The Department of International Languages and Cultures offers majors and minors in Chinese, French, German and Spanish languages and cultures, as well as Latin American Studies. With these concentrations, ILC integrates cultural material into our courses beginning at the elementary level. Our upper level courses examine literature and other cultural expressions, such as film, art, digital media, and music, in their historical contexts.

Our cultural studies approach emphasizes the meaning of creative and social expression in its local cultural contexts and in a global framing. We are interested in how you will use your linguistic and cultural literacy in the world, so we have courses that incorporate media production, translation, community-based learning, and different modes of writing. We develop your intercultural literacy, but also your general ability to analyze the validity of information and to communicate information orally and in writing. All majors complete a St. Mary's Project, which ties learning in the first three years of your college career with post-graduation goals.

At SMCM, we see language and culture as inextricably linked. Our curriculum acknowledges the growing need for professionals who have both linguistic and cultural literacy that extend beyond the English-speaking world.