Foreign Language Requirement



Knowledge of at least one foreign language acceptable to the department in which the student is majoring is required for the Master of Arts degree. The language will normally be French or German, unless another language is specifically required for the student's research for the thesis.

The foreign language requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following ways:

  • 1. by passing the Foreign Language Proficiency Examination administered each semester and summer term by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, application for which must be obtained in the office of the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures (students normally prepare for the examination by taking appropriate courses in the department);


    • or

  • 2. by submitting a transcript of undergraduate credit showing completion of the sophomore year in a single foreign language, provided the grade on the last course completed is C or higher.

Candidates for graduate degrees to be awarded at the close of any summer session must have satisfied the foreign language requirements for the degree sought prior to the first class day of the second term of the session. Candidates for graduation at the close of the spring or fall semester must have satisfied the foreign language requirements prior to the last day for filing thesis or dissertation in the office of the graduate dean. Consult the Academic Calendar for the proper deadline.

Note: There is no language requirement for the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.