what can i do with a degree in world languages and cultures?
The strong liberal arts foundation you will build through your degree in World Languages and Cultures will prepare you for a rich and fulfilling career--or series of careers--over your lifetime, enabling you to form connections with people from all over the world. This flexible major is easy to combine with other majors, including STEM and Professional degrees. The interpersonal, intercultural, communication, and critical thinking skills honed by this Humanities degree are among the most valuable skills you will develop in your personal and professional life. The study of languages and cultures promotes intellectual nimbleness and resilience and an ability to navigate ambiguity, complexity, and uncertainty. Learning a second language takes perseverance and determination, and engaging in a informed way with people from other cultures requires knowledge, open-mindedness, humility, and tact--skills our students develop in our highly interactive curriculum and through our many co-curricular opportunities, including study abroad.
WLAC GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO:
- Fulbright Fellowships
- Teaching Assistantships in Spain and France
- Jobs with Netflix, CNN, Delta, Geico, and others
- Careers in Public Health, Business, Education, Film and Media Production, Journalism, Physical Therapy, Counseling Services, and Tourism and Hospitality
- Graduate Studies in Law, Medicine, Business, Biology, and Library Science
STUDENTS OF LANGUAGES AND CULTURES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND:
- 78% of employers seek intercultural skills/understanding of societies and cultures outside of the US.
- 60% of job postings view language education as a differentiator among candidates.
- 56% of U.S. employers said their foreign language demand would increase in the next five years.
- Salaries in the medical field are generally 5-20% higher for bilingual employees.
- Translators and interpreters are among the "15 fastest-growing occupations," with a projected growth of 24% from 2020 to 2030.
- Spanish (85%) and French (22%) are among the most in-demand foreign-languages in the US.
DID YOU KNOW?
- 9 out of 10 U.S. employers report a reliance on employees with language skills other than English.
- 42% of U.S. employers say they're experiencing a shortage in Spanish skills.
- France ranks among the top five nations for job-creating investment in Georgia.
- French firms are responsible for 23,300 Georgia jobs, with companies like Airbus, Groupe PSA, Michelin, Imerys, Safran, and Saint-Gobain operating in the state and Orange and Peugeot choosing Atlanta for their North American headquarters.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers, Report: France Among Georgia’s Top Investors by Job Creation, The Benefits of Learning Languages