Clusters

Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC) offers a wide variety of humanities clusters, many of which can easily turn into a minor by adding a few more courses.

Cluster Options

Option #1—MLC Language Clusters

Think: three consecutive semesters of language study in any of the languages we teach at the beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels.

Option #2—MLC Clusters in Literature, Culture, and Cinema

Think: three courses on the literature, theater, art, cinema, philosophy, or cultural history of any of the national programs in MLC.

These courses are taught either in the target language or in English translation, allowing you to:

  • Develop your ability to read, speak, and write in another language
  • Explore a cluster in English translation in a culture whose language you do not know

Option #3—MLC Clusters Combining the Study of Language and the Study of Literature, Culture, and Cinema

Many MLC clusters allow you to take a year-long sequence of language study and then a course on the literature, theater, art, cinema, philosophy, or cultural history of the culture whose language you are studying.

Option #4—MLC Clusters in Comparative Literature

Comparative literature investigates questions of texts, genres, culture, and ideas across linguistics and national boundaries, and temporal and spatial categories. In the broadest sense, it gives you the tools to compare and contrast the experiences, identities, and cultural production of people in other places, times, and traditions. MLC clusters in comparative literature aim to broaden your perspective on what constitutes culture and how we should be thinking about and investigating questions of culture.

Study Abroad

All of the MLC Department's summer study abroad programs in Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Russia, and Spain may be part of a cluster. What a great way to make a cluster!

Check out the following cluster list by related section or see the undergraduate section of our website for course numbers. Advisors from the section offering the cluster can also be of assistance.

Beyond Clusters

All of our clusters contribute to MLC's majors in Comparative Literature, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Russian Studies, and Spanish, and minors in Chinese, Italian, and Latin American Studies. Completing a cluster will put you well on your way to finishing a minor and starting a major.

Keep in mind that it is very easy to double major in any of our concentrations. Successful double majors have combined work in the MLC Department with majors in International Relations, History, Anthropology, Film Studies, Biology, Clinical and Social Psychology, Economics, Political Science, English, Music, Art and Art History, Religion and Classics, and Judaic Studies, among other areas.

Benefits

Successful minors, majors, and double majors have gone on to law school, medical school, and graduate programs at prestigious universities, as well as successful careers in business, home and abroad.

Language fluency and cultural literacy will expand your horizons and deepen your global awareness. Proficiency in other languages will also distinguish you from your peers competing for the same jobs and graduate schools.

Cluster List

Chinese | Comparative Literature | Departmental Cluster | French | German | Italian | Japanese | Korean | Polish | Portuguese | Russian | Russian Studies | Spanish

Chinese

Comparative Literature

Departmental Cluster

French

German

Italian

Japanese

Korean

Polish

Portuguese

Russian

Russian Studies

Spanish