Mystery Major

Employer

Title

Location

Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network

Financial Representative

Charlotte, NC

Syracuse University

Law Student

Syracuse, NY

American University
of the Caribbean

Medical School

St. Maarten

Advisory Board Company

Marketing Associate

Washington, DC

Albemarle County Public

Schools

K-12 Spanish Teacher

Charlottesville, VA

Deloitte Consulting

Federal Analyst

Washington, DC

Graylyn International
Conference Center

Lifeguard

Winston-Salem, NC

Indiana University

Medical school

Indianapolis, IN

Foreign Language Major:

Spanish

Department of Romance
Languages

Mission Statement:

The Department firmly believes that foreign languages are at the

core of a liberal arts education. Learning a foreign language
significantly improves students analytical thinking and linguistic
skills in their native as well as in their chosen second language. The
increased control and effectiveness in communication that result
from foreign language learning have long-term and wide-ranging
benefits for all students, whatever their academic goals.

Romance Language
French or Spanish Majors:
Minors:
French, Italian, Arabic, Spanish
Certificates:
Spanish Translation, Spanish Interpretation,
French for Business, Spanish ICBL, Medical
Spanish

Department of German and

Russian
Mission Statement:
The Departments aim is to guide students to
proficiency in the traditional four skills of
language acquisition (speaking, aural
comprehension, reading and writing), and to
introduce them to the broad arena of culture,
including literature, arts, history, and politics.

Department of German and

Russian
Majors:
German, German Studies, Russian
Minors:
German, German Studies, Russian

Requirements: Romance
Languages

French:
Minimum 27 hours in French Courses above 214
FRH 216, 315 or 350, 319, 370, one genre course (363, 364,
365), and four elective courses.
Spanish:
Minimum 28 hours in SPA courses 280 and above
SPA 280; SPA 309 or 309L, one Genre course (SPA 310-314),
one regions course (315-319), 6 credit hours from SPA 330395, and 9 hours of elective SPA classes above 280

Requirements: Russian and

German
Russian:
24 hours beyond 153 and must include 210,
212, 317, and 321
German:
9 courses beyond 153; 1 course from 210, 212,
or 214, 317, 399, and at least one course from
380,381,383, or 385

Uses of Foreign Language in the

Professional World

1/3 of all the corporations in the U.S. are either owned or based abroad (http://web.ysu.
edu)
According to the 2003 National Survey of College Graduates, 81.5% of recent graduates
who majored in foreign languages were employed (and 85.8% of them were employed full
time). Moreover, employees are often paid more if they can speak another language.
(Profession: MLA [2009])
The demand for foreign language skills, particularly in Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Farsi,
Russian, Urdu and Spanish, is so great that the government is willing to repay up to
$10,000/year of your student loans, to offer competitive salaries and signing bonuses of up
to $7500 for jobs in the National Security Agency, and to give away full-ride scholarships to
qualified individuals through the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Program and the
National Security Education Program. (Foreign Language Jobs in the Federal
Government. MakingtheDifference.Org.)
Variety of employment options: Interpreters, Foreign Language Teachers, Health Care
Professionals, Marketing Directors, Language Specialists, Lawyers, Border Patrol Agents,
Foreign Affairs Specialists, and many other professions.

Skills Acquired

Over 30 studies prove that there is a positive correlation

between language learning and cognitive development,
as evidenced by the overall higher academic
performance of all students (including those from lower
economic classes) who have taken foreign languages.
(http://web.ysu.edu)
Communication skills (both written and oral)
Patience
Adaptation
Confidence

LinkedIn

Kate Porter
Major: Communication and Spanish from Wake Forest
University
Today: International Arbitration and Sports Law
Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Cynthia Adams
Major: German Honors and Biology from Wake Forest
University
Today: Research Assistant at USGS

Celeb Sighting:
Paula Radcliffe

Earned Degree in French, German, and Economics from

Loughborough University

Am I more or Less
interested in Foreign
language Now?

I am a Spanish Major
I absolutely love speaking and learning new
languages
I am a Spanish and Economics Double major
I went to Salamanca, Spain for a semester
I hope to implement my Spanish into whatever
career path I pursue