Modern Languages major
Modern Languages: courses, careers, and where to study
Modern Languages builds advanced proficiency in one or more languages along with the literature, culture, and translation skills to use them in professional and international settings.
A Modern Languages major, classified federally as Foreign Languages and Literatures, General, develops the ability to understand, speak, read, and write one or more languages at a high level, together with the literature, history, and culture of the communities that use them. Where Linguistics studies the scientific structure of language in general, this major is about gaining real command of specific languages and the cultural fluency to use them well. Programs combine intensive language coursework with literature and culture study, and many include or require a term abroad or another immersion experience. Students usually concentrate on one primary language, often Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, German, or Japanese, and may add a second.
Strong language skills open work in translation and interpretation, international business and trade, government and foreign service, education, travel and hospitality, and nonprofit and global organizations. The skills are frequently paired with another major, such as international relations, business, or a health field, where bilingual ability is an advantage. Because demand varies by language, region, and specialization, legal, medical, or technical translation for example, it helps to build a subject area alongside the language and to document proficiency through recognized assessments. Time spent living and studying where the language is spoken is often what moves a student from coursework fluency to professional fluency.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of interpreters and translators, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $59,440 and projects employment to grow about 1.7% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Modern Languages maps to CIP 16.0101, Foreign Languages and Literatures, General, within the FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS family. The official definition:
A general program that focuses on one or more modern foreign languages that is not specific as to the name of the language(s) studied; that is otherwise undifferentiated; or that introduces students to language studies at the basic/elementary level.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Modern Languages is awarded as
Of the 2,350 Modern Languages credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate5%108
- Associate12%276
- Bachelor's76%1,777
- Graduate8%189
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the target language
- Grammar, composition, and conversation at a professional level
- Literature and cultural studies of the language's communities
- Foundations of translation and interpretation
- Study abroad or an immersion experience
- Cultural and historical context and intercultural communication
- Specialized vocabulary for a chosen field
- Optional second language and comparative study
Typical careers
- Translator or Interpreter
- Foreign Language Teacher
- International Business or Trade Specialist
- Foreign Service or Government Roles
- Localization Specialist
- Bilingual Community or Customer Liaison
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by language, specialization, and employer (BLS, 2024 interpreters and translators median $59,440).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Modern Languages, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Interpreters and Translators | $59,440 | 6,900 | +1.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $77,010 | 1,900 | -0.2% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 3 of these 3 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Modern Languages does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Modern Languages major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Modern Languages program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Modern Languages department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Modern Languages program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Modern Languages credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · 68
- North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · 64
- University of South FloridaFL · 58
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · 56
- University of FloridaFL · 53
- American River CollegeCA · 51
- New Mexico State University-Main CampusNM · 51
- The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · 48
- University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO · 46
- Texas Tech UniversityTX · 44
- University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMD · 43
- Middle Tennessee State UniversityTN · 41
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Modern Languages credentials were awarded
17 states have a distinct enough set of Modern Languages colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Modern Languages schools by state
Related majors
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of how language is structured, learned, and used, for students drawn to patterns in sound, meaning, and grammar.
English & Literature
English develops critical reading, analytical writing, and rhetorical skill, a flexible major that feeds into law, publishing, education, marketing, and any field that values communication.
International Relations
International Relations studies how countries, institutions, and global actors interact through politics, law, and diplomacy, for students drawn to world affairs and policy.
International Business
International business prepares students to help companies operate across national borders, blending management, trade, finance, and cross-cultural skills for careers in global commerce.
Anthropology
Anthropology studies humanity across cultures, languages, and time, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, qualitative research, and questions about how human societies live and change.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Modern Languages degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Education & Library careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Arts, Design & Media careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Modern Languages degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Modern Languages path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.