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World Intercultural Studies

This new major is coming in Fall 2026! Students may declare this major beginning in summer 2026.

What is World Intercultural Studies?  

This new concentration in Modern Languages takes an international and career-forward approach, including courses in a variety of disciplines including politics, history, communications, literature, anthropology, and more.     

In the World Intercultural Studies Concentration, you will:  

  • Become a confident speaker of another language through culture-based courses and fieldwork.  
  • Prepare for multifaceted careers at home and abroad through cross-disciplinary coursework with a focus on intercultural analysis and communication.

What makes the WICS concentration unique?

The WICS major is designed to provide students with critical language and cultural skills that serve as the foundation for careers in public service, business, humanitarian work, and other fields, in international settings and at home. Students may combine the WICS major with a major or minor in a related discipline, so that graduates can combine discipline-specific skills with a high degree of language and cultural competency. 

Faculty

The faculty in Modern Languages is uniquely qualified to help you develop the skills necessary to critically engage with different cultures and the issues that define and challenge them. Our expertise will open new perspectives on an increasingly interconnected world and give you the insight you need to navigate it.

 

Requirements and courses

The major in World Intercultural Studies requires 33 hours of coursework. The core courses comprise 18 hours within the Department of Modern Languages, and the 15 hours of interdisciplinary electives provide students with breadth, flexibility, and a diversity of perspectives.

Core courses:   

  • Three upper-level courses in one language (9 hours). Courses in Arabic, American Sign Language, French, German, or Spanish at the 300 level or above count toward the major (except in Arabic, where only two 300-level courses are required).  
  • WICS 310 – Foundations of Intercultural Studies (3 hours), a foundational course to provide critical skills for advanced study in intercultural studies.
  • WICS 400 – Topics in World Intercultural Studies (3 hours) taught by a faculty member in Modern Languages. 
  • WICS 490 – World Intercultural Studies Capstone (3 hours), a capstone project-based course. Students may fulfill the capstone course through a study abroad experience approved by the Department of Modern Languages.  

Electives:

  • One elective course in Political Science or Anthropology (3 hours). Courses on the approved list count.
  • Four additional elective courses with an intercultural focus (12 hours). Any courses with the WICS prefix or courses offered in Modern Languages count toward the major, as do courses in the College of Liberal Arts on the approved list. Students may apply up to two courses outside the College of Liberal Arts to the major.  

 

Where can World Intercultural Studies take you?

Possible Career Paths

  • International Relations, Diplomacy, Foreign Service
  • Global Business and International Trade
  • Translation and Interpretation Education (Foreign Language Teacher, Study Abroad Advisor, Cultural Exchange Coordinator)
  • Media, Journalism and Global Communications
  • Government and Public Service
  • Nonprofits and NGOs
  • Tourism & Hospitality

WICS majors might also go on to pursue graduate study in fields such as:

  • Language and Literature
  • Global Public Health
  • Area Studies
  • Development Studies
  • International Business (MBA)
  • Translation, Interpretation, Negotiation
  • Public Policy
  • Law (Trade, Immigration, other international fields)
  • Peace and Conflict Studies