{"id":8,"date":"2025-10-30T11:12:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T15:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/language-literature-and-culture\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:26:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:26:48","slug":"academics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/language-literature-and-culture\/academics\/","title":{"rendered":"Academics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Studying language at Clark means joining a supportive, collaborative community where critical analysis meets real-world engagement. In small seminars and collaborative research projects, you’ll develop the skills to read closely, think comparatively, and communicate across cultural boundaries.
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Programs of study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re strengthening your written skills in a language you grew up speaking, connecting with people from other countries, or exploring literature across linguistic traditions, you’ll develop the intercultural competency and intellectual agility to tackle challenges in our local and global communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"A\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n

Combined Languages, B.A.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Study Spanish or French plus another language: Arabic, ASL, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Japanese, or Latin. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Spanish, B.A.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Learn about the people and traditions behind one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Spanish minor<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Concentrations and interdisciplinary programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n \"A\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n

Arabic Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Arab world, with the social and cultural dialogs shaped by the Arabic language, Islamic culture, and the history of its diverse regions, offers a rich field of study for students of all majors.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Environmental Humanities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The environmental humanities concentration explores the role of culture, value, and meaning in shaping the human relationship to the environment.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Linus\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n

German Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Study German language and culture \u2014 including courses offered in English \u2014 from disciplinary perspectives like comparative literature, history, and philosophy.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Interior\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n

Jewish Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Explore Jewish civilization from antiquity to today, tracing its texts, traditions, and global encounters while examining how Jews and Judaism illuminate wider patterns in history and religion.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Peace\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n

Peace Corps Prep Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The program combines carefully selected courses with intercultural experience and community-based project learning to prepare you for global service work. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Lia<\/figure>
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Study abroad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studying abroad not only accelerates your language learning, it expands the way you view, experience, and think about the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our faculty and the team in the Study Abroad Office will help you identify programs that align with your academic and professional goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Go far<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Students at Clark are highly competitive in prestigious national awards for study abroad, including the U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Above: Funded by a Critical Language Scholarship, Lia Tang \u201923, M.A. \u201924 attended the Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Courses<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Language placement<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Learning outcomes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does Clark have a language requirement?<\/summary>\n

No, but every student is expected to take at least one course that deals with the interrelation between language and culture. This is called the Language and Culture Perspective<\/strong>, or \u201cLP\u201d for short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Language and Culture Perspective is one of the perspectives courses that all students take to fulfill the requirements for the Clark Core<\/a>. Although all elementary and intermediate language courses, as well as some that are more advanced, offer Language and Culture Perspective credit, students may also satisfy the requirement by taking courses offered periodically in English \u2014 for example, certain courses in communications \u2014 that examine how language reflects and complements culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your course selection materials, you\u2019ll find a list of courses that fulfill the requirement. Our department offers the LP in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most courses offer the LP for one semester\u2019s work. Please note, however, that for beginning language courses, designated as 101-102, students are required to complete two semesters in order to receive credit.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How many students are there in a typical language class?<\/summary>\n

The official capacity for a language class is 20. Actual enrollments may vary from seven to 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our goal is to present language in an active engagement with students so they have the maximum opportunity to develop linguistic skills. Small classes are ideal for this purpose. Most language classes also have discussion sessions with teaching assistants; these are either native speakers or language majors who have spent time abroad.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

How do I know if a language course is right for me?<\/summary>\n

Online course listings have an LP designation and a Comments\/Prerequisite space with each course. Language levels are determined by previous years of study as outlined in the language placement guidelines. The University reviews high school transcripts to make sure students are not over-qualified for a class. Consult the faculty coordinator of the particular language for any additional questions.

Learn more about language placement at Clark<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Do I have to be a combined languages or Spanish major to study abroad?<\/summary>\n

Study Abroad options are available in Chile, China, Japan, France, Spain, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Senegal, and Vietnam. You do not need to be a language major to participate in any of these programs, but you do need the appropriate level of language background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language majors are required to complete at least two units of study abroad, but other students regularly sign on, as well, including language minors, Asian studies majors and minors, and others who want to have a competitive advantage when entering the job market in their discipline. Students studying business, political science, international development, geography, psychology, or any other field in which knowledge of another language is helpful may also choose to study abroad.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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