The department of Modern Languages and Literatures is a global community of distinguished scholars and dedicated teachers who are experts in the field of literary and film studies, cultural studies, and in second language learning and teaching. Our faculty and instructors are passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration. Central to our mission is the teaching of intercultural knowledge because we want our students to be active participants in the multifaceted and diverse world we live in.

We teach eight different languages and we offer undergraduate degrees (majors and minors) in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. We also teach Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Irish, and American Sign Language, and we collaborate with other disciplines across campus in a number of interdisciplinary minors and certificates. The department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a special track for Spanish Heritage Speakers, a Certificate Program in Spanish for Healthcare, and we are the only university in the greater DC-Metro area to offer courses in Irish language and culture.

Our graduate program in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures grants masters and doctoral degrees. Our students thrive through the close mentorship of our faculty and they actively pursue research  as soon as they join our program.