World Languages and Cultures
Expand Your Perspectives — and Horizons
Welcome to the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Our programs in French, Spanish and International Studies provide entryways to understanding how other people experience life. Take advantage of unique study abroad programs, enlightening internship experiences and challenging interdisciplinary courses designed to help you grow.
Explore Our Programs
Our programs prepare students to succeed in our globalized world, where language skills and cultural understanding are critical.
Why Study World Languages and Cultures at UMKC?
Esteemed Faculty Mentors
Learn from faculty who are nationally and internationally known for their research and teaching.
World-Wide Perspectives
Explore the world through summer-based study abroad programs led by faculty, as well as exchange programs during the academic year. Experiences are available all around the globe!
Abundant Opportunities
Expand your education beyond the classroom. Discover various opportunities to meet like-minded students, get involved in the community, and build your resume and professional network.
Professional Success
Build skills in communication, cultural competence and critical thinking, which are transferrable to careers in academia, law, business, translation, technology, medicine, education, and the applied and performing arts.
Popular Student Resources
Alumni Insights
The field is very interdisciplinary so you have to be able to navigate research in literature, linguistics and the other social sciences. If you learn to navigate these fields, you can explore so many perspectives of the human experience.
Samuel Lim (B.A. '18)
The benefits of the program are the numerous study abroad opportunities that increase fluency and cultural awareness through immersion. My college program has inspired me to use Spanish to help families like mine communicate more effectively in health-care settings, especially as it relates to mental health.
Gabrielle (B.A. '16)