Welcome to the Department of Modern Languages
and Intercultural Studies

Whether you are taking a 100-level language class to fulfill a General Education requirement, or a 400-level culture seminar for your French or Spanish major, we are glad to have you with us. Please take a moment to navigate our site in order to see all that we have to offer.

What makes us distinctive?

Engaging the Liberal Arts through language:
At Salisbury University, all language courses are a part of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts. Our major programs have been designed to include the following academic disciplines: descriptive linguistics, literature, cultural studies, and applied linguistics. Our lower-level courses emphasize skills acquisition, while our upper-level courses focus on content knowledge. All levels, however, will blend both skills and content acquisition, and will promote the development of critical thinking skills. Critical thinking infuses everything we do, from language learning to understanding poetry to study abroad.

Talented and dedicated faculty:
Our professors come to Salisbury from some of the best institutions in the nation for graduate study in linguistics, literature, culture, and pedagogy. Many of your professors will speak three or four languages. Your classes will be taught by expert educators who are active in their respective professions. We love to teach and we think it shows!

Small class sizes with “smart” classrooms:
Class sizes in our department rarely exceed 20 students per class, and often are a bit smaller. All of our language classrooms are smart classrooms, equipped with the latest technology available. Many of our professors use a teaching interface called “MyClasses” to deliver course content and to interact with students beyond the classroom.

Study abroad requirement:
If you decide to major in French, Spanish, or secondary education for either language, you will be required to participate in a study abroad experience. As our mission states, we believe that an extended stay in another country is the best way to attain cultural and linguistic proficiency for the target language and related region. You may take advantage of our “in house” department abroad programs in Ecuador and Spain, or explore additional opportunities by visiting the Center for International Education. If you chose a department program, one of your SU professors will lead the trip. Our faculty are deeply committed to study abroad.

Progress assessment:
We track your progress as majors throughout your four years at SU by monitoring your skills and collecting data pertaining to national standards for target proficiency levels in writing. Before you graduate, you will take an oral-exit interview with us, an on-line examination, and complete a self-evaluation. Secondary education majors take the ACTFL oral proficiency interview to establish proficiency levels. Remember, though, that you are ultimately responsible for how far you choose to go with your language! Spending more time abroad is the best way for you to improve your four skills.

Language education:
Our secondary education programs in French and in Spanish are approved by NCATE!  This means that we are among a select group of departments nationwide to have this recognition.  Our language education programs are designed to give you the best of both worlds regarding content knowledge and pedagogy. You will fulfill the major requirements for either language in order to acquire linguistic proficiency and content knowledge under the supervision of professors trained in these areas. Additionally, you will become well-versed in current language teaching methodologies through courses taken in the Seidel School of Education. Secondary education majors also complete internships with mentor teachers in area schools.

Courses in less-commonly taught languages (LCTLs):
Following a growing national trend in this area, we offer classes in the LCTLs each year. Russian is a regular offering each semester, while Chinese and Arabic are among our newest classes. Contact the department for more information about these language opportunities and about current offerings.