concept map illustration of languages around the world

Language Learning at UWM

Learn a New Language and Go Places

Why Learn a New Language?

Learning languages gives you access to new people, places, and professional opportunities. Whether your career goals involve politics, health, art, science, social services, architecture, technology, or communications, knowing more than one language will open doors.

Potential salary increase20%from knowing more than one language
Faster reaction times10%in attention tasks
Countries with a national145languages other than English
Languages taught18other than English

UWM Language Programs

Learning new languages, developing cultural dexterity, and fostering global understanding gives you access to new people, places, and professional opportunities. Taking courses in one of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s many world language and culture programs will help you to communicate with more people and see the world through new eyes, and it may also enable you to travel the world, earn more money, and pursue new career opportunities. From introductory classes to graduate degree programs, in the traditional classroom or through online, hybrid, or distance learning formats, UWM offers a wide range of internationally-focused coursework to meet your individual needs.

Languages at UWM News

  • Zeise honored with ARC Excellence Award
    Congratulations to Magaly Zeise, Senior Teaching Faculty in Spanish, who was recognized on October 4 with an ARC Excellence Award from UWM’s Accessibility Resource Center. Thank you for your commitment to making language learning accessible to …
  • Alkhas and May-Chu recognized at the 2024 UWM Employee Excellence Awards
    Congratulations to Anita Alkhas, associate professor of French, and Karolina May-Chu, who were both honored  at the UWM Employee Excellence Awards Ceremony on October 9. Alkhas received the UWM Faculty Distinguished Public Service Award and the …
  • PantherPlanet Podcast
    Check out the Global Studies Department and Language Resource Center podcast the PantherPlanet Podcast at: https://uwm.edu/language-resource-center/resources/pantherplanet-podcast/   

Languages at UWM Events

There are no upcoming events.


World Languages & Cultures News

  • Spanish 391: Using Spanish in Our Community
    In Fall 2025, Dr. Allison Libbey of the Spanish program launched a new service learning class allowing students to use their Spanish language skills while working with Milwaukee-area nonprofits.
  • Japanese minor serves as youth ambassador at World Expo in Osaka
    UWM student Gabrielle Sweeney, a political science major and Japanese minor, worked at the American Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan this summer as one of 100 …
  • WLC Faculty and Staff Honored as 2025 International Advocates
    Congratulations to Anita Alkhas of French, Masako Lackey of Japanese, and Christine Wolf of Global Studies, who have all been honored as 2025 International Advocates by the Center for International Education for their exceptional support and …
  • ITALIAN 333 Enacts Dante’s Inferno
    Students in ITALIAN 333: Dante’s Divine Comedy in Translation act out a circle of Dante’s Inferno on Monday, September 15 at the fountain outside of Curtin Hall. Dante students …

World Languages & Cultures Events

Next Steps

Begin your academic adventure with us. At UWM, learning has no limits.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.