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Foreign Language

Not all colleges require foreign language beyond UW admissions requirement of two high school years or two college quarter. However, some majors might. Consult our page on  General Education Requirements by College and School  for more information. 

If deafness, speech impairment, or a certified learning disability would interfere significantly with your study of a foreign language, you can petition to be allowed to substitute coursework about a foreign culture for language requirements. 

Recommendations

• If you plan to continue the foreign language you took in high school, we encourage you to complete your foreign language requirement right away, while what you’ve learned is still fresh in your mind.
• If you’re considering majors in colleges such as business or nursing, which don’t require any foreign language beyond the UW’s admission requirement, you may want to postpone language study—although in most colleges you can count foreign language courses toward A&H if you complete the third-quarter course.
• You should get started on your foreign language courses right away. Some last-quarter seniors don’t graduate on time because they fail to complete the third-quarter course with at least a 2.0 grade.
• Although the UW offers 10- and 15-credit intensive language instruction in Summer quarter, many students find these courses more difficult than regular language instruction.

Languages taught at the UW Language & Intro Course Department For more information American Sign Language ASL 101 Linguistics Visit Website Arabic ARAB 411 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Bengali BENG 311 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian BCS 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Bulgarian BULGR 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Burmese JSIS 486 International Studies Email Department Chinese (Mandarin) CHIN 101 or 111 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Czech CZECH 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Danish DANISH 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Estonian ESTO 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Finnish FINN 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website French FRENCH 101 or 110 French and Italian Studies Visit Website German GERMAN 101 or 111 German Visit Website Greek (Classical) GREEK 101 Classics Visit Website Greek (Modern) JSIS E 111 International Studies Email Department Hebrew (Biblical) HEBR 414 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Hebrew (Modern) HEBR 411 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Hindi HINDI 311 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Indonesian INDON 111 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Italian ITAL 101 or 111 French and Italian Studies Visit Website Japanese JAPAN 101 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Kazakh TKIC 414 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Khmer JSIS 486 International Studies Email Department Korean KOREAN 101 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Latin LATIN 101 Classics Visit Website Latvian LATV 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Lithuanian LITH 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Norwegian NORW 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Persian PRSAN 411 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Polish POLSH 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Portuguese PORT 101 or 110 Spanish and Portuguese Studies Visit Website Russian RUSS 101 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Sanskrit SNKRT 301 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Slovenian SLVN 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Southern Lushootseed AIS 313, 314 and 315 American Indian Studies Visit Website Spanish SPAN 101, 110, or 121 Spanish and Portuguese Studies Visit Website Swahili SWA 101 American Ethnic Studies Email Department Swedish SWED 101 Scandinavian Studies Visit Website Tagalog (Filipino) TAGLG 101 American Ethnic Studies Email Department Thai THAI 111 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Turkish TKISH 411 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Ukranian UKR 401 Slavic Languages and Literatures Visit Website Urdu URDU 311 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website Uyghur TKC 417 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Uzbek TKIC 411 Near Eastern Languages and Civilization Visit Website Vietnamese VIET 111 Asian Languages & Literature Visit Website

Grades required You must achieve at least a 2.0 grade in the third quarter of the foreign language. The third-quarter course may not be taken on the satisfactory/not satisfactory (S/NS) grading option. Any passing grade, including an S on the S/NS grading option, in the fourth or higher quarter of a language will also satisfy the requirement.

Placement and proficiency tests If you plan to continue the foreign language you took in high school, you must take a placement test to determine the level at which you should resume the language. In most languages, if you have transferred college credit, you may simply continue the language with the next quarter. Alternatively, if you have no background in a language, for most languages you can just start with the first class in the sequence. If you place into the fourth quarter of a foreign language, or higher, your placement test score alone exempts you from the Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement. Placement tests taken at other universities or colleges do not exempt you from the UW's language requirement. Humanities Academic Services coordindates placement and proficiency testing for many languages, but not all. In some cases you will need to contact an individual department or school to make arrangements. Consult the above 'Languages taught at the UW' to make that determination. If the language that you are proficient in is not offered at the University of Washington, you can go through the  UW Language Learning Center  to be tested for proficiency .

Overlap with other requirements Courses used to satisfy the foreign language requirement can also count toward your major, if applicable. They may also count towards the Arts & Humanities (A&H) component of your Areas of Inquiry requirement . See below. All colleges Language instruction courses at the second-year level and beyond may be counted toward the A&H requirement. College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Social Work The entire first year of the language used to meet the foreign-language graduation requirement  cannot  also count toward A&H. First-year courses  in a language that is not being used for the foreign-language requirement  may be counted toward A&H, but  only if you complete the third-quarter course . All other colleges First-year courses may be counted toward A&H, but  only if you complete the third-quarter course . In other words If your major is in a College or School that requires the foreign language graduation requirement, none of the first-year courses you take to meet the foreign language requirement — first, second, and third quarter — count toward the A&H requirement. All courses in a  second  foreign language can be counted toward A&H, provided you complete at least the third college quarter of the language. You may choose which language to use for the language requirement and which to count toward A&H. If your major is in a College or School that does  not  require the foreign language graduation requirement, then all of your first-year foreign language courses count toward the A&H requirement, provided you complete at least the third quarter. All courses at the second-year level and beyond will count toward A&H — if taken for a grade and not S/NS.

AP and IB If you achieved a score of 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board Advanced Placement foreign language examination, you will receive 5, 10, or 15 college credits at the second-year level. This satisfies the foreign language requirement, and the credit also counts toward A&H. See the AP tables for more information. If you achieve a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Program Higher Level foreign language exam, you will receive 5, 10, or 15 credits at the second-year level. This satisfies the foreign language requirement, and the credit also counts toward A&H. See the  IB tables for more information.

For transfer students Transfer college credits in a foreign language satisfy this requirement if you complete the third quarter or second semester with at least a 2.0 grade (or a higher-level course with any passing grade), and if the entire first-year sequence would transfer as at least 12 quarter credits. Transfer students who completed college coursework in their high school language of admission are allowed credit for the first quarter of the language, if the course was taken before admission to the UW. Students who enter under the Direct Transfer Agreement  are  not  exempt from the foreign language requirement.

For postbaccalaureate students Postbaccalaureate students are not required to complete the foreign language requirement.

High school duplication If, after your admission to the UW, you start over again in the foreign language you took for two or more years in high school and used for admission, the first college quarter is considered a duplication and you are not awarded college credit. The course and grade will appear on your college transcript, but will not count toward your credit total or your GPA. You will receive credit for all language courses from the second quarter on. Even when the first quarter of the language is considered high school duplication, the course  is  counted in your credit total when tuition is assessed, and is also counted for the purposes of quarterly financial aid, veterans benefits, or a student visa. (Note, however, that it will not count toward the 36 credits per year required by financial aid.) If you take the placement test and place into the first quarter of your high-school language, and you wish to continue studying that language, you must start with the first quarter even though it will not count toward the total credits required for graduation.

English as second language You are exempt from the foreign language requirement if you spoke a language other than English in your home during the first six years of your childhood, and it was the language in which you received instruction in school through the seventh grade. See the  Office of Admissions to have it recorded in your record that you are a native speaker of another language. If you do not meet this definition, you may still be able to pass a proficiency test  in your language.

Making up an admission deficiency You have an admission deficiency in foreign language if you lack the University admission requirement of two units (years) of one foreign language in high school. If you lack this admission requirement, normally you must make it up with college coursework before transferring to the UW. A passing grade in the second college quarter of a foreign language removes the admission deficiency. UW Placement into the third quarter of a foreign language will also remove the deficiency. Students with foreign language deficiencies are occasionally admitted by petition. If you are a prospective student, contact the UW's Office of Educational Assessment to learn about taking a foreign language placement test. Contact the  Office of Admissions  if you have questions about the foreign language admission requirements. The foreign language courses you take to remove an admission deficiency can also count toward the foreign language graduation requirement. Although courses taken satisfactory/not satisfactory  can be used to make up an admission deficiency, you must take the  third  quarter of the foreign language for a grade, and receive at least a 2.0, if you plan to use the course to satisfy the foreign language graduation requirement.

Degree overview

Did you know.

In most colleges you can count foreign language courses toward Arts and Humanities (A&H).

Summer language intensives

You can complete a full first year of foreign language study by taking a 15-credit summer course.

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• Which Languages Are Recognized as World Languages?

What Is a World Language?

The term world language refers to a language that is used by a large number of people across a large geographical area. World languages are important in international affairs and allow a variety of individuals to understand each other despite cultural differences. These languages often gain their status due to linguistic imperialism, which is usually the imposition of the language of a dominant group of people over a conquered group of people. Historically, this often occurred as a result of military occupation and colonialism. Latin, Greek, Aramaic, and Egyptian have all held importance as world languages. Today, linguistic imperialism is established through the increasing number of global business transactions. This article takes a closer look at some of the most widely used European world languages today.

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is estimated to have around 372 million native speakers, 611 million second language speakers, and around 600 million foreign language speakers around the world. It is often referred to as the global lingua franca due to its importance in the international communication of business, financial institutions, academic research, media outlets, and the entertainment industry. This language is categorized as the (or one of the) official language of 59 nations. English reached its status as a world language in large part due to the invention of the printing press and the spread of the British Empire.

Spanish is the second most widely spoken world language. It is estimated to have around 437 million native speakers, 91 million second language speakers, and around 21 million foreign language speakers around the world. Spanish, which is spoken in North America, South America, Africa, and Europe, is the 2nd most common native tongue in the world and is also considered the 3rd most commonly used language for online information. It was once an official language of the Philippines as well, until the government removed its official status in 1987. Currently, it is the most widely taught foreign language in the US. The spread of the Spanish language was facilitated by the growth of the Spanish Empire. Today, it is considered an official language in 20 sovereign countries.

French is the third most widely spoken European world language, although its occurrence has been declining since the end of World War I. Currently, this language has approximately 80 million native speakers, 153 million second language speakers, and around 274 foreign language speakers. It is considered an official language of the United Nations (as are the previously mentioned English and Spanish) and has been declared by 29 sovereign governments as an official language. Historically, French was revered as the elite language of Europe and used by the ruling class and the most highly educated populations. The elitism associated with speaking French was also held across the Ottoman Empire, in Russia, and as far away as South America, Egypt, and Iran. Today, it is the 4th most common native language spoken in the European Union. The use of French as a current world language was made possible by the far reaches of French colonialism.

Which Languages Are Recognized as European World Languages?

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World Languages

McGraw Hill World Languages offers instructors and students a rich selection of digital courseware, world language textbooks, and step-by-step support to accommodate your needs.

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We have something for everyone! Take the product quiz to discover the right Introductory Spanish and Intermediate Spanish product for you.

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World Languages Features

Connect for World Languages is a user-friendly learning platform that provides instructors and students with convenient access to textbooks and online resources supporting and enriching the language-learning journey. Connect supplements your course instruction and fosters greater immersion in the language and culture. Through its creative features aligned with chapter learning objectives, Connect aims to breathe life into the target language for students, enabling effective practice of listening, speaking, and communication skills.

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Adaptive Learning Assignment:

Adaptive Learning Assignment provides your students with a learning experience that adapts to the unique needs of each learner through ongoing formative assessments, feedback and learning resources for topics tied directly to course outcomes. We’ve created a secure space for learning that balances intentional rigor with the freedom to allow students to make mistakes and learn from them without being penalized.

Grammar Tutorial Videos:

Short and engaging, the tutorial videos are hosted by a diverse, inclusive cast of characters who provide clear explanations in English with examples of grammatical concepts.

Practice Spanish: Study Abroad:

Practice Spanish is an immersive 3-D language game designed exclusively by for McGraw-Hill and included in all our Spanish titles. Students "travel" virtually to Colombia, where they problem-solve, communicate, and navigate through a variety of cultural scenarios and adventures.

Recordable Video Chat:

Recordable Video Chat (powered by GoReact) is a synchronous communication tool where up to nine students can meet online together in a video chat to practice speaking in the target language. Instructors can evaluate those recordings and provide timely feedback with the help of embedded comments and easy-to-customize, time-stamped markers.

Voice Board:

Voice Board (powered by GoReact) is an asynchronous communication tool where the whole class collaborates in a discussion board and practices speaking, writing, and listening in the target language. Instructors are able to provide personalized feedback on the posts via text, audio or video comments.

Featured World Languages Textbooks

Jhumpa lahiri.

McGraw Hill is thrilled to partner with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri, to create a video series about how learning a new language helps us to develop the skills we need to thrive in our interconnected world.

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

World languages pathways, world language pathways.

Now available to CLAS students

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has added additional pathways for students to fulfill the General Education CLAS Core World Languages requirement starting in summer 2024.

CLAS offers courses approved for General Education in fourteen languages through the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Department of Classics .

Students entering the UI for their first degree-seeking session in summer 2024 or later may complete the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement through any of the three pathways. Current and former students may opt-in to the updated requirements in summer 2024 or later with no other changes to their GE CLAS Core requirements. The earliest date a student may graduate with the updated World Languages requirement is summer 2024.

Substitutions related to disabilities

Students with a documented learning disability related to learning a world language may be approved for world language substitution coursework. The student applies for accommodations though Student Disability Services (SDS). Upon approval, CLAS notifies the student regarding the requirements of the world language substitution.

Students entering the university for their first degree-seeking session in summer 2024 or later may complete the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement through one of three pathways:

Fourth Level

• Successful completion of fourth-level coursework in a single world language
• Equivalent to four years (levels) in high school or four semesters (levels) of college coursework in the appropriate sequence
• May be completed in a variety of ways, including credit by examination and placement and proficiency testing for languages taught at UI and languages not taught at UI

Learn more about Fourth level requirements

Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course

• Successful completion of third-level coursework in a single world language in high school or college, plus an approved World Language and Cultural Exploration course
• For the World Language and Cultural Exploration course, students explore topics and issues through the lens of a world language (other than English) and/or culture or multiple world languages and/or cultures. Courses help students expand their knowledge of language systems and structure and/or the role of language in social interactions, cultural environments, and identity formation. Suitable work may align with prior world language experience or engage with a different language, and may include a study abroad or experiential learning course. A minimum of 3 s.h. is required.
• The CLAS General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC) will approve the world language and cultural exploration courses, which will be available beginning in summer 2024.
• Students build understanding of one or more world language(s) and/or culture(s).
• Students make connections among language, culture, and identity and/or increase their understanding of the structure of a language or languages other than English.
• Students develop and enhance intercultural competencies, helping them to engage with people and/or cultures whose dominant language is not English.

Second Level of Two Languages

• Successful completion of second-level coursework in two different world languages
• Equivalent to a two-year world language sequence in high school or a two-semester world language sequence in college in two different world languages

Course information

• World language courses for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration course pathway or Second Level of Two Languages pathway may include any combination of high school and college-level coursework, including transfer courses.
• The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken at any time: before, concurrently, or after taking the three levels of world language coursework. 
• The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken in an area related to the world languages coursework, or in a different area.
• Course levels for world language courses offered at the UI are noted in the MyUI course description. For example, PORT:2000 Accelerated Elementary Portuguese is a second-level course.
• The student must request that their high school send the transcript directly to the UI Office of Admissions, electronically to [email protected] , or by mail to: Enrollment Management, 2900 University Capitol Centre, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52242.

Information for current and former students

Current and former CLAS students may opt in to the updated World Languages requirement beginning in summer 2024. All other GE CLAS Core requirements for students who opt in will remain the same.

• Courses that are approved as a World Language and Cultural Exploration course will be available beginning in summer 2024 and may not be taken earlier. Courses taken prior to summer 2024 will not be applied as a World Language and Cultural Exploration course. Please note, GE status is never applied retroactively to a course and is only effective starting with the GE status implementation date.
• Students may use approved world language courses taken prior to summer 2024 for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway or for third-level coursework in a single world language for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway.
• Information can be found in this email that was sent to current students on February 5, 2024.

The earliest degree conferral session for a student using the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course or Second Level of Two Languages pathway is summer 2024.

• Students do not need to be enrolled in summer session 2024 if all requirements will be complete for summer 2024 degree conferral.
• During summer 2024, CLAS Undergraduate Programs can provide students with an anticipated degree verification letter for summer 2024 degree conferral, if needed, for purposes of employment, etc.
• Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August 2024.

FAQ about World Languages Pathways

I already have the fourth-level world language requirement completed; do i need to do anything.

No. You may complete the fourth-level world language requirement as noted on your degree audit and you may graduate when all degree requirements are complete (spring 2024, or later).

When will my degree audit be updated with the new world languages pathways?

If you plan to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway or Second Level of Two Languages pathway, you will need to opt-in to the new requirements in MyUI. Your degree audit will be updated in June 2024.

How do I opt-in to the new world languages pathways?

If you wish to use one of the new pathways to fulfill your World Languages requirement, you must opt-in to the pathways in MyUI .

• On the Student Information tab under Advising, choose World Languages Pathways
• Choose “Yes, I would like to opt-in to the World Languages Pathways program.”
• Click “Save Opt-in Status”
• A message displays that you have successfully updated World Languages Pathways Opt in Status.

Note that your selection will be saved, but your degree audit will not be updated with the new pathways until sometime in June 2024.

When can I take courses for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway?

You may complete the courses for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway at any time.

When can I take a World Language and Cultural Exploration course for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway?

World Language and Cultural Exploration courses will be available beginning in summer 2024 and later, in both on campus and online formats. Courses will be available to view in MyUI prior to summer 2024 early registration (March 4-8, 2024).

I plan to complete the Second Level of Two Languages pathway courses in spring 2024. Can I graduate in spring 2024?

No, if you want to complete your world language requirement with the Second Level of Two Languages pathway you will need submit a degree application for graduation in summer 2024 or later. Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August 2024. However, if you will graduate in summer 2024 you may take part in the spring 2024 CLAS commencement ceremony. Learn more about participating in the spring ceremony by visiting the UI commencement website and sign up for the spring 2024 commencement subscription list .

I plan to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway courses in spring 2024. Can I graduate in spring 2024?

No, it is not possible to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway in spring 2024, as the World Language and Cultural Exploration courses will be available only in summer 2024 or later. If you want to complete your world language requirement with the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway you will need enroll for the appropriate course(s) and submit a degree application for graduation in summer 2024 or later.

Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August 2024. However, if you will graduate in summer 2024 you may take part in the spring 2024 CLAS commencement ceremony. Learn more about participating in the spring ceremony by visiting the UI commencement website and sign up for the spring 2024 commencement subscription list .

What do I need to do to graduate with one of the new pathways in summer 2024?

If you plan to graduate in summer 2024 with the new pathways, you must follow these four steps:

• You must opt-in to the World Languages Pathways in MyUI as noted earlier on this page .
• From the MyUI home page , choose Degrees/Graduation and submit a degree application for summer 2024
• If you want to participate in the spring 2024 commencement ceremony, you must RSVP in MyUI. Visit the commencement website to learn about off-cycle commencement participation and sign up for the spring 2024 commencement subscription list .
• If you want to take a World Language and Cultural Exploration (WLCE) course in summer 2024, you must fill out this survey as soon as possible to request special permission for one of the WLCE courses. Please note a limited number of spaces will be available in WLCE courses in summer 2024, and these courses are primarily offered on campus in person.

I am a transfer student and took world language courses in high school. Is there anything I need to do?

If you transferred to the UI and have not sent an official high school transcript to the UI Office of Admissions, you must do so if you want to use high school courses to satisfy any portion of the World Languages requirement. Contact your high school and request that they send your transcript electronically to [email protected] , or by mail to: Enrollment Management, 2900 University Capitol Centre, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52242.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Your academic advisor can review options with you for completing your World Languages requirement. If additional questions arise after speaking with your advisor, please contact CLAS Undergraduate Programs, [email protected] , or 319-335-2633.

World Languages with ESL Certification (M.Ed.)

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As globalization connects diverse cultures more and more, it's crucial to educate students to be linguistically and culturally prepared to be world citizens. And with the nationwide shortage of qualified world language teachers, you can play a role in our increasingly integrated and interdependent world, by learning and applying theories of linguistics, intercultural communication and language pedagogy that responds to the needs of multilingual learners in a wide range of capacities.

World Languages Program Overview

The World Languages program was created by a cadre of faculty nationally recognized in all aspects of language acquisition. Our M.Ed. degree enables you to earn certification in World Languages with teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) certification. All candidates must demonstrate language proficiency outlined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) examination and the equivalent of an undergraduate major in a world language and culture. The language program offers pre K-12 licensure in Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Mandarin.

A one-year M.Ed. option is possible for those students who complete ELL endorsement coursework as undergraduates.

Explore how to teach for impact with a master of education in our digital guidebook.

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World Language Program Facts

Program Director:   Heather Johnson Program Coordinator:   Becky Peterson Admissions Coordinator: Erica Bodden Admission Term: Fall Credit Hours: 33

Application Dates

Application deadline 1, application deadline 2, rolling admissions.

After February 3*

*Applications received after the Feb 3 second deadline are reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted as space and funds allow.

World Languages (M.Ed.) and ESL Certification Curriculum

Students will earn a Master's in Education in World Languages with K-12 licensure in either Spanish, French, German, Latin, or Mandarin and the endorsement to teach K-12 English Language Learners. The 31-34 hours of coursework build on the foundational requirements of Peabody's Multilingual Learner Education program and the Secondary Education program.

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."-Nelson Mandela

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The World Languages program recognizes and respects differences across students' backgrounds, circumstances, and personal and social identities and understands that our concept of diversity and what constitutes an inclusive climate will evolve as we welcome new students. We are committed to creating academic experiences that address issues of justice and equity, working within our classrooms and program to increase the participation and contributions of persons who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the pursuit of knowledge.

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