Multilingual Major

Sixty-six percent of job recruiters in the U.S. (and 90 percent elsewhere) say that multilingualism is crucial.

The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers a Multilingual undergraduate degree in which you’ll study three or more languages, as well as the countries and cultures in which those languages are spoken.

Our department faculty teach Chinese, French, German, and Spanish, and will help you develop your language skills, guiding you through scholarly investigations in topics relevant to our shared disciplines, including: linguistics, literatures, cinema, contemporary culture, and peoples from around the world.

Small classes are led by internationally-recognized and published faculty members hailing from such countries as Austria, Argentina, Belgium, China, Colombia, El Salvador, France, Italy, Senegal, Spain, and the United States.

And you can easily weave multiple study abroad trips into your program—from faculty-led summer intensives to semester-long exchange programs.

Join us and take advantage of:

• A unique focus on three or more languages under one major (most college language majors top out at two)
• Opportunities for you to serve in the community—utilizing all languages—in settings that include schools, medical clinics, legal non-profits, and governmental entities
• Membership in the Consortium of Indianapolis-area colleges, allowing you to study even more languages
• Internships in the United States and abroad, scholarships, and opportunities to present research both on- and off-campus
• Access to a rich international community on campus, as well as outside speakers and performers
• Use of our student Modern Language Center and its wealth of movies, technology, free tutoring, and lounge areas

Browse our course offerings.

Financial Support

Please read through these lists of numerous Prestigious Scholarship Opportunities (scroll down to “language study”), as well as study abroad scholarships (CIEE and IFSA-Butler) and travel grants.

Check out the annual Liberal Arts and Sciences $1,000 essay contest (typically due by January), the annual Gerstein Holocaust Travel Fund (typically due by January), the annual John Weidner Endowed Scholarship for Altruism (typically due by March), and the annual Corrine Welling Scholarship (typically due by April).

For international students, here’s some advice and information on Scholarships and Grants set aside specifically for you.

If you encounter a short-term, unforeseen financial hardship or immediate expense that’s impacting your academic success, please read about the Butler Emergency Assistance Fund.

Requirements for the Multilingual Major

Multilingual Major (two pager) (pdf)

You must complete:

1. an individual Modern Languages major (Chinese, French, German, or Spanish)
2. and at least six more eligible courses across a minimum of two additional languages

Special Notes

• You must complete at least two courses in each secondary language.
• High school dual enrollment courses do not count toward the Multilingual Major’s secondary languages, nor do placement credits.

Have questions? Please contact Professor of Spanish, Dr. Terri Carney.

How to Declare the Major

To add the Multilingual major, simply complete a “Major/Minor/Program Change” paper form in the dean’s office of your primary major.  The LAS Dean’s Office is JH 237.

• Under “old plan”, list your current majors and minors.
• Under “new plan,” list all the majors and minors that you would like to show up on your transcripts.  When listing your new multilingual major, list it as “Multilingual major  (primary or secondary)” Then, write in three language sub-plans, based upon your languages of study.

For example:

Old:  English – primary major

No minors

New:  English – primary major

Multilingual – secondary major

Subplans – Spanish -first; German-second; Chinese-third

The sooner you declare the major, the sooner you can ensure you’re on track to complete all requirements.

Once the form has completed the approval process, Registration and Records will update your My.Butler portal.  The Administrative Specialist in Modern Languages (MLLC) will email you with an acknowledgment of the added major, and assign an advisor.  The advisor can help you find a selection of language courses that complement your other work being done at the University, as well as help you prepare for study abroad programs.