The New School’s Languages program offers a variety of courses in languages and international studies, including American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, and Spanish, open to students across the university. Languages also offers undergraduate and graduate minors in Chinese Studies, French Studies, Japanese Studies, and Hispanic Studies.
Languages courses, offered on campus and online, are designed to help students communicate in a language as quickly as possible and to offer insight into the
culture in which that language is spoken. Classes are kept small to ensure opportunities for all to participate in learning activities.
The study of languages is a crucial part of navigating national and global cultures and an invaluable asset for life in the 21st century. Knowledge of languages and international cultural literacy are often required for international jobs. Many
advanced degree programs require knowledge of one or more languages.
Fluency in another language and its associated culture fosters success in a wide range of fields, including design, international relations, entrepreneurship, management, and academics. Courses offered through Languages at The New School also foster language
competency for community engagement initiatives throughout New York City and beyond.
Undergraduate Minors
Matriculated undergraduate students whose programs permit minors can earn a minor in Chinese Studies, French Studies,
Hispanic Studies, or Japanese Studies. Each undergraduate minor curriculum combines classes in reading, writing,
speaking, and listening with courses that introduce the cultures associated with a language. Students complete four designated core language courses and two elective cultural courses, which may be taught in the target language or in English.
Graduate Minors
For graduate students, Languages offers the university-wide graduate minor in Language Studies, which offers students the possibility of choosing one of the following language studies areas: Chinese Studies, French Studies, Hispanic Studies, or Japanese Studies. The graduate minor is designed to offer students who already have proficiency in a language above the intermediate level the opportunity to pursue advanced-level proficiency in the language.
Study Abroad
One of the best ways to acquire proficiency in a new language is to study in a country where it is spoken. The New School offers a number of opportunities for undergraduates to study abroad.
