The department prepares its students to thrive in a diverse world through the study of one or more languages (French, Japanese, and Spanish) and the cultural, social, philosophical, and/or historical contexts in which these languages are situated. By acquiring the four basic linguistic skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—students develop intercultural competency through thoughtful engagement with literary and other cultural texts.

The department encourages its students to put their language learning and cultural understanding into practice both locally and while studying abroad, where students volunteer, complete internships, and pursue independent research projects through its unique Cities in Transition courses.