Major in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

The Languages, Literatures, and Cultures major teaches students to read, write, speak, and think critically in another language. Through extensive study in any one of our language and culture offerings, students deepen their understanding of how multilingualism shapes identity, thought, and social interaction. They develop their ability to think and communicate across cultural boundaries. Faculty expertise allows students to explore diverse cultural narratives, literary traditions, and global perspectives while gaining a deeper understanding of the USA, Colorado, and their own cultural heritages.

Especially tailored for double majors, our program prepares graduates to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Whether pursuing careers in education, international business, law, translation, public service, or the arts, students emerge as adaptable thinkers and effective communicators equipped to navigate cultural difference with empathy and understanding. Through study abroad, research opportunities, and community engagement, the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures major empowers students to connect language learning with lived experience and to become active participants in the global exchange of ideas.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the program of study, students will be able to:

1. Apply communicative oral or expressive skills in the target language, including grammatical accuracy, correct use of tense, fluency, appropriate intonation, suitable vocabulary and discourse devices for expressing opinions or when giving research presentations.
2. Make use of communicative writing skills in the target language, including clarity of ideas, grammatical accuracy and appropriate vocabulary, adequate elaboration of ideas through a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary, and logical flow of ideas through the use of discourse organizational devices.
3. Analyze literary and cultural texts of the target language, including demonstrating an ability to formulate and present a topic of inquiry, to critically analyze the topic with valid supporting evidence, and to cogently synthesize and summarize the ideas in bibliographical sources and the results of their own analytical inquiry.
4. Demonstrate an increased sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural and linguistic differences.

Study Abroad

The department strongly encourages education or other experiences abroad and has exchange agreements in place with universities in several countries. Students should visit the department prior to studying abroad for clarification on course transfers. Information is available through Education Abroad.

Potential Occupations

Available career choices include, but are not limited to: bilingual educator, foreign language teacher, translation/interpretation, linguist, civil service, foreign service and diplomacy, medical fields, social services, immigration/naturalization, journalism/broadcasting, customs, banking, import/exports, sales/customer service, publishing, international business, international nonprofit organizations, government/military intelligence, global tourism.

Accelerated Program 

The Spanish for the Professions track includes an accelerated program option for students to graduate on a faster schedule. Accelerated Programs typically include 15-16 credits each fall and spring semester for three years, plus 6-9 credits over two to three summer sessions. Students who enter CSU with prior credit (AP, IB, transfer, etc.) may use applicable courses to further accelerate their graduation. Visit the Office of the Provost website for additional information about Accelerated Programs.

Teaching Endorsement

The Teacher Preparation Program is a non-degree program; bachelor degrees in education are not awarded. Students interested in pursuing a teaching license through CSU may refer to Educator Preparation and the School of Education section for general information.

• Teaching Endorsement

Change of Major

To change your major to Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, you can either call the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center at 970-491-3117, or send them an email. 

Effective Fall 2026

Students must earn a minimum grade of C (a grade of C‐ is not acceptable) in each course that carries the LASL, LCHI, LFRE, LGEN, LGER, LJPN, LKOR, LRUS, or LSPA subject code for it to count toward completion of the major. 

Language Track Electives

Scroll down to find your specific language track in the following order:  French, German, Spanish, Spanish for the Professions, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, American Sign Language (ASL).

French Track Electives

German Track Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following:
LGER 251	The Holocaust in Literature and Film	3
LGER 310	Approaches to German Literature	3
LGER 313	Introduction to German Translation and Interpreting	3
LGER 336	Issues in Swiss and Austrian Culture	3
LGER 365	Introduction to German Cinema Studies	3
LGER 400	Advanced German Communication Skills	3
LGER 454	Topic Studies in German	3
LGER 455	Inside Nazi Germany-Taught in English	3
LGER 456	German-Jewish Identity - Taught in English	3
LGER 465	Advanced Studies in German Film	3

Spanish Track Electives 

Spanish for the Professions Track Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum total of 15 credits not taken elsewhere from the following (includes 9 required credits below):
Required courses:
LSPA 312	Introduction to Spanish Linguistics	3
or LSPA 326	Spanish Phonetics
LSPA 348	Spanish Professional Terminology in Context	3
LSPA 400	Advanced Spanish Communication Skills	3
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:		6
LSPA 340A	Animal Health Spanish: Routines and Preventive Care
LSPA 340B	Animal Health Spanish: Health and Handling
LSPA 344A	Criminal Justice Spanish: An Overview
LSPA 344B	Criminal Justice Spanish: Common Cases
LSPA 346A	Medical Spanish: An Overview
LSPA 346B	Medical Spanish: Clinical Tasks

Chinese Track Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
LCHI 250	Introduction to Chinese Culture (GT-AH2)	3
LCHI 296	Group Study-Chinese	1-5
LCHI 335	Issues in Chinese Culture	3
LCHI 400	Advanced Chinese Communication Skills	3
LCHI 496	Group Study-Chinese	1-5

Japanese Track Electives 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
LJPN 301	Oral Communication--Japanese	3
LJPN 335	Issues in Japanese Culture	3
LJPN 336	Japanese Pop Culture--Edo Period to Present	3
LJPN 352A	Study Abroad--Japan: Japanese Language and Culture	3
LJPN 400	Advanced Japanese Communication Skills	3
LJPN 404	Historical Aspects of the Language and Society	3
LJPN 405	Integrated Japanese: Beyond Words	3

Korean Track Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following:
E 356	Asian Literature	3
ETST 324	Asian-Pacific Americans and the Law	3
HIST 453	Modern East Asia Through Film	3
HIST 456	East Asia in the Age of Empire, 1800-Present	3
LGEN 465B	Studies in Foreign Film: Asia	3
PHIL 360	Topics in Asian Philosophy	3
POLS 445	Comparative Asian Politics	3
SPCM 356	Asians in the U.S. Media	3

American Sign Language (ASL) Track Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following:
ANTH 335	Language and Culture	3
HDFS 315	Disability Across the Lifespan and Culture	3
SOC 330	Social Inequality	3
SPCM 331	Nonverbal Communication	3
SPCM 334	Communication Across Difference	3

Custom Track

In close consultation with your academic advisor, select a minimum of 12 credits forming a coherent track option.

Footnotes

¹

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300-, 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
Students must earn a minimum grade of C (a grade of C‐ is not acceptable) in each course that carries the LASL, LCHI, LFRE, LGEN, LGER, LJPN, LKOR, LRUS, or LSPA subject code for it to count toward completion of the major.