Studying modern languages at Pacific helps you connect with people worldwide by immersing you in Spanish, French, Chinese or Japanese. You’ll study literature, film and cultural studies while learning from professors with global experience. You can also double major in fields such as political science or business, which expands your career options and deepens your cultural understanding.
Demand for multilingual professionals is growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs such as health postsecondary teachers, software developers and management analysts are expected to grow by more than 10% in the next decade. Demand also remains strong in education, law and managerial careers.
Double majoring combines language skills with another passion and expands your career options. Pacific graduates work in fields such as speech-language pathology with Spanish-speaking clients or teaching in Japan. Pairing political science with a modern languages degree could lead to work in international diplomacy.
Stay on top of your studies and you can earn your modern languages degree in just three years. Shave a year off your undergraduate work and make significant savings on tuition, while getting a jumpstart in your career.
Jorge Ramirez-Martinez has been beating the odds his entire life. He is a first-generation college student whose family lived across from campus on Pacific Avenue. A triple major at Pacific—English, Spanish and film—Ramirez-Martinez is now a writer on the popular Netflix show "Selena: The Series."
French, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish each offer unique pathways to careers in global industries, cultural exchange and research and align directly with your professional and personal ambitions.
Diplomacy and international relations:
French is the working language of international organizations including the United Nations, NATO and the International Red Cross.
Example: A political science graduate fluent in French could work as a policy adviser at UNESCO, managing global education initiatives.
Luxury and fashion industries:
France is a global hub for luxury brands. Proficiency in French is an advantage for careers in fashion, marketing and brand management.
Example: A marketing student fluent in French could work with Chanel or Louis Vuitton on international campaigns.
Education and research:
French is vital for scholars in philosophy, history and literature.
Example: A history student could conduct research in French archives about the Enlightenment era.
Opera and classical music:
Many operas, such as those by Debussy or Bizet, are performed in French. Knowing French enables students to master diction and cultural nuances.
Example: A vocal performance student fluent in French could work with the Paris Opera or participate in international competitions like the Concours Long-Thibaud.
Cultural management:
Proficiency in French supports careers in managing cultural institutions, especially in French-speaking countries.
Example: A music management graduate fluent in French could work for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, managing programs for international artists.
Health care and public services:
Spanish is essential for providing care in communities with large Spanish-speaking populations.
Example: A Pacific double major in speech-language pathology and Spanish became a senior clinician under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist at the RiteCare Childhood Language Center. She was able to interview and present reports to the client's mother, who speaks Spanish.
Education and advocacy:
Spanish is critical in teaching and advocating for immigrant rights.
Example: A social worker fluent in Spanish could support migrant families in accessing education and legal resources.
International business in Latin America:
Proficiency in Spanish enables careers in business development across Latin America.
Example: A marketing graduate fluent in Spanish could manage branding strategies for Coca-Cola in Mexico and Central America.
Chinese (Mandarin)
Global trade and business:
China is one of the largest economies in the world and Mandarin is key to navigating its business landscape.
Example: A business graduate fluent in Mandarin might lead import-export negotiations for a U.S.-China trade partnership.
Diplomacy and intelligence:
Understanding Mandarin is critical for government and international relations positions focused on East Asia.
Example: A Pacific double major in political science and Chinese worked as a diplomacy and international exchange intern with the world trade organization, Global Ties, in Sacramento
Cultural preservation and tourism:
Careers in cultural preservation often require Mandarin to interact with Chinese institutions.
Example: A museum curator fluent in Mandarin could collaborate with Chinese museums on artifact exchanges.
Japanese
Technology and innovation:
Japan is a leader in robotics, electronics and automotive industries. Knowing Japanese is essential for collaboration with Japanese companies.
Example: A computer science graduate fluent in Japanese could work with Toyota on AI-powered vehicle projects.
Entertainment and media:
Japanese language skills are valuable in anime production, video game localization and film translation.
Example: A media studies student proficient in Japanese might work as a localization specialist for Studio Ghibli or Nintendo.
Cultural exchange programs:
Programs like the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program prioritize candidates with Japanese skills.
Example: A Pacific double major in psychology and Japanese is working as an assistant language teacher at high schools in Tanegashima, Kagoshima through the teacher exchange program, JET.
Emma majored in Spanish and international studies, and she's taking what she has learned to help immigrants as an interpreter in a law firm.
"I did a combination of majors within the Spanish department and the School of International Studies as well as anthropology. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to learn more about the world and globalization, language and how it works. I felt like the School of International Studies would provide that."
The Department of Modern Language and Literature offers language, literature and cultural history courses in Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish. Programs are offered leading to a major or minor in Asian Studies, Chinese, French, Japanese or Spanish. Double majors across disciplines are encouraged. Some literature, civilization, film and interdisciplinary courses are taught in English translation.
Pacific’s Spanish degree includes beginning, intermediate and advanced level classes for both native and nonnative Spanish speakers. You’ll study Spanish linguistics, Hispanic literature, cinema and civilization courses, which are all complemented by real-world opportunities. All courses are taught entirely in Spanish.
Pacific’s French degree starts with multimedia-based language classes for beginners and moves into intermediate courses exploring culture and language. You’ll take advanced language and composition courses, study French and Francophone literature and cinema.
This curriculum allows you to study Chinese or Japanese and gain significant knowledge about Asian culture. The non-language curriculum is taught in English and includes film, literature, history, politics and religion. The degree also requires one semester of study abroad in China, Taiwan or Japan.
Wendell Phillips Center Annex, Room 247
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
