What can you do with a degree in a modern language?

Modern Languages at NIC is a dynamic department offering instruction in American Sign Language, French, Italian, Spanish, as well as foreign language culture (FLAN) courses which cover the history, language, and cultural practices of various countries around the world. In our courses, students acquire the communicative language skills, cultural competency, and analytical ability needed in order to be successful, active participants in the increasingly globalized and multicultural society in which we live. 

You will be a more marketable job candidate.

Learning languages makes you a more marketable job candidate in almost every field. Language is key to increasing one's understanding of today's world. The globalization of travel, the arts, media, politics, science and technology, the economic interdependence of the world's nations, and the increasingly multicultural character of American society have created a very real demand for multilingual professionals in nearly every profession.

Knowing an additional language is an asset in the marketplace, not only because you might need to use that language to communicate with native speakers in the US or abroad, but also because of the personal, cultural, and intellectual skills you develop when you learn a foreign language. In the words of the Wall Street Journal, "Successful managers of the future are those who have...the ability to understand different cultures and different ways of doing business."

Studying languages and interacting with people from other cultures while in college is the way to acquire that ability. For many employers, your ability to communicate in another language may be equally important to the "specialist skills" you will need to work in that field. A language major or minor will add value to any degree and help you stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. 

Modern Languages are required in many graduate school programs.

Modern language proficiency is usually required for graduate studies in most Humanities disciplines, including English, History, Philosophy, Art, and, of course, Foreign Languages & Literature. Acquiring language proficiency at North Idaho College will open doors for you if you decide to pursue graduate studies in the future.  

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The following are just some of the professions that require or prefer employees with second language skills:   

Foreign Language Teacher	Social Worker	Police Officer
Translator	Advertising Agent	Management/Marketing
Peace Corps	International Aid Worker	Museum Administration
Hotel Industry	Librarian	Journalism/Publishing
Travel Agent	Tourism Industry	Fashion/Design Business
Opera Singer/Musician	Airline Industry	Study Abroad Programs
Retail Sales	Military/Foreign Service	Public Relations
Medical Professions	Non-Profits and NGOs	Restaurant Industry
US Customs/Border Patrol	Nursing	Politics & Government
International Law	Culinary Arts/Chef	Immigration Services
Hospital Patient Advocate	Legal Interpretation Services	Export/Import Shipping