program in the field of languages, with  application to students working or teaching in the foreign language field.

6. Providers of expertise and facilities for use by the international community where applicable.

Resources for state and local problems related to foreign language education, bringing the unique perspective of languages and cultures to bear on the decision-making process within our communities.