Courses in the foreign languages offer students the opportunity to acquire an informed appreciation and understanding of other peoples through their language, literature, culture, and history.

The major in languages is designed for students who want to achieve a working proficiency in two languages other than English. It may be combined with a second major as a support to another interest or career goal. The language training it provides, integrated with the sociopolitical and cultural understanding it fosters, is applicable to several career areas, including teaching, translating/interpreting, international business, and government service. Normally, students majoring in languages will have developed some proficiency in one language prior to coming to Principia College, and they continue that language in addition to developing another one during their major program.