Language and Culture Program

Language and Culture Learning for a Borderless Future

At Soka University, the Language and Culture Program empowers students to become globally minded citizens. Our dynamic coursework and transformative study abroad experiences designed to develop both linguistic proficiency and cultural flexibility equip our students with the skills needed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global workforce.

Aligned with Soka University’s mission, a key feature of the Language and Culture Program is the semester-long study abroad required during students’ third year, an immersive experience designed to solidify language skills and deepen perspective taking.

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Mission

The mission of the Language and Culture Program is to foster the development of linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness necessary for well-educated global citizens.

Learning Outcomes

You will:

Upon completion of the required courses in the LCP, students are expected to have the linguistic proficiency to participate in the study abroad semester during their junior year.
Upon completion of the required courses in the LCP, students are expected to have the cultural awareness to adapt to their study abroad environment.

Program Structure

All undergraduates must complete at least four language courses, ensuring sustained, intensive engagement with their chosen target language and culture.

Our program offers a wide range of courses: foundational language instruction focuses on everyday communication use through practical vocabulary, interactive grammar, and hands-on activities, while advanced courses explore topics like global issues, visual arts, creative writing, history, literature, and media studies in Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish.

With small class sizes and dedicated faculty, we emphasize personalized learning, active participation, and individualized support.

Academic Success & Career

Graduates apply their linguistic and cultural expertise to pursue careers in a range of fields, including international relations, education, business, law, and healthcare, or to work abroad.

Buildings on either side of a river in Nanjing, China

Chinese

Prepares students for study abroad opportunities in mainland China or Taiwan.

French

Equips students for programs across France or in Dakar, Senegal.

Japanese

Readies students for university placements in across Japan.

Spanish

Offers pathways to study in countries such as Spain, Mexico and Latin America.

Take courses at Soka that count toward or prepare you to earn master’s degrees at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

SUA has partnered with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey to provide Soka students with the opportunity to gain accelerated entry admission to its master’s degree program and scholarships. This significant alliance will benefit undergraduates interested in pursuing an advanced degree in international relations for years to come. The institute offers master’s degrees in International Policy and Development, MPA in Social Change, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, International Education Management, International Environmental Policy, International Trade Translation, Interpretation Translation and Localization Management, TESOL and Teaching Foreign Language.

Interior shot of new Global Language and Culture Center featuring gray and green chairs, a velvet green couch, a bookcase with magazines, and a kitchen

Visit our Global Language and Culture Center

The Global Language and Culture Center serves as a dedicated space on campus for foreign language learners, tutors, and instructors. The GLCC is a vibrant hub hosting cultural events and student-led foreign language activities to encourage active participation and promote cross-cultural appreciation.

GLCC Website

Tutoring

Mandatory for students in introductory-level language courses and provided by multilingual Soka student employees to encourage casual conversation in target languages as well as to provide grammatical support.