Foreign Languages and Literatures

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Chairperson: John S. Pustejovsky, Ph.D.
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures website

Welcome to Marquette, and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures! We are nearly forty educators who teach nine different languages, from Arabic to Spanish. All of us are committed to language skills for real communication, and classroom experiences that stimulate, challenge and broaden our students' world.

The Department offers nine languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Classical Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin and Spanish. Whether you are beginning our studies in a new language, or continuing one begun in high school, you'll discover that your language classes target useful communicative skills and open new perspectives on the world, including your own. Your first Marquette language class may have you chatting in real time with learners in Latin America, France, or Asia using our Global Virtual Immersion. You'll find that our courses range across subjects as diverse as "Late Roman Literature," "The Art of Genocide: Holocaust, Cambodia Rwanda," and Murder, Mystery and the New Detective Narrative in Hispanic Literature." This diversity reflects our faculty, which includes internationally known scholars, and educators recognized for excellence in teaching, advising and community service. But we know our students, and every semester faculty discover new ways to integrate language learning, community and social activities.

Our majors include Classical Languages, Classical Studies, French, German, Spanish Language and Literature, Spanish for the Professions: Business or Health Professions. It’s relatively easy to combine a major (or minor) in a foreign language with a second major–international affairs, international business, biochemistry, biology, history, philosophy–and continue on to pursue careers in law, medicine, business, education, public service–the combinations are many! Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Japanese are taught through the intermediate level, but also include courses in civilization and literature in English translation. (The majority of our literature offerings are part of the Marquette University Core of Common Studies.)

Our graduates find their way to careers as diverse as the world today. Wherever their path leads, the ability to use other people’s language has given it a sure beginning. Browse our website to meet our faculty and staff, explore the work we do and the courses where we will meet. We look forward to having you become part of our community of global learners!

Placement in Foreign Language Courses

The goal of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures is to place students in the most appropriate level of foreign language study based on their previous exposure to the language. Refer to the university section of this bulletin: Placement in Foreign Language Courses; Foreign Language Requirement; and Placement Credit in Foreign Languages.

Foreign Language Majors

Major in Classical Languages

Concentration1: Classical Languages
Concentration 2: Classical Languages for Education Majors

Major in Classical Studies

Major in French

Concentration1: Francophone Literatures, Cultures and Language
Concentration 2: Business and Culture
Concentration 3: Francophone Literatures, Cultures and Language for Education Majors

Major in German

Concentration 1: German Languages, Literature and Culture
Concentration 2: Education Majors

Major in Spanish Language, Literature & Culture

Concentration 1: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture
Concentration 2: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture for Heritage Speakers
Concentration 3: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture for Native Speakers
Concentration 4: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture for Education Majors

Major in Spanish For the Professions

Concentration 1: Spanish for the Business Professions
Concentration 2: Spanish for the Health Professions
Concentration 3: Spanish for the Professions for Heritage Speakers
Concentration 4: Spanish for the Professions for Native Speakers of Spanish

Notes to Majors in Spanish:

Heritage learners of Spanish are students of Hispanic background who have been educated in the United States and have been exposed to Spanish in their homes or communities from an early age, but who consider English their primary language.
Native speakers of Spanish have been primarily educated in Spanish and consider Spanish their first language.

Foreign Language Minors

The following minors are offered in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures:

Minor in Classical Languages

Minor in Classical Studies

Minor in French

Minor in German

Minor in Spanish Language, Literature and Culture

Concentration 1: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture
Concentration 2: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture for Heritage Speakers
Concentration3: Spanish Language, Literature and Culture for Native Speakers

Minor in Spanish for the Professions

Concentration 1: Spanish for the Business Professions
Concentration 2: Spanish for the Health Professions
Concentration 3: Heritage Learners
Concentration 4: Native Speakers of Spanish

Notes to Minors in Spanish:

Heritage learners of Spanish are students of Hispanic background who have been educated in the United States and have been exposed to Spanish in their homes or communities from an early age, but who consider English their primary language.
Native speakers of Spanish have been primarily educated in Spanish and consider Spanish their first language.

Note to Foreign Language Minors:

Students are not allowed to get a minor in the same language that they have declared as their major (e.g. major in Spanish Language and Literature and minor in Spanish for the Professions).

Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Japanese

In addition to the majors and minors offered in Classics, French, German and Spanish, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers the four-course-sequence in the elementary and intermediate levels of Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Japanese. Courses taught in English are also offered about Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Middle Eastern cultures, civilizations and literatures.

FOLA Courses

Interdisciplinary courses within the department are listed under the FOLA subject heading. These courses cover such topics as women in foreign literature and the methodology for teaching world languages and cultures.

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