Department of World Languages & Cultures

Introduction to the Department

The study of foreign languages is uniquely liberating. As you master a new language, you mature into a new person, alive to new ways of thinking, feeling and acting. You become a citizen of the larger world in which we live. The ability to communicate with people from other cultures is the mark of an educated person.

Department Features

  • In addition to majors and minors in Classics, French, and Spanish, courses are available in German, Italian, Japanese, and Latin.
  • You may take advantage of programs in more than 20 countries. In addition to study abroad programs, the University offers interdepartmental majors in International Studies, International Business, Latin American Studies, and East Asian Studies, each of which has a strong foreign language component.
  • Individualized interdisciplinary majors such as Hispanic Studies and Francophone Studies also may be developed.

Did you earn the Seal of Biliteracy in high school?

Beginning in Fall 2025, the Department of World Languages and Cultures will award college credit to incoming students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. Students who present the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish upon entry shall be exempt from SPAN 110 and 111 and granted one unit of credit for SPAN 225. This means they will have satisfied the "Learn a Second Language" core competency requirement.

They will also have one unit of credit (SPAN 225) toward a Spanish major or minor.

They will not be required to take the placement test but are encouraged to sign up for an intermediate-level Spanish course (SPAN 226, 250, 310, or 350), if they wish to continue their language study.

Earn a Global Seal of Biliteracy

OWU language students now can earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy, an internationally recognized credential that allows them to highlight their linguistic achievements when applying for jobs or graduate school.

Available Majors

Classical Studies

Classical Studies is the study of the world of ancient Greece and Rome: the language and literature; ancient history and mythology; archaeology and philosophy of the classical world. Classical Studies students are trained in the ancient languages of Greek and Latin, and they read the great works of classical literature in the original (without the need for translations): the epic poetry of Homer and Virgil; the histories of Herodotus, Thucydides, Livy, and Tacitus; the rich tradition of lyric and elegiac poetry; tragedy and comedy; the vast output of Cicero and other great men of politics and government; and the philosophy of Plato and Lucretius.

Classical Studies Major

French

French is the second most widely learned foreign language, and there are currently over 220 million French speakers worldwide. French is one of the working languages of the United Nations and the European Union. Speaking French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world. As the world's fifth biggest economy and No. 3 destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner.

French Major

Spanish

There are 40 million Spanish speakers in the United States and the Spanish-speaking population is still growing rapidly. With over 400 million speakers, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world. Spanish is an official language on four continents and is the native language in 21 countries, including the United States.

Spanish

Available Minors

Minors

Classics
French
Spanish

Why Choose a Minor?

Pursuing a minor while at OWU will expand your knowledge, add depth to your major, enhance your résumé, and allow you to explore academic areas of interest.

View All Minors

Meet Our People

OWU is people. Brilliant, engaging, passionate, friendly, genuine people. Meet some of them here.

Eva Paris-Huesca

Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures – Spanish; Film Studies Program Director; Global Scholars Program Co-Director

Professor Paris-Huesca's teaching and research interests include contemporary Spanish detective fiction and film noir, as well as Spanish literature of female authorship from XIXth Century to the present.  She also teaches language courses from beginning to advance levels

Andrea Colvin

Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures – Spanish; Department Chair

Born and raised in northern Germany, Professor Colvin teaches courses in Spanish language and Latin American literatures and cultures.  She specializes in 20th Century Latin American narratives.

David Counselman

Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures – Spanish; Humanities & Arts Division Chair

Professor Counselman is the director of Ohio Wesleyan's study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain. He teaches Spanish language courses from beginning to advanced levels as well as a course on Romance linguistics.

Glenda Nieto-Cuebas

George & Louise Peters Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures; Leland F. & Helen Schubert Honors Program Co-Director

Professor Nieto-Cuebas specializes in Early Modern Spanish Literature and Spanish Baroque Theater. At Ohio Wesleyan, she is co-advisor of VIVA, OWU's Latin American student group.

Mary Anne Lewis Cusato

Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures – French

Professor Lewis specializes in Francophone literature and culture. She teaches courses that focus on North African and Maghrebi literature, as well as postcolonial studies and theory.

Travel in China

The Chinese Program received a Theory-to-Practice Grant to support the travel of seven students of Chinese to visit Beijing, XiAn, ChengDu, ShangHai, SuZhou, and HangZhou.

House of Linguistic Diversity (HOLD)

Students can apply to live in the House of Linguistic Diversity (HOLD), a Small Living Unit (SLU) on campus. HOLD is a place where students can explore and share their interests in language, diversity, and culture.

Historic Setting

World Languages & Cultures courses take place in University Hall. Built more than 100 years ago and featuring a bell tower that soars 148 feet, University Hall is Ohio Wesleyan's most visible and iconic landmark.

Department Contact Info

Location

University Hall 212
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Office hours: 8:30 am -12:00 pm
P 740-368-3667
E wlc@owu.edu

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Department Contact

Chair:  Andrea Colvin
Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages & Cultures – Spanish
University Hall 210
740-368-3682
arcolvin@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Beth Fedoush
740-368-3667
bmfedoush@owu.edu