The School of Global Studies and Languages faculty specialize in a range of research fields that deal with some of the most important contemporary and historical issues, including global health, media and culture, environmental studies, social and political justice, language and cognition across cultures, migration, food studies, and more.
18
languages offered in person
48
U.S. students Fulbright grantees in past 10 years
Programs within the School of Global Studies and Languages
Chinese Flagship Program
For more than ten years, the University of Oregon Chinese Flagship Program has been providing students with the wholistic academic and scholarship support they need to develop professional-level proficiency in Chinese while studying any academic major of their choice.
Spanish Heritage Language Program
The Spanish Heritage Language Program (SHL) is designed specifically for students who have a personal, familial, or community connection to Spanish. In SHL courses, you learn about Spanish and Spanglish as they are used in the US and in the wider Spanish-speaking world, build on your existing knowledge of Spanish, and make meaningful connections with local Spanish-speaking communities.
Northwest Indian Language Institute
With tribal, academic and community partners, we establish collaborative, ongoing projects that meet the specific needs and desires of each language community. We also provide outreach services on issues of language endangerment and advocate for language revitalization.
Yamada Language Center
An innovative program for the study of less commonly taught languages—if three students or more suggest a language, we find a qualified tutor and put together a program.
The UO is one of the top universities in the nation to study languages!
Whether you want to learn a new language or conduct research in a language you’re proficient in, GSL offers students 18 languages to choose from. We rank #9 in Romance Languages, #6 in Spanish, #5 in East Asian Languages, #4 in Chinese, #4 in Japanese, and #6 in all Foreign Languages for annual degrees awarded.
(Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2019.)
News
GLOBAL HEALTH, GLOBAL STUDIES - Associate Professor Jo Weaver published research in the December 2023 issue of SSM-Mental Health that examines the mental health needs of women in India. Because of the gaps in mental health care that emerge from cultural mismatch, Weaver and her research team urge health workers to prioritize culturally informed methods of distress management and address the social and structural causes of suffering rather than delivering standardized clinical mental healthcare.
JAPANESE, LATINX STUDIES, LINGUISTICS, SPANISH - The Latinx Studies Experiential Learning Program offers funding for a limited number of undergraduates to conduct research or pursue creative projects under the supervision of a faculty member. At a Feb. 13 forum, four undergrads showcased their research, which includes language revitalization, preservation and environmental justice radio reporting.
GLOBAL STUDIES - Kathryn Desvignes Holder (MA, '17) earned her global studies master's degree, specializing in cross-cultural communication and Africa, which she said provided her with the experience and skills to speak and communicate with a diversity of stakeholders. She is now the public affairs officer and public engagement lead for the Umatilla National Forest.
