Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Welcome to the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures

The department offers various undergraduate degrees in French, German, Japanese and Spanish. Minors are offered in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Courses in Arabic and Hebrew are also offered.

Students may prepare for careers in teaching in the five-year secondary education teaching and certification program (STEP). Students may also obtain translation certificates in Chinese, French, German or Spanish.

Additional majors: Additional majors are available in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish for students with any other major at Oakland University. The requirement is a minimum of 24 credits at the 3000-4000 level in the language being studied. You may also choose to broaden your horizon with a major in Two Modern Languages, B.A.

Study Abroad
Many of our students study abroad in programs offered by or affiliated with Oakland University. The department has a number of exchange programs with partner universities around the world. Visit the International Education website for more information and to begin your journey.

Career Services
Current job openings related to languages from OU Career Services. (Must log in using OU web ID to see the postings)

Program Requirements Translation Certificate, Modern Languages

The OU Pledge

The OU Pledge is Oakland University's commitment to provide undergraduate student with opportunities for meaningful, hands-on learning. This commitment seeks to enhance students' academic knowledge with experiential learning, internships and/or research experiences that empower them to make substantive professional contributions.

Hands-on Courses:

JPN 3550 - Translation: Japanese into English

FRH 4550 - Translation into French

GRM 4570 - Business German

GRM 4800 - Independent Translation Project

SPN 3190 - Business Spanish: Communication and Journalism

SPN 3580 - Spanish for First Responders