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Major in Combined Languages (B.A.)

Majors-Combined-Languages

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Widen your circle of conversation.

Being conversant in other languages not only helps you communicate with native speakers, it also provides insight into the people, traditions, and culture of communities and countries where those languages are spoken. As a combined languages major pursuing a bachelor of arts degree, your knowledge will broaden exponentially as you master two languages and cultures of your choosing.

One of the languages must be Spanish or French; if you wish, you can learn both, or you can select one and then add either American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, or Latin. By studying more than one language simultaneously, you’ll develop a unique multicultural perspective and be prepared to forge connections across cultures —  both near and far.

Catalog Requirements for:

Why Study Combined Languages at Clark?

  • Test your command of one of your chosen languages by completing two units of study abroad in a country where it is spoken, and take advantage of community-based learning opportunities in the Worcester area.
  • Explore and critique how national languages have been used to build and promote cultural continuity and identity through texts, films, and documentaries.
  • Build on your skills by taking higher-level language classes at other colleges within the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, or engage in directed studies with individual professors.

The Combined Languages Path

As a combined languages major, you’ll study two (or more!) of the languages that Clark offers: American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish. You’ll focus on building linguistic and cultural competencies while you work closely with a faculty adviser to choose your course of study.

The major requires a total of 13 courses, eight of which are in languages. With the assistance of your adviser, you’ll select four additional courses that complement your language courses. A required course for all majors within the Language, Literature, and Culture Department — The National Imagination — explores and critiques how national languages have been used to build and promote cultural continuity and identity through texts, films, and documentaries. Finally, you’ll complete two units of study abroad in a country where one of your chosen languages is spoken — normally, these units will count toward the eight required language courses.

You can access higher-level language classes at other colleges within the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, and/or engage in directed studies with individual Clark professors.

Skills you will learn include:

  • Translation; writing, oral, and reading comprehension in multiple languages; linguistics; and cultural competency and understanding
  • The basic building blocks of language: listening, speaking, reading and writing
  • Exploration of how national communities are constructed and critiqued through cultural artifacts

Located in the Goddard Library, the Language Arts Resource Center is a multimedia language instruction center. With its extensive collection of computer programs, audio, and videotapes, students studying a new language can access multiple sources of learning. A satellite dish receives international news broadcasts from more than 25 countries though SCOLA, a nonprofit educational organization that receives and re-transmits foreign TV programming from around the world.

During your junior year, you might be accepted into the combined languages honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice.

Building your foundation

The Clark Experience

We structure our curriculum around Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP), which connects classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.

Learn More

Faculty and Programs in the Department of Language, Literature and Culture