Modern Languages & Cultures Department

Welcome to the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures!

The programs of study include linguistics and 14 different modern languages for you to choose from. The department provides a wide array of courses for beginning to advanced levels, to help you develop and enhance your language skills, and study literature, culture, and even business practices.

Certificates of Achievement are also available in African and Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, and Latin American Studies. These certificates serve as launching pads for our students to further their education in a chosen area, or to be better positioned to meet the demands of today's multilingual workplace.

The Santa Monica College Department of Modern Languages and Cultures promotes a community of respect and understanding of different ethnic groups and their cultures through the study of language, literature, and culture.

Students are trained to understand, speak, read, and write in the target language, enabling students to interact with and contribute to the global community by giving a global perspective — including the appreciation of other cultural heritages — which promotes community, national, and international cooperation.