Language and Culture

Learn a language, explore a culture, and forget what the term “comfort zone” even means.

At Purchase, we don’t just promote diversity, we provide opportunities for students to live the experience.

Build your understanding of another culture from the ground up, blending language, history, and tradition as you prepare to navigate an increasingly integrated world.

The name isn’t just for show, a big part of this major is learning another language. We want you to change your perspective, learn about other cultures from the inside-out, and encourage you to go abroad and put what you’ve learned to the test. If you’re truly committed to expanding your horizons, you’ll come away with an experience that will shape your personal and professional life for years to come.

Foreign Language Placement

All students are required to complete a foreign language placement exam before enrolling in any language course. Faculty members monitor their class lists to ensure that students have taken the exam and are enrolled in the appropriate level.

The SUNY Languages Consortium

Interested in studying a language course not offered at Purchase? The Languages Consortium can help! Here you can find a comprehensive list of SUNY Online courses, where the Consortium courses are listed.

The Languages Consortium offers a variety of online language courses from various universities within the SUNY system. If you are interested in a specific language course not offered at Purchase, you may be able to take a course with the Consortium. Prior consultation with the Consortium representative, Alfredo Garcia-Pardo, at Purchase and submission of a Pre-Approval to Transfer Credits form is needed before enrolling in one of those courses.

Please contact Alfredo García-Pardo for further information regarding the SUNY Language Consortium and/or to begin the process at alfredo.garciapardo@purchase.edu.

News:

Major NEH Grant Will Support Humanities Initiatives

The $150,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities will support language, literature, and history with a focus on Spanish heritage speakers.