By: Grace Nakane
While Human Ecology and Brooks school majors do not have a language requirement, many students may still seek ways to incorporate other languages into their education. From study abroad to selective course work, there are many places where students can make use of their bilingual skills.
If you are interested in pursuing an off-campus education experience, Human Ecology provides students with study abroad and exchange programs, which run during the year and over the summer. For further information please visit the off-campus education website.
Programs like Laidlaw Scholars and Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates through the Einaudi Center to allow undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research with faculty or teach English abroad, both of which have some language requirements depending on the research project or program.
For those pursuing a Global Health minor, the experimental learning component of the minor provides students with the opportunity to participate in an eight-week experiential learning opportunity abroad in countries like India, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Even in classes that do not have a language component, knowing or learning another language can help connect you with the material better, like PAM 3460 Culture, Law, and Politics of Information Policy and FDSC 40800 Global Seminar: Building Sustainable Environments and Secure Food Systems for a Modern World.
To apply your language skills outside the classroom, groups like Cornell Cross-Cultural Adoptee Mentorship Program and Open Doors English work with individuals of various cultural and language backgrounds and are looking for students to join. This community engaged learning connects you with the greater Ithaca community and allows you to address global issues, which is what HumEc is all about!