<p>okay, so I'm a future History major as that's what I put on all my applications. Most schools don't let you chose a minor until after you get in/schedule classes. I think I want to work for the UN, possibly as a translator or something along those lines. I want to minor in Italian. (I can speak some now.) However, some of the schools I applied to only offer Italian classes, not a major or minor. So, my question is, would I be able to become a translator or work for the UN with a major in History, a minor in International Affairs, and a resume that says "Proficient in Italian."? I will take all Italian classes I can even if I can not earn a degree in it.</p>
<p>Yep! You don’t have to minor in Italian to show them that you speak it. You can simply put it on your resume!</p>
<p>Have you read the employment section of the UN website? It seems that they care mostly about interpreters for Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish: [UN</a> Careers](<a href=“http://careers.un.org/UNCareers/tabid/65/viewtype/LE/language/en-US/Default.aspx]UN”>http://careers.un.org/UNCareers/tabid/65/viewtype/LE/language/en-US/Default.aspx) </p>
<p>If you want to apply for a non-language civil servant position, you will need training in some area relevant to UN operations: [UN</a> Careers](<a href=“http://careers.un.org/UNCareers/tabid/65/viewtype/NCE/language/en-US/Default.aspx]UN”>UN Careers)</p>
<p>If your are interested in foreign service for the US Department of State, read this site: [U.S</a>. Department of State Careers - Foreign Service Officer](<a href=“http://careers.state.gov/officer/index.html]U.S”>Foreign Service Officer - Careers) A college education in history, international relations and a foreign language appears to be a good preparation for their employment test (unlike the UN’s). Note the proficiency levels for various languages. You need to test at the S-3 level to get “credit” for speaking Italian. (“I am able to adjust my speech to suit my audience, whether I am talking to university professors, close friends, employees, or others.”, “I can use the language to speculate at length about abstract topics such as how some change in history or the course of human events would have affected my life or civilization.”, “I can cope with difficult situations such as broken-down plumbing, an undeserved traffic ticket, or a serious social or diplomatic blunder made by a colleague or me.”)</p>