By Bri Brands
CLAS student Cora McLaren said the most exciting thing about the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures is its many offerings and the different paths one can take.
With career opportunities in translation, education, technology, international work, and more, there are doors open across multiple industries.
"Studying language at Iowa challenges you to think differently, engage with the world, and turn your curiosity into a career," McLaren said.
Learn more below about the programs McLaren and her peers are immersed in and how their experiences have shaped them.
Linguistics and German
Fascinated by how language shapes the way humans think, communicate, and connect, McLaren chose to major in linguistics and German, as each program gives her insight and perspective.
"Linguistics lets me explore how language works, from the sounds we produce to how meaning shifts depending on context," she said. "Studying German gives me the chance to apply that knowledge in a real-world, local setting, while engaging with culture firsthand."
McLaren has studied abroad, completed internships and ambassadorships, and led a weekly German conversation hour.
International studies, Japanese, and Italian
Sade Porcher is aware that a triple major in international studies, Japanese, and Italian sounds overwhelming. However, all three of her majors connect and overlap in ways that make being a triple major work out naturally, she said.
The international studies major gives Porcher a deeper understanding of global issues, while studying Japanese and Italian aligns with her goals of one day being a language teacher.
"The program goes beyond vocabulary—diving into culture, history, and real-world communication," she said.
Spanish and translation
Abigail Kloha's love of storytelling and different languages led her to declare majors in Spanish and translation.
"Translation has taught me how to convey meaning not just across languages, but across cultures and contexts, to make a real impact on people," Kloha said.
Kloha values the access language provides—everything from meeting basic needs to sharing and enjoying art.
Studying languages, linguistics, literatures, and cultures at the University of Iowa can expand your horizons and make it possible to attain fluency at a deeper level. Want to learn more?
Visit Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures at Iowa