German, Russian, Korean, Arabic — these are just a handful of the foreign languages offered at UNC through courses or as entire majors or minors.
Often overlooked as being too hyper-specialized or time-consuming, majoring in foreign language is an excellent way for students to enhance their degree and make themselves more marketable, while also learning about new cultures.
Studying a new language may appear daunting, but completing many foreign language majors or minors is doable even for those who enter UNC with no prior knowledge of the language. Many foreign language departments require only eight courses beyond introductory classes — and minors often require only five.
By taking one or two language courses every semester, an incoming first-year with no test or transfer credit for a foreign language could still comfortably complete a language major or minor without attending summer school or taking additional semesters.
Because foreign languages require fewer classes than many other departments, they are an excellent choice for a second field of study. Some languages are particularly synergistic with certain subjects. Spanish fluency is an excellent asset for anyone in the U.S. working in medicine, law or other service professions. French and Russian are highly desired within the field of international relations. German, Chinese and Arabic are greatly valued in the business world. Really, any language, even a less popoular one, offers unique opportunities.
Whether you’re a passionate linguist and world-traveler, or just want an additional skill on your resume, UNC’s array of foreign language courses provides a valuable and under-utilized opportunity.
