Widener University

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary degree blends language proficiency, literary study, and the scientific study of language. You will develop practical communication skills in one or more Romance languages alongside courses in general linguistics and specialised topics. Typical modules include:

• Introductory and intermediate language sequence — structured courses in speaking, listening, reading and writing to build communicative competence in Spanish and/or French.
• Applied linguistics and phonetics — foundations in phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax with practical applications to pronunciation and language teaching.
• Sociolinguistics and pragmatics — how language varies across social contexts, discourse analysis and language policy.
• Historical and comparative linguistics — development of Romance languages from Latin and comparative methods.
• Literatures in translation and in the original — study of major literary movements, authors and genres from Romance-language cultures.
• Translation and interpretation — introduction to theory and practice of translating written texts and interpreting spoken language.
• Language pedagogy and practicum — methods courses for teaching second languages and supervised classroom experience or tutoring.
• Capstone or honours project — a research project, senior seminar or extended essay that integrates linguistic theory and language/cultural study.

Students are encouraged to personalise their programme with electives from related areas such as computer-assisted language learning, digital humanities, international studies, psychology or sociology. Opportunities for study abroad, summer immersion and internships help students gain real-world experience and advanced language competence.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent. Typical requirements include a competitive academic record with strength in language, humanities or social sciences subjects. Specific considerations include:

• Completion of standard secondary qualifications appropriate to the applicant's country (high-school diploma, A-levels, IB, or equivalent).
• Evidence of language interest or prior study in a Romance language is beneficial; beginners may be admitted to introductory tracks while those with prior study may place into higher-level courses.
• International applicants will need to demonstrate English proficiency through an approved test or other credential if English is not their first language.
• Submission of a personal statement that outlines interest in languages and any relevant experience, and at least one academic reference.

Admissions decisions may also consider extracurricular experience such as travel, community language work, tutoring, or relevant employment. Prospective students should consult Widener University's admissions office for guidance on test requirements and placement testing for language courses.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme leave with strong oral and written communication, cultural literacy and analytical skills valued across many sectors. Common career paths include:

• Language teaching and education — teaching at primary, secondary or adult education levels (often combined with teacher certification or postgraduate training).
• Translation, interpretation and localisation — work with commercial firms, NGOs, cultural institutions or freelance practice.
• International business and diplomacy — roles in multinational companies, consulates, or international organisations requiring cross-cultural communication.
• Publishing, journalism and media — editing, content development, and reporting for multilingual audiences.
• Public service and nonprofits — community outreach, programme coordination and advocacy in multilingual environments.
• Language technology and computational linguistics — roles involving corpus work, language data annotation and collaboration with tech teams (often following additional technical training).
• Further study and research — graduate programmes in linguistics, literature, applied linguistics, TESOL, translation studies or related fields.

Internships, study abroad and practicum placements supported by the department help graduates make direct transitions into employment or graduate study.

Why study at Widener University

Widener offers a liberal-arts environment with personalised attention from faculty who combine scholarship with practical experience. Small class sizes foster close interaction in language practice and seminar discussion, while faculty often supervise individual research and senior projects.

The university emphasises experiential learning: students can access study-abroad partnerships, community-based language service, and internship pipelines in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Cross-disciplinary collaboration is straightforward, allowing students to pair language study with fields such as international studies, education or computer science. This combination of communicative competence, theoretical grounding and practical experience prepares graduates to work confidently in multilingual settings or continue to advanced study.