BA in Minorities & Multilingualism University of Groningen

How can you manage the diversity; of cultures and languages? How do minorities shape social development? Does the discussion on inclusion and diversity ask for new leadership skills?

Local roots, global outlook

More than ever, our schools, companies and organizations are diverse, and future leaders in education, business, politics and any other field need to be able to deal with this diversity: they need diversity management skills.

Our Bachelor's programme Minorities and Multilingualism will train you to become a diversity manager. You will learn about the languages, cultures, histories and politics of ethnolinguistic minorities across the globe. Furthermore, you will learn how to do research on issues of minorities and multilingualism.

Our three-year programme consists of a versatile combination of courses in linguistics, political and cultural history, and social sciences. Throughout these courses, you will encounter a broad range of topics: minorities, migration, diversity management, and multilingualism. You may also choose to learn the Frisian regional language which is often used as a case study in courses.

You will learn how to assess, investigate and critically reflect on these topics. You will also become able to formulate solutions, provide consultancy and produce policy advice that will help organisations and communities to better deal with cultural and linguistic diversity.

Why study this programme in Groningen?

We offer a unique perspective. Minorities & Multilingualism is the only programme of its kind in the Netherlands. Each course is uniquely designed to take the perspective of minorities or multilingualism as its starting point.

One of the things characterising our programme is the focus on intensive working collaborations between staff and students. By prioritising small groups over large auditoriums, the students are guaranteed to have intense contact with our inspiring group of lecturers. Our lecturers are experts in various fields (such as history, linguistics, anthropology, and cultural studies) so that you will learn to see the issues surrounding minorities from a variety of perspectives.

Year 1

In the first year, you'll acquire foundational knowledge on the topics in the programme. You'll attend courses on the history of (linguistic) minorities in Europe, language change, multilingualism in society and linguistics.

In History of European minorities I and II you'll learn about the history of different minorities in Europe and how, throughout time, language and culture have played an integral part in this. Minority languages I and II explores the vitality of minority languages and factors that may contribute to language change, and examines whether language change or even language death, can be predicted.

The course Introduction to linguistics teaches you the foundations of linguistics and the various domains from which linguists examine language (phonology, syntax, semantics, and so forth). In Multilingualism I and II you'll be dealing with questions relating to whether language shapes the way we think, and how different languages in our brain influence each other, but also how we can best deal with multilingualism in the educational domain.

Courses

• Frisian as a Minority Language I (5 EC, optional)
• Introduction to Linguistics I (5 EC)
• Introduction to Minority Studies I: Global Minorities (5 EC)
• Minority Languages I (5 EC)
• Frisian as a Minority Language II (5 EC, optional)
• Introduction to Linguistics II: Multilingual Speakers (5 EC)
• Introduction to Minority Studies II: Basic Concepts and Theories (5 EC)
• Minority Languages II (5 EC)
• Countries/Societies of the Middle East (5 EC, optional)
• Eurolab Ia (5 EC, optional)
• Frisian Language Proficiency Ia (5 EC, optional)
• Minorities in Europe I: Histories (5 EC)
• Multilingualism I: Social and Linguistic (5 EC)
• Elective (10 EC, optional)
• Eurolab Ib (5 EC, optional)
• Frisian Language Proficiency Ib (5 EC, optional)
• Minorities in Europe II: Contemporary Issues (5 EC)
• Multilingualism II: Education (5 EC)

Year 2

In year two you extend your knowledge. The courses deal with themes relating to the cultural diversity of minorities and their cultural representations in arts and literature. In addition, you'll develop your research skills and apply these in the local 'lab'. You'll also make a start with your minor, or you can opt to specialise in Frisian.

You'll examine the cultural diversity of minorities in Europe and the (un)founded ideas that persist in this society in the course Minorities in contemporary Europe. Art and literature as a means of rebellion and the creation of an identity is the focus of Minority representations in arts, culture and media. You'll also learn about gender minorities and the position they take in society.

In addition to extending your knowledge, you will put this knowledge into practice. The course Research Methodology teaches you the necessary research skills that you will put to use in the two Into the local lab courses. You will apply the knowledge and skills that you have obtained on multilingualism and minorities in the other courses to your surroundings.

In addition to the courses in the second year of the programme, students get a wide selection of minors to choose from. There is also the possibility to specialise in Frisian. In this Frisian specialisation trajectory, Frisian proficiency is combined with Old Frisian studies, the history of Friesland and Frisian literature.

Courses

• Frisian Language Proficiency IIb (5 EC, optional)
• Minority representations in Arts, Culture and Media I (5 EC)
• Research Methodology I (5 EC)
• Elective 1 (10 EC, optional)
• Frisian Language Proficiency IIa (5 EC, optional)
• Minority representations in Arts, Culture and Media II (5 EC)
• Research Methodology II (5 EC)
• Elective 1 (10 EC, optional)
• History of Frisia (10 EC, optional)
• Intersectionality and super-diversity (10 EC, optional)
• Into the local laboratory: Cultural Heritage (10 EC)
• Into the local laboratory: Language (10 EC)

Year 3

In year three you will complete your studies and look ahead to future study and/or career opportunities. You can spend a semester at a university abroad, or complete an internship. In the final semester, you'll write your Bachelor's thesis.

In the first semester, you have the opportunity to study at a partner university abroad, follow a career minor, or a university minor. In the second semester, you'll take a course on multilingualism in educational domains and tackle intercultural communication issues in the course Diversity management. In these two courses, you will look ahead at possible career paths in the (multilingual) education- or cultural heritage sector.

As an alternative, you can also do an internship at a company or organisation that deals with themes relating to minorities and/or multilingualism. You finish your studies by writing a Bachelor's thesis; an intensive research project on a topic of your own choosing, in which you can put everything you have learned into practice.

Courses

• Aldfrysk (10 EC, optional)
• Frisian Linguistics (10 EC, optional)
• Fryske Literatuer (10 EC, optional)
• Minor (30 EC, optional)
• BA Thesis M&M (10 EC)
• Diversity in Education (10 EC)
• M&M Diversity Management (10 EC)

Disclaimer: The second and third-year course units shown in the table are subject to change in the event of alterations to the programme.

Programme options

• Frisian (track)
• Minors (minor)
• University of Groningen Honours College (honours)

Study abroad

• Study abroad is optional
• For an average of 16 weeks
• Maximum of 30 EC

As part of your studies, we encourage students who want, to spend a semester at a university abroad. In this way, you'll be able to experience what you have learned in the courses in a different setting.

Job prospects

With a degree in M&M, you are widely qualified on the job market. You have knowledge of issues surrounding minority groups in society, which makes you a suitable candidate to work at governmental agencies, as a policy advisor in education, diversity, minorities or cultural heritage. Or report on minority politics by becoming a journalist. Your knowledge of multilingualism and diversity management is valuable in careers where you have to deal with people from different (linguistic) backgrounds.

How can a city deal with multilingualism in the public domain? As a language policy advisor, your knowledge of this comes in handy. Or specialize in multilingualism in the workplace and develop communication strategies for (international) companies. With a specialization in Frisian you are able to work in the Frisian cultural sector; at the Historic and Literary Center Tresoar, the Afûk, or the Fryske Akademy.

Job examples

• Diversity manager and advisor. A diversity manager manages cultural diversity in the workplace and in organizations and makes policies that provide solutions to societal challenges such as equal opportunities on the job market, in education and healthcare and the participation of refugees in the community.
• Teacher. With this bachelor's, you are able to teach at various universities (of applied sciences). For example in teacher training, cultural education, social work and language-related programmes.
• Policymaker language, culture, heritage. A policy maker develops and evaluates a policy and may assist in the execution of the policy.
• Researcher. After your bachelor's, you can obtain a master's degree and choose to enrol in a PhD program in the Netherlands or abroad.
• Communication expert. As a communication expert in the field of intercultural communication, you advise national and international organizations on efficient and effective communication.
• Translator. Students may use their language skills to become a translator.
• Civil servant. As a graduate, you have gained competency in a broad range of transferable skills in the field of language, culture, politics and minorities. This makes you an asset to public organizations in and outside of the Netherlands.
• Journalist. Students interested in journalism may consider using their language proficiency and knowledge of political and cultural affairs to work as correspondents or reporters for national or international media outlets.
• Diverse jobs. Students who follow the Frisian track can carry out various functions in Friesland after graduation. Think of a job with the provincial government or medium-sized cultural institutions, such as Tresoar, Afûk, Frisian Museum and Omrop Fryslân.