Beginning this fall, Montclair State University is launching two new undergraduate language programs: an Asian languages minor and interdisciplinary Language, Business and Culture major.
“The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers nine language programs, while the Department of Spanish and Latino Studies offers courses in Spanish and Portuguese. These offerings make Montclair State a go-to school in New Jersey for language study,” says Department of Modern Languages and Literatures chairperson Lois Oppenheim.
The new 18-credit Asian Languages minor gives students the opportunity to study two languages: Chinese, Japanese and Korean in one program with a concentration in Chinese or Japanese while studying any of the three as a secondary language.
The minor was created in response to student needs. “Japanese and Chinese already existed as minors, and Korean – while not yet a minor – was recently added in response to a very large student request,” Oppenheim explains. “Interest in K-pop, for example, is huge. Students were knocking the door down for Korean.”
Students will also be able to earn Asian Languages minor credits for classes covering topics such as Chinese cinema, Japanese kanji and calligraphy, and business Chinese.
“A language degree can open the door to any number of careers – in government, business, teaching, entertainment, translation and more,” Oppenheim said.
Montclair State’s innovative new interdisciplinary Language, Business and Culture major will prepare students for exciting careers both in the U.S. and abroad in today’s global business environment.
“Its combination of language skills and a foundation-level knowledge of business should make these students solid hires,” says Feliciano School of Business Vice Dean Kimberly Hollister. “They should be in a strong position to work for international companies located in the greater New Jersey area.”
Director of the Language, Business and Culture program Enza Antenos, notes, “A groundbreaking industry study recently released on the value of language skills among U.S. employers reveals that 9 out of 10 of them report a reliance on U.S.-based employees with language skills other than English. Every business on some level is global so we will have students prepared for that reality.”
Graduates can pursue careers in everything from banking, finance and publishing to translation, marketing and human resources. They will also be prepared fo further their studies in graduate programs in fields such as law, business, social work, technology, language, linguistics and cultural studies.
The collaborative degree offering from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Feliciano School of Business combines cultural and language study in one of five languages – Arabic, French, German, Italian or Spanish – with a foundational grounding in accounting, economics, finance, technology and international business.
Language, Business and Culture majors are required to participate in an internship abroad or with a U.S.-based international company, or study or travel abroad.
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