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.

The department supports academic and extracurricular programs both on-campus and abroad in order to enhance understanding of foreign languages and cultures. Department faculty are key advisors in such self-determined majors as Italian, and they are committed to participating in such college interdisciplinary programs as Asian Studies, International Affairs, Latin American Studies, and Gender Studies. The department is committed to offering less commonly taught languages through the self-instructional language program.