As the United States becomes more diverse and as the market place becomes more global, the workplace of tomorrow will encompass many languages and cultures. In-depth study of another language helps students develop a sense of cultural pluralism, an openness to and appreciation of other cultures, and an ability to work with culturally diverse partners. An individual who commits to acquiring a deep understanding of another language and culture will always have a competitive edge.

Taking your foreign language study to a high level will:

• enhance your opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, and other careers
• help you develop skills that are vital to success in any career:
  analytical skills, cognitive flexibility, and critical thinking
  transferable skills in public speaking, writing, and collaborative problem solving
• enrich your international travel with a deeper level of cross cultural understanding
• enable you to function multiculturally, an essential and marketable asset in the globalized world

Learning a global language like Russian will:

• open doors to work and travel in broad geopolitical areas: not only Russia, but also Central Asia, the Far East, and other areas
• enable rapid acquisition of many other Central and Eastern European languages, such as Ukrainian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and others
• facilitate acquisition of any other language, either during your studies at UCLA or in response to future job needs
• make you competitive for a career in diplomacy and national security; see this December, 2015 Washington Post article on the need for Russian specialists
• prepare you to respond to emerging demands of the international markets, as the majority of new jobs in the United States are created as a result of foreign trade