Weather Update, Sept. 23, 2023 - Due to inclement weather, there will be no tailgating on the parade ground today, and the parade has been canceled. More

Modern Languages and Cultures

The curriculum in modern languages offers basic and advanced training in the languages, literatures, and cultures of France, Germany, Spain, and Latin America, China, and the Middle East.

The courses are designed to enable students to learn to speak and understand, read, and write a foreign language with an acceptable degree of fluency and correctness. Students are introduced to literary masterpieces, and through these they become familiar with the history, thought, and civilization of the countries where the language is spoken.


Degrees and Programs

Major(s): Modern Languages and Cultures

Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Concentration(s)/Minor(s):

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish

To graduate with honors in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures a cadet must be a modern language major, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in courses taken in the major (exclusive of subjects taken in the 4th Class year), and have permission of the department head.

Cadets must complete ML 498 and ML 499 and produce a thesis which is written in the student's major foreign language, as appropriate.

The thesis must achieve a language ranking of "Advanced-High" and adhere to MLA specifications.


Modern Languages and Cultures in the News

Find out more about the department's cadets and faculty in recent VMI news.

VMI Instructors and students of “Exploring the Madina” visit a mosque in Charlottesville for an academic perspective.

High Schoolers Learn Arabic at VMI

A group of high school students and Virginia Military Institute cadets had the opportunity to learn Arabic over the summer, thanks to a $141 thousand grant called funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) to the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at VMI.

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures and the Dean’s Academic Speakers Fund at Virginia Military Institute present French films as part of the 2023-24 Albertine Cinémathèque film series.

French Films to be Shown at VMI: Public Invited to Attend

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures and the Dean’s Academic Speakers Fund at VMI present five French films as part of the 2023-24 Albertine Cinémathèque film series, which expands access to French cinema and supports film programming at American colleges and universities.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders