The principal aims of the Department of World Languages and Literatures are to develop in the student an ability to understand, speak, and write the languages of his or her choice, and to read with appreciation literary and cultural texts in the foreign languages. The study of a foreign language enables students to understand a foreign culture and to broaden perspectives on their own culture.

The department is the primary resource for the college's language requirement. Any 3 or 4 credit course taken at the appropriate level in a foreign language (i.e., not in translation), or two credit self-instructional language courses in the same language fulfills the foreign literature and language requirement.

Advanced literature courses provide students with the skills needed to interpret texts linguistically, stylistically, and historically and enable them to gain knowledge of major periods, authors, and genres of literature. Courses in culture and civilization explore major achievements in art, history, politics, economics, media, and intellectual history as well as issues of gender and race. Advanced language courses provide practical skills for specific purposes such as translation, business, and other professional applications.