Modern Languages

College of Arts and Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Letters

Stroud Hall, Room 208

570-422-3407

www.esu.edu/ml

About the Program

Studying a language at East Stroudsburg University offers students an ideal opportunity to broaden their intellectual horizons, improve their communication skills, and gain a genuine understanding of another culture. Students may greatly enhance their prospects of employment by pursuing Spanish or French either as an autonomous major or as a second major in conjunction with such disciplines as Business, Health Studies, Psychology, Hotel/Restaurant/Tourism, English, History or Communications, among other fields.

Employment / Career Opportunities

As employment opportunities become increasingly international in their orientation, language majors may find new career possibilities in the realms of international business, media or technology. With a careful selection of courses supplementing their language major, it is possible for a student to pursue graduate studies in medicine, business, or law. Whatever a student’s professional interest, pursuing the study of another language can only enhance the potential for success while increasing marketability.

Department of Modern Languages / Program

The primary mission of the Department of Modern Languages at East Stroudsburg University is to offer students a comprehensive program of studies in French or Spanish. Students may choose from a Bachelor of Arts degree -- typically leading to a career in translation, business, government, or social services -- or a Bachelor of Science degree, which includes K-12 teaching certification.

A strong minor in German Interdisciplinary Studies is also offered by the department. This program draws from language courses and German-related coursework in History, Economics, Geography, Political Sciences and other departmental areas. Chinese, French and Spanish minors are also offered, each with distinct components in language and culture.

Complementing the majors and minors is a variety of additional language offerings, including Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian. Of these, Italian is regularly offered, with others scheduled according to demand. Latin is offered each year.

Whatever level of language study chosen by the student, the basic goal remains the same: to acquire useful proficiency in that language with meaningful cultural knowledge. In its pursuit of these goals, the department follows the guidelines and standards established by such professional organizations as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the Modern Language Association (MLA), the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the various professional organizations affiliated with those languages in which degrees are offered (AATSP, AATF, AATG and CLT).

Overseas Travel / Study

Overseas travel and study opportunities offer students unparalleled insight into the language and culture, and also shed new light on professional possibilities. Study abroad is a transformative experience on many levels. The great majority of ESU language majors and minors opt to spend a month, a semester or a full academic year in another country. ESU’s Office of International Programs assists students with choosing a destination, academic integration of overseas credits, financial planning and issues of acculturation. As a member of the National Student Exchange (NSE) and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), ESU ensures that students receive the widest possible selection of destinations at the lowest possible cost.

Are you interested in ...

  • Becoming fluent in a second or third language?
  • Gaining a competitive edge with a valuable second major?
  • Unique travel experiences?
  • Exploring other cultures in-depth?

Choose Modern Languages at ESU

  • Small class sizes
  • Skilled faculty from around the world
  • Intersections with Business, Health Studies, etc.
  • Extensive career placement
  • State-of-the-art Language Learning Center
  • Affordable study abroad

Is Language Study a career path for me?

Career Potential

  • Language Educator
  • Translator / Interpreter
  • Hospitality Program Manager
  • Bilingual Specialist in Healthcare, Sales, Social Work
  • Linguist

Career Settings

  • K-12 Schools
  • International Business
  • Media Communications
  • Technology
  • United Nations or Peace Corps
  • Graduate School

More detailed career information is available from the department.