Modern Languages and Cultural Studies

Welcome to Modern Languages and Cultural Studies!

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies (MLCS) is a multilingual and multidisciplinary home for studying, learning, researching, and experiencing different languages and cultures and gaining a transnational perspective. MLCS is committed to excellence in research and has world-renowned scholars in Applied Linguistics, Comparative and Transnational Literature, Media and Cultural Studies, and Translation Studies. We have a long list of award-winning teachers and offer language courses in ASL, Arabic, French, German, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, Old Norse, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian, and transcultural courses in Comparative Literature, Folklore, Latin American Studies, Scandinavian Studies, and Slavic Studies. MLCS is committed to experiential learning and offers opportunities for study abroad and integrated Community Service Learning.

Programs

Undergraduate Degree Program

The BA in MLCS will give you a strong theoretical foundation steeped in languages, comparative, and cultural studies. Choose between 2 routes: Language Studies, with a focus on French, German or Spanish or Cross-Cultural Studies, with a focus on Comparative Literature, Latin American Studies, Scandinavian Studies, or Slavic Studies. Consider a BA Honors program in MLCS.

Study Abroad

Journey into other worlds with our Study Abroad option. Travel to and experience La Rochelle, France; Orienete, Cuba; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland.

Graduate Programs - MA Program and PhD Program

A graduate program in MLCS will help you develop and explore research questions in a creative, dynamic, and international learning environment that emphasizes both academic and professional training. Choose from four major areas or streams: Applied Linguistics, Media and Cultural Studies, Translation Studies, and Transnational and Comparative Literatures.

Certificate in Translation

A Certificate in Translation Studies will provide you with the necessary focus and skills to pursue further training in the profession. Undergraduate students in all Faculties may pursue this certificate.

fall term 2026
MWF 1:00 - 1:50 P.M.

UKR 306 - Business Ukrainian

Develop a rudimentary working knowledge of modern Ukrainian for the professional world and complete a CSL opportunity with Ukrainian partners.

Learn how to:

Write a resume and a cover letter
Engage in professional correspondence
Conduct a simulated job interview
'Open' a bank account in Ukraine
Discuss business etiquette in today's Ukraine

Instructor: Alla Nedashkivska

fall Term 2026
TR 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 P.M.

FREN 321 - Migrant voices: from here there and elsewhere

Come for the stories. Leave with a new perspective on the world—and your place in it! Register for FREN 321: From Here, There and Elsewhere, a new course offered this Fall. and discover unforgettable stories that cross borders, languages, and cultures.

In this course, you'll:

Watch thought-provoking films and short films that bring migration experiences to life
Read powerful stories that challenge, inspire, and stay with you by Marcel Zang, Fatou Diomé, Kim Thúy
Explore themes of home, belonging, memory, language, food, love, and family
Reflect on how migration transforms voices, lives, and the way we tell our stories
Engage with thought-provoking questions about exile, borders, culture, living and writing between worlds
Gain a deeper understanding of the human experience behind migration—whether chosen or forced

Instructor: Aude Jehan

fall term 2026
TR 2:00 - 3:20 P.M.

SCAND 326 - Scandinavian Children’s Literature

From trolls and fairy tales to Pippi Longstocking and the Moomins, explore the magical stories, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking artwork that have made Scandinavian children's literature beloved around the world in SCAND 326 - Scandinavian Children’s Literature offered in Fall 2026.

This course is taught in English and has no prerequisites.

Instructor: John Eason

fall term 2026
MWF 12:00 - 12:50 P.M.

ITAL 356 - women and italian culture

Learn about courtesans and nuns. Examine the groundbreaking feats of the first professional actress and the first woman graduate. Explore the contribution of Italian women in literature, fashion, cinema, politics.

This course will be taught in English and there are no prerequisites.

Instructor: Patrizia Bettella

13 languages

for you to choose from
20+ countries

where MLCS students and researchers work, play, and learn
experience

other cultures in Study Abroad and Community Service Learning

Message from the Chair

The Department's history dates back to 1908 and is closely intertwined with the foundation of the University of Alberta. From its beginnings, language study was a fundamental part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, and today, students continue to be drawn into our courses, translation certificate, and high-demand study abroad programs. Language is a gateway to another culture to develop different ways of thinking and approaching the world. Our programs have an experiential component so students can easily understand the critical value of bringing language and culture studies to the local community to engage and connect to global communities. Every academic year, MLCS welcomes scholars and students from around the world who make our department a vibrant and exciting place to study, learn, and play!

Victoria Ruétalo
Department Chair