College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of World Languages and Cultures
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Academics

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Welcome, current and future Cyclones!

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at Iowa State University offers a wide range of majors and minors to prepare you for exciting and rewarding careers. Whether you are looking to declare a primary or additional major in French, German, or Spanish, or pursue a degree in Anthropology, Classical Studies, or U.S. Latino/a studies, WLC offers a wide variety of courses and programs to develop skills that will prepare you for success in the global workspace: critical thinking, digital literacy, oral communication, competence, and others.

If you are looking to take your education even further, our department also offers graduate studies where you can pursue an advanced degree in Anthropology or graduate-level minors in Spanish.

TJ Hocraffer adds his name to a wall with a lot of other writing

Learning another language, especially Spanish, helps bridge the gaps between people of different cultures and fosters a better understanding of the world.

TJ Hocraffer, ’25 Biology, minor in Spanish
“My favorite study abroad experience was watching the sunrise on the beaches in Valencia.”

Luke Burgett smiling outside

I take courses in Classical Studies because I realized, after taking a few, how much I enjoyed being able to study a culture or period of history specifically through the media they consumed.

Luke Burgett, ’25 Religious Studies
Studied abroad in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in 2022.

Experiences

At Iowa State, we offer a wide variety of opportunities to explore your passions, connect with others, and create lifelong memories. From joining one of our many student organizations, to attending exciting sporting events, to conducting research alongside top-notch faculty, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved.

  • A female student in an Iowa State sweatshirt smiling while working on an iPad

    Student Support

    All the benefits of a top accredited university, with a supportive, friendly community where you’ll create meaningful connections with faculty, advisors and other students.

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  • Students in WLC listening to a lecture

    Research

    Engage with faculty who are global experts – in and out of the classroom. The department offers weekly colloquia and routinely attend and facilitate seminars on a variety of topics ranging from discrete mathematics, logic, mathematical biology and more.

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  • Students participating in an activity led by a female instructor

    Careers

    We’ll partner with you to explore the versatility of your degree. The possibilities are endless.

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