The Department of Classical & Modern Languages and Literatures is the undergraduate unit at Rutgers-Newark entrusted with the teaching of foreign languages (Arabic, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, & Russian; by distance learning Korean, Chinese & Japanese ) and literatures, whether in the original target language (French, Spanish, Portuguese) or in English translations (Arab, French, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish & Latin America, Russian & Ukrainian). In addition, CMLL offers two language majors (French & Spanish), four interdisciplinary majors (Ancient & Medieval Civilizations, Hispanic Civilization, Central & Eastern European Studies, Portuguese & Lusophone Studies) and minors in all the majors approved. The Department also offers courses in Linguistics and currently is planning to develop a new minor in this field.

CMLL contributes to the general liberal formation and preparation of students by exposing them to world cultures through the teaching of different languages and literatures, by providing them with a basic world linguistic experience and by fostering understanding and appreciation of the aesthetic, literary, cultural and intellectual constructs of representative Western and Non Western civilizations and nation states. CMLL’s other primary responsibility is to serve its majors and minors. Most majors are double majors with History, Political Sciences, Education, Social Work, English, Computer Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Biology, Pre-Medicine, Visual & Performing Arts and with Nursing.

Italian film director Federico Fellini once said “A different language is a different vision of life.” Studying a foreign or improving a heritage language contributes professionally to a solid and broad liberal education, to sharpen cognitive and life skills, to improve employment potential in a global economy, to appreciate other cultures, literatures and music, to maximize travel experiences, and it helps understanding oneself and one’s own culture. It adds desirable linguistic and cultural competency and it is added value to those considering graduate school in the humanities, business, social work, medicine and law. It is also an asset to those seeking careers in foreign affairs, international trade and banking, medicine, health care and public service.