Division of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures

About the Division

The Division of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures provides leadership and vision and fosters interdisciplinary interactions for its constituent units, which have missions closely allied with one another. 

American Sign Language

The Department offers a four-semester sequence of language courses from introductory to advanced levels with courses in the history, literature, and culture of the deaf community in the U.S.

Arabic

Our faculty offer language, literature, and culture courses that count towards the minor

Chinese

The Chinese program offers five levels of coursework emphasizing linguistic proficiency and cultural competence

French

Our courses offer opportunities to appreciate the Francophone world's rich literary, intellectual, and cultural achievements 

German

We offer courses in the language, culture, and heritage of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Italian

We invite you to learn Italian, the gateway to one of the world's richest cultures and largest economies

Japanese

The University of Iowa is the only public university in the state of Iowa offering a major and minor in Japanese

Korean

We offer four semesters of Korean language instruction

Linguistics

The Department offers programs leading to a Masters of Arts and PhD

Portuguese

We offer courses and a minor in Portuguese language and culture

Russian

Our program offers four levels of instruction, teaching students to speak, read, understand, and write this fascinating language

Sanskrit

The Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures offers coursework and a major and minor track for the study of Sanskrit

Spanish

We offer a both a major and a minor in the study of Spanish

Swahili

The Department of French and Italian offers coursework in Swahili language, literature, and culture

Translation

We have a minor in Translation for Global Literacy, and both a Graduate Certificate and MFA in Literary Translation