Overview

Our programs focus on the development of language proficiency (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), cultural and linguistic knowledge, and critical thinking through the analytic study of literature. Undergraduate students in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures can expect to have small classes in languages, cultural history, linguistics, and literature.

Why Study German?

In the past most students majoring in German or other foreign languages went into teaching at the secondary level. Knowledge of different languages has become increasingly important in American business, industry, and to keep good foreign relations. Many businesses have acknowledged the fact that given two candidates with equal qualifications for a job, they will hire the one with the extra language capability. Studying a foreign language can greatly improve your ability to become an effective communicator.

Related Majors

• German Teacher Education
• International Business
• Political Science
• English
• History

Careers

Related Skills

• Ability to adapt to other cultures
• Good writing and speaking ability
• Understand cultural diversity, different cultural values and habits
• Critical reader
• Ability to translate carefully
• Strong interpersonal skills

Being Successful in the Field

• Research and Investigation -
  The search for specific knowledge, from controlled laboratory experimentation to detective work, from scholarly endeavors to investigative journalism.
• Organize: Information Management - The arrangement and retrieval of data and knowledge, from cataloguing to accounting, from computer programming to inventory control.
• Communicate: Communications and Persuasion - The exchange, transmission, and expression of knowledge and ideas, from sales to film news writing to illustrating, from teaching to performing.
• Emphasize: Humanitarian Service - The attention to physical, mental, or social needs of people, from medicine to social work, from labor relations to play therapy.
• Administer: Organization Management - The direction and guidance of a group in the completion of tasks and the attainment of goals, from politician to minister, from industrialist to school principal.
• Imagine: Design and Planning - The conceptualization of the future and description of a process for creating it, from the city planner to artist, proposal writer to architect.

Related Fields

Industry and Commerce

• Overseas sales representative
• Overseas manager
• Overseas researcher
• U.S.-based import/export officer or investment specialist
• Interpreter
• Translator
• Technical writer/translator

Academic and Professional

• International lawyer 
• Medical researcher 
• Health care professional
• Academic researcher 
• Librarian 
• International researcher 
• UNESCO project worker 
• Translator 
• Interpreter 
• Foreign language/Bilingual teacher 

U.S. Government

• Agency for International Development (AID)
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS):
• U.S. Customs Service
• National Security Agency (NSA)
• Immigration/Customs official 
• Staff /Faculty at overseas U.S. school 
• Foreign Embassy staff 
• Overseas broadcast staff 
• State Department staff/ Armed forces staff 
• Translator 
• Interpreter 
• Intelligence Agent 

Arts, Media, Entertainment

• Journalist 
• Foreign/overseas correspondent 
• Film producer 
• Art dealer 
• Overseas manager 
• Translator/interpreter 

Service

• Employee of overseas non-governmental organization
• United Nations agency and project employee
• UN translator/interpreter
• Overseas medical or agricultural worker
• Peace Corps volunteer
• Missionary

Travel and Tourism

• U.S. based travel agent 
• U.S. hotel staff 
• U.S. tour guide for foreign visitors 
• Writer of tourist literature 
• International airline employee 
• International hotel staff 
• International tour guide
• Agency for International Development (AID)
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS):
• U.S. Customs Service
• National Security Agency (NSA)

Education

Approximately 100,000 people in this country work in the field of foreign language teaching. Over two-thirds teach in Jr. & Sr. High Schools, and the rest in colleges and universities, elementary schools and commercial and government- operated language schools with the greatest number teaching Spanish. In addition, a substantial number teach English to those who speak other languages as their native tongue. The teaching of English to speakers of other languages also offers expanding opportunities for employment abroad in government, academic & volunteer programs.

Career Advising

Internship Coordinator

New Freshmen

Applying to Illinois State

Illinois State's preferred filing period for freshman students for the fall semester is September 1-November 15. Applying early is encouraged, as the University must limit enrollment due to space at the University and in specific majors/programs. Visit Welcome2ISU.IllinoisState.edu to apply today!

Plans of Study and Progress Tracking

• Four Year Sample Plan of Study

New Transfer

Applying to Illinois State

Illinois State's preferred filing period for fall transfer students is September 1-January 1. For the spring semester, the preferred filing period is from April 1-August 1. You are encouraged to apply early in the preferred filing period for best consideration for admission into competitive majors. Visit Welcome2ISU.IllinoisState.edu to apply today!

Minimum GPA

2.00

Middle 50% GPA

2.67 - 3.57

Required Courses

None

Recommended Courses

• Foreign language equivalent to Illinois State’s 115 level or higher
• Introduction to psychology (PSY 111)
• Introductory-level composition (ENG 101)
• Introductory-level speech (COM 110)

Academic Advising

Illinois State Students

Middle 50% GPA

2.67 - 3.57

Plans of Study and Progress Tracking

• Four Year Sample Plan of Study

Application Period

Applications are always accepted.

Academic Advising