Head of Department's Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Modern Languages.

This department was formerly a part of the Faculty of Arts (FoA), which was a foundational faculty of the University of Ghana. The disciplines in the FoA covered what was traditionally considered the Humanities, as well as the Performing Arts. At its inception, the FoA consisted of the following disciplines: Classics, Philosophy, English and Divinity. In the course of its history, other disciplines were introduced. They were Arabic, Chinese, Dance Studies, English, French, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy and Classics, Religions, Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Theater Arts. All the Languages except English and French made up the Department of Modern Languages.

After the inception of the collegiate system of administration in the University of Ghana, the Department of Modern Languages, which has become a part of the School of Languages (one of the six schools under the College of Humanities), now consists of five sections. They are the Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Swahili and Russian sections. These relatively 'modern languages' have become relevant due to rapidly changing world dymanics are relevant for all spheres of life across the world, including business and commerce.

The Department is committed to the training of language professionals and researchers for national and international practice. This is done through its well-thought out, innovative and market driven undergraduate and graduate programs and its cutting-edge language and interdisciplinary research.

The Departments of Modern Languages places emphasis on training students to be proficient in various international languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Kiswahili. More recently, attention has been devoted to translation and conference interpreting as viable market-driven areas of training. As an inextricable part of the language proficiency enterprise, the department has taken a keen interest in the literature and culture of the societies that represent these language groups.

I invite you to visit our pages and get acquainted with our efforts at promoting research, teaching and learning of the languages represented in the Department of Modern Languages.