Resources

College of Arts and Sciences
284 Kleinpell Fine Arts Building
(715) 425-3121 FAX: 715-425-0657

The UWRF Modern Language Department, located in the second floor of the Kleinpell Fine Arts building, offers a Major in Modern Language (with options in French, German, and Spanish), minor courses of study in Spanish, French, and German, as well as several courses in Chinese and Japanese. Study abroad is an important component of our program, and the department administers the Winter Interim in Mexico Program each year.

The Mission of the Modern Language Department is to expand students’ horizons by teaching them other languages and introducing them to other cultures of the world. Through our program, students develop skills in listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing a second language, which will provide them with:

• access to other cultures;
• awareness and appreciation of the contributions of other cultures to contemporary society through the study of their histories and literatures;
• cultural sensitivity and respect through engagement with those cultures; and
• critical thinking skills, through reflecting on the differences and similarities between the target cultures and their own.
The Modern Language Department is, therefore, a key component of a liberal arts education and serves the mission of the university by preparing students to become sensitive, responsive and competitive participants in our increasingly diverse, multi-cultural and global society.

We are a small department and we encourage close cooperation among the faculty and between faculty and students. There is an active club for each language, which encourages faculty-student interaction and takes advantage of the cultural diversity of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.