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World languages & literatures
Communicate ideas effectively across different cultures. Master an additional language to enhance your study, travel, and work opportunities immeasurably. In an era of global industry and communication, individuals who can demonstrate fluency and understanding in other languages and cultures are increasingly valuable.
Gain the tools necessary to negotiate the global literary landscape and develop skills in writing and communication, information management, problem solving and critical thinking, and more.
World languages and literatures offers crucial insight into living and growing in an increasingly complex world. Globalization is a key relevant topic today: explore the ever-increasing diversity in Canada. By exploring literary texts from a variety of cultures, students learn to place themselves contextually in a constantly changing world and learn from a perspective of relativity. World literature students "engage the world."
The Department of World Languages and Literature offers major, minor, honours, joint, and co-op programs. Explore program offerings to find out what's right for you.
Program Options
Learn more about the different degrees and programs available to you at World Languages & Literatures.
Undergraduate options
Major
Honours
Joint Major
- World Literature and History Bachelor of Arts
- World Literature and International Studies Bachelor of Arts
Minor
Extended Minor
Co-operative Education Program
Career pathways
The world literature curriculum teaches you to write creatively and expressively, to read and think critically, and to communicate ideas effectively across different cultures.
While some graduates work directly in literature and language, for instance by teaching elementary or high school or entering the publishing field, career possibilities are diverse.
The content specific to world literature courses is especially relevant to careers in international agencies and organizations, broadcasting, the arts, public relations, as well as diplomacy, teaching, journalism, and library and information services.
“I did not hesitate even for a second about studying World Languages & Literatures. Literature has always been a magnet for me, something that had an incredible ability to capture my attention and change my world with every single book I was reading. All of the World Languages & Literatures professors were so remarkable, and these courses have really forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and see connections I’ve never seen before.”
Anastasiia Lebedenko
2021 Graduating Class | Major in World Languages & Literatures
Learn more
Learn languages at SFU! Arabic, Chinese, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Punjabi, and Spanish. Courses available for everyone, from native speakers to absolute beginners!
Professor Ortabasi describing WL 201, a World Literature course in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at SFU.
