Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Welcome to your Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures!

The job market in Tennessee and beyond is increasingly interconnected across languages and cultures. Our department offers dynamic, career-enhancing degree programs designed to help you stand out in a wide range of professions.

Take advantage of our free online language placement test, which can instantly award you up to 12 credits at no cost—saving you valuable time and money. Our courses are designed to empower students, not only by building strong language skills but also by fostering leadership, teamwork, and intercultural understanding in a welcoming learning environment.

We invite you to explore all the information on this site, and we look forward to welcoming you into our classes!

For any questions, please contact us at: olaf.berwald@mtsu.edu

Olaf Berwald, Ph.D.

Chair, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

French

German

Japanese

Spanish

Arabic

Chinese

Italian

Portuguese

Latin

Russian

Humanities

Linguistic Studies

M.A.T
Graduate Programs

Teaching Licensure

Faculty & Staff

Study Abroad

Contact Us

Mailing Address:
Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Middle Tennessee State University, Box 79
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 

Main Office: 
BDA 301
Telephone:  (615) 898-2981
Fax:            (615) 898-5735

Department Chair: 
Dr. Olaf Berwald   
Olaf.Berwald@mtsu.edu 
(615) 898-2982 

Executive Assistant:
Charlie Vick  
Charlie.Vick@mtsu.edu
(615) 898-5728

Language Placement Test

MTSU News

Manuel Giannoni-Guzmán, assistant professor of biology at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., holds up a beehive frame laden with honeybees at his outdoor lab located on the MTSU Small Farm facility in Lascassas, Tenn. Researchers on site at the MTSU Bee Lab are, from left, Mckenna Layman, a biochemistry major from Kodak, Tenn.; alumna Noor Obeissy, a 2025 biology graduate from Murfreesboro; Giannoni-Guzmán; and Collin Clark, a graduate student from Mt. Juliet, Tenn. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU researcher lands USDA grant to study how honeybees’ internal clocks protect pollinators, food supply

Standing beside a handful of buzzing honeybee hives at Middle Tennessee State University's Small Farm facility, assistant professor of biology Manuel Giannoni-Guzmán isn't just watching nature’s mighty creatures collect pollen at this outdoor lab.[ Read More ]

Veronica Stringfield, right, a Physician Assistant Studies student at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., talks about the research poster she presented as a first-year student at the 2025 Capstone and Poster Symposium. This year’s event, when Stringfield will give her final research presentation, is 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, in the Academic Classroom Building, 1751 MTSU Blvd. (MTSU file photo by James Cessna)

MTSU Physician Assistant Studies students to showcase research for public at July 31 symposium

Students from Middle Tennessee State University’s Physician Assistant Studies program are showcasing research projects at the annual Capstone and Poster Symposium, set for the end of the month.[ Read More ]