语言是增进人们对当今世界理解的关键。旅游，艺术，媒体，政治，科学和技术的国际化以及世界各国之间的经济相互依存，引起了对使用多种语言的专业人士的需求。美国社会本身日益具有跨国性，这表明在几乎每个职业中外语的重要性。全球语言和文化部提供的西班牙语课程属于三类之一：语言技能课程，语言学和语言教学课程以及文学和文化课程。语言技能课程为学生提供了提高阅读，写作，听力，口语和文化意识的能力/功能的机会，因此无论在国内外，都可以与其他文化的人们进行有效的交流。语言和外语教学课程为理解语言习得和方法论的复杂性提供了基础。
Language is key to increasing one's understanding of today's world. The internationalization of travel, the arts, media, politics, science and technology, and the economic interdependence of the world's nations have caused a demand for the multilingual professional. This increasingly multinational character of American society itself demonstrates the importance of foreign languages in nearly every occupation. Spanish courses offered in the Department of Global Languages and Culture fall into one of three categories: language skill courses, linguistics and language instruction courses, and literature and culture courses. Language skills courses offer students the opportunity to develop proficiency/functional ability in reading, writing, listening, speaking and cultural awareness, so effective communication with people from other cultures is achieved whether at home or abroad. Linguistic and foreign language instruction courses provide a foundation for comprehending the complexity of language acquisition and methodological approaches. Literature and culture courses expand the understanding and appreciation of the other through literary texts, films, art, history, traditions, and study abroad programs.