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An ideal of a liberal arts education, the study of a culture through its language offers insights into unfamiliar worlds and increases sensitivity to and appreciation of other cultures. Occidental’s Spanish and French Studies department represents a community of scholars that gathers faculty and students working across a wide range of interests in the fields of literature, culture, and linguistics. You’ll gain an analytical grasp of the diverse traditions and complexities of the Spanish- and French-speaking worlds, and a combination of coursework and co-curricular activities yield a multicultural, international perspective. The linguistics minor rounds out the intellectual and cultural scope of our department’s academic programs.
The rich cultural and literary expressions of Spain and Latin America are explored in a language-immersive classroom environment that builds strong conversational skills, and Oxy's strategic position in Southern California presents ample opportunities to use the Spanish language. You can explore the Francophone world’s rich intellectual, literary, cultural and political traditions through study of works from Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. You will be strongly encouraged to enhance your education through myriad options for study abroad and community-based learning programs.
Our graduates have the language skills and cultural knowledge necessary to continue their studies and pursue rewarding careers. Our graduates have gone on to careers as college professors, speech therapists, high-school teachers or administrators, museum administrators, social workers, lawyers, public health workers, creative writers, and Fulbright scholars.
