The Department of World Languages and Cultures offers a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages (BA). There are four different options for this major: French, French/Spanish, Italian/Spanish, Spanish. The options and focus on the major intellectual concerns, culture and communication. Serving as the paradigmatic model for thinking in the human sciences, language occupies a high rung in the conceptualization of numerous disciplines and sign systems. Language courses offer an understanding of language as a system and a model of communication in its cultural context, in addition to providing skills in a number of languages. The learning of languages facilitates the cultural connection with the various linguistic groups of the region. The specific areas of study include instruction in language, literature, linguistics, civilization and culture.