Department of World Languages and Literatures

Department of World Languages and Literatures
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1890s

1896 First foreign language courses offered

1900s

1902 Department of Modern Languages established

1920s

1925 Department of Modern Languages renamed

The Department of Modern Languages was renamed the Department of Modern Languages and Translation Services.

1940s

1942 Women faculty increased

Three women joined the faculty at NC State. Ruth Couch Allen and Louise K. Cell became instructors in English, and Ruth Badger Hall became an instructor in modern languages.

Mrs. Ruth B. Hall portraitMrs. Ruth B. Hall portrait
1945 Department of Modern Languages and Translation Services renamed

The Department of Modern Languages and Translation Services was renamed the Department of Modern Languages.

1949 Women faculty increased

Twenty-two women were listed on the faculty, most at the instructor or laboratory technician level. Departments with more than one woman employee included English (six), statistics (three), textiles (three), and modern languages (two). Women were also on the faculty in architecture, agricultural economics, mathematics, physics, social studies, chemistry, engineering, research, and agronomy.

1950s

10/20/1953 Russian course offered

The Extension Division of NC State College began offering a night class in Elementary Russian.

Students learning Russian languageStudents learning Russian language

1960s

1965 First Summer Institute for international students offered

1970s

03/29/1972 Alan Gonzalez became head of Department of Modern Languages

Dr. Gonzalez, who spoke seven languages, became head of the Department of Modern Languages. Originally from Spain, Gonzalez had previously been associate head of Hispanic languages and literature at the University of Pittsburgh.

1978 Department of Modern Languages renamed

The Department of Modern Languages was renamed the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

2000s

2002 Foreign Languages and Literature History written

Dudley Marchi wrote Brief History of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at North Carolina State University. A version of this history exists on the departmental website.

02/2002 New master's degree programs approved

The UNC Board of Governors approved proposed master's degree programs in French and Spanish.

2010s

2012 Voluntarios ahora en Raleigh (VOLAR) formed

The VOLAR program was formed as a collaboration between students and faculty of of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and outreach organizations in the local community. The program aimed to help students practice their Spanish language skills while engaging "in service in the Hispanic community."

2016 First Asian American Culture and Literature course

NC State University offered the first Asian American Culture and Literature course, FL 394, in spring 2016. The class was taught by Nathaniel Isaacson from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Former assistant director of the GLBT Center, Nathan Nguyen, contacted Isaacson to develop this course due to increasing student interest.

2020s

2023 Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures renamed

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures changed its name to the Department of World Languages and Cultures.