Persian (also known as Farsi), spoken by more than 110 million people, is an official language in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan and is widely spoken in neighboring countries. Minoring in Persian and will provide you with skills to write, read and speak the Persian language and will enhance your understanding of the literary, cultural, historical, and political aspects of Iran and Persian populations across the globe. We offer the only Persian minor in the State of Oregon. The Persian language is listed among the strategic and critical need languages by the U.S. Department of State and speakers of Persian are in high demand by many employers.
Our Persian program provides you with hands-on and communicative instruction that is responsive to your needs while immersing you in the Persian and Iranian culture and its diverse perspectives, traditions, and practices. By studying Persian at PSU, you will join a close-knit group of students and have opportunities to engage in field trips, cultural activities, and community events to gain a deeper understanding of Iran and its peoples, inside and outside the classroom.
Portland State is the only institution in the Pacific Northwest that offers a minor in the Persian language, drawing students from all over the region. The minor can be bundled with any major, giving you an added qualification to be competitive in today’s job market.
Our small Persian class sizes will provide you the opportunity to get hands-on learning in an inclusive and supportive environment. Our faculty provide one-on-one advising and mentoring; guiding you through your minor and the process of applying to graduate school and jobs. Our faculty are leaders in pedagogy and material development for Persian programs across the nation.
We offer a wide range of scholarships to support our students and enhance their learning experience. Our alumni are accepted to prestigious graduate programs and found gainful employment using their Persian language proficiency.
Languages are becoming increasingly vital in the global economy of the 21st century. Bilingual candidates have a competitive edge for employment and also earn higher salaries. No matter what career you choose, learning a second language, especially a critical one like Persian (Farsi), will give you a significant advantage. An employer will see you as a resource to provide a bridge for new clients and customers. Persian, in particular, is valuable because of recent diplomatic advancements between the United States and Iran, which have created a need for more experts in the language and culture.
You will benefit from a wide range of opportunities including:
- international business and economics
- energy resources
- national security
- Public Policy
- United Nations
- International Monetary Fund
- educational and cultural affairs
- Federal Agencies: Department of Defense, Department of State, US Agency for International Development and Voice of America
- human rights
- educational and cultural affairs
- Translation
- Journalism
- higher education and academia
- many non-profits and non-governmental organizations