Languages and Cultures (B.A.)

• Arabic Studies
• Chinese Studies
• French
• Russian and East European Studies
• Spanish
• Spanish Translation

*Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.

Foreign language study will enhance your opportunities in just about any field, from government, business, journalism and writing, medicine, and law to science, technology, military, industry, and marketing. A second language improves your communication skills and understanding of people, comprehension of math and English. Analytical skills improve when you study a foreign language. If a major doesn’t fit your plans, a minor is also a great boost to any resume.

Languages and Cultures Minor Options

Curriculum Checklist 

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

• ARAB 101 Elementary Arabic I (3)
• ARAB 102 Elementary Arabic II (3)
• ARAB 203 Intermediate Arabic I (3)
• ARAB 204 Intermediate Arabic II (3)

II. Culture Foundations (3 credits)

• ARAB 211 MENA History, Culture, and Civilization (3) or
• ARAB 212 Arabic Film, Literature, and Culture (3)

III. Communication/Culture/Connections Electives (12 credits)

• ARAB 211 MENA History, Culture, and Civilization (3)*
• ARAB 212 Arabic Film, Literature, and Culture (3)*
• ARAB 305 Arabic for Professional Communication I (3)
• ARAB 306 Arabic for Professional Communication II (3)
• ARAB 380 Special Topics in Arabic Studies (3)
• ARAB 393 Independent Study (3)
• EGGS 102 World Cultural Geography (3)
• EGGS 104 World Regional Geography (3)
• HIST 145 History of Islamicate Societies to 1260 (3)
• HIST 146 History of Islamicate Societies since 1260 (3)
• HIST 332 The Islamic World to 1798 (3)
• HIST 333 The Islamic World since 1798 (3)
• HIST 456 A History of the Modern Middle East (3)
• HIST 457 Seminar on the Early Ottoman Empire (3)
• HIST 458 Seminar on the Late Ottoman Empire (3)
• POLI 160 International Relations: Conflict and Cooperation (3)
• POLI 261 Global Issues (3)
• POLI 326 International Political Economy (3)
• POLI 353 European Politics (3)
• POLI 366 Regionalism in Global Affairs (3)
• POLI 427 International Law and Organizations (3)

IV. Comparisons and Communities Requirement (6 Credits)
Option 1 (6 Credits in any other foreign language)
Any other foreign language course (3)
Any other foreign language course (3)

Option 2 (6 Credits in WLCU courses)

• WLCU 200 Comparative Cultural Studies (3)
• WLCU 201 International Short Story (3)
• WLCU 202 Diversity in World Cinema (3)
• WLCU 210 World City Studies (3)
• WLCU 320 International Travel and Tourism (3)
• WLCU 321 International Etiquette and Protocol (3)
• WLCU 325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence (3)
• WLCU 340 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)
• WLCU 350 Second Language Teaching Methodology (3)
• WLCU 395 Service Learning (3)
• WLCU 400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History (3)
• WLCU 490 Global Experience (3)
• WLCU 498 Internship (3)

Notes:

1. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, minimum 6 credits must be ARAB courses.
2. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be counted only if they are not taken as part of Culture Foundations Requirement.
3. For Option 1 (Comparisons and Communities Requirement Category), courses taught in English are not eligible.
 

Program Director

Dr. Jing Luo

Resources, News and Tips

Course Requirements

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

• CHIN 101 Elementary Chinese I (3)
• CHIN 102 Elementary Chinese II (3)
• CHIN 203 Intermediate Chinese I (3)
• CHIN 204 Intermediate Chinese II (3)

II. Culture Foundations (3 credits)

• CHIN 211 Chinese History, Culture, and Civilization (3) or
• CHIN 212 Chinese Film, Literature, and Culture (3)

III. Communication/Culture/Connections Electives (12 credits)

• CHIN 380 Special Topics in Chinese Studies (3)
• CHIN 393 Independent Study (3)
• CHIN 490 Advanced Chinese Conversation (6)*
• CHIN 491 Advanced Chinese Reading (6)*
• CHIN 492 Advanced Chinese Listening (3)**

IV. Comparisons and Communities Requirement (6 Credits)
Option 1 (6 Credits in any other foreign language)

• Any other foreign language course (3)
• Any other foreign language course (3)

Option 2 (6 Credits in WLCU courses)

• WLCU 200 Comparative Cultural Studies (3)
• WLCU 201 International Short Story (3)
• WLCU 202 Diversity in World Cinema (3)
• WLCU 210 World City Studies (3)
• WLCU 320 International Travel and Tourism (3)
• WLCU 321 International Etiquette and Protocol (3)
• WLCU 325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence (3)
• WLCU 340 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)
• WLCU 350 Second Language Teaching Methodology (3)
• WLCU 395 Service Learning (3)
• WLCU 400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History (3)
• WLCU 490 Global Experience (3)
• WLCU 498 Internship (3)

Notes:

1. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, study abroad is required. Chinese Track requires study-abroad through Beijing Normal University or a comparable institution approved by the Department of Languages and Cultures.
2. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, courses marked with an asterisk (*) are required and offered through study abroad. Courses marked with a double asterisk (**) are offered through study abroad and strongly recommended.
3. For Option 1 (Comparisons and Communities Requirement Category), courses taught in English are not eligible.

Program Director 

Dr. Nathalie Cornelius

Curriculum Checklist 

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

• FREN 101 Elementary French I (3)
• FREN 102 Elementary French II (3)
• FREN 203 Intermediate French I (3)
• FREN 204 Intermediate French II (3)

II. Culture Foundations (3 credits)

• FREN 112 Tour de France: Identity, Society, Diversity (3) or
• FREN 211 French History, Culture, and Civilization (3) or
• FREN 212 French Film, Literature, and Culture (3) or 
• FREN214 French Cinema: Society and the Individual (3)

III. Communication/Culture/Connections Electives (12 credits)

• FREN 206 Structures of the French Language (3)
• FREN  225 Applied Phonetic and Pronunciation (3)
• FREN227 Conversation Topics in French Society (3)
• FREN 334 French through Film: Culture, History, Language (3)
• FREN 349 French for Professionals (3)
• FREN 380 Special Topics in French Studies (3)
• FREN 393 Independent Study (3)
• FREN 401 Advanced French Language (3)
• FREN 412 Francophone Identity and Issues in Cinema and Media (3)
• FREN 432 Masterpieces of French Literature (3)

IV. Comparisons and Communities Requirement (6 Credits)
Option 1 (6 Credits in any other foreign language)

• Any other foreign language course (3)
• Any other foreign language course (3)

Option 2 (6 Credits in WLCU courses)

• WLCU 200 Comparative Cultural Studies (3)
• WLCU 201 International Short Story (3)
• WLCU 202 Diversity in World Cinema (3)
• WLCU 210 World City Studies (3)
• WLCU 320 International Travel and Tourism (3)
• WLCU 321 International Etiquette and Protocol (3)
• WLCU 325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence (3)
• WLCU 340 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)
• WLCU 350 Second Language Teaching Methodology (3)
• WLCU 395 Service Learning (3)
• WLCU 400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History (3)
• WLCU 490 Global Experience (3)
• WLCU 498 Internship (3)

For Option 1 (Comparisons and Communities Requirement Category), courses taught in English are not eligible.

Note: New students are not being accepted into this program

German Course Requirements (27 credits)

GERMAN 203: German III

GERMAN 204 German IV

GERMAN 206: Conversation and Composition I

GERMAN 207: Conversation and Composition II

GERMAN 390: German Studies Abroad I

GERMAN 490: German Studies Abroad II

Note: Transfer of a minimum of 15 credits from the combined GERMAN 390 and GERMAN 490

Common Core (Required)

Languages and Cultures 200: Comparative Cultural Studies

Languages and Cultures 400: Comparative Language Studies

Secondary Education in Languages and Cultures additional requirement

Languages and Cultures 350: Foreign Language Teaching Methodology

Minor in German: 18 credits

NB: Take the German Language Placement Test (free, does not earn credits), the German CLEP test or the German OPI to verify a starting point other than German 101. If you don't take a placement test, your starting point is German 101. (https://bloomu.edu/testing)

German 102 German II
German 203 German III
German 204 German IV
German 206 Structure of the German Language

6 additional credits in German

Minor in Middle East Studies: 18 credits (6 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level)

Core Requirement: (One of the following four courses - 3 credits)

HISTORY 145 History of the Muslim World to 1405
HISTORY 146 History of the Muslim World since 1405
HISTORY 456 History of the Modern Middle East
POLISCI 376 Government and Politics of the Middle East

Core Electives (15 credits):

(Core requirement courses can also count as a core elective. However, No single course can double-count as a "requirement" and an "elective" at the same time. Students who take more than one of the core courses may use the extra courses towards their elective requirements.)

FRENCH 402 Contemporary Issues in Francophone Media
ARABIC 101 Arabic I
ARABIC 102 Arabic II
ENGLISH 283 Jewish Fictions: An International Perspective
ARTHSTRY 345 Art History of the Near East
ECONOMIC 340 Economics of the Middle East
HISTORY 457 History of the Early Ottoman Empire 
HISTORY 458 History of the Late Ottoman Empire

Students may petition to have the following courses count toward the minor based on content:

EGGS 102 World Cultural Geography
POLISCI 181 Contemporary Issues in World Politics
POLISCI 280 Introduction to International Relations
POLISCI 345 Democratization and Regime Change
ANTHRO 102 Anthropology & World Problems
ANTHRO 320 Contemporary World Cultures
ANTHRO 495 Special Topics in Anthropology

Curriculum Checklist

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

• RUSS 101 Elementary Russian I (3)
• RUSS 102 Elementary Russian II (3)
• RUSS 203 Intermediate Russian I (3)
• RUSS 204 Intermediate Russian II (3)

II. Culture Foundations (3 credits)

• RUSS211 Russian History, Culture, and Civilization (3) or
• RUSS212 Russian Film, Literature, and Culture (3) or
• CESS210 Introduction to Central and East European Studies (3) or
• CESS212 Central and East European Film, Literature, and Culture (3)

III. Communication/Culture/Connections Electives (12 credits)

• CESS 210 Introduction to Central and East European Studies (3)*
• CESS 212 Central and East European Film, Literature, and Culture (3)*
• CESS 310 European City Studies (3)
• CESS 380 Special Topics in Central and East European Studies (3)
• DFC 311 Security Fundamentals (3)
• ECON 333 International Economics (3)
• EGGS 102 World Cultural Geography (3)
• EGGS 104 World Regional Geography (3)
• HIST 220 World War Two (3)
• HIST 308 Twentieth Century Europe
• HIST 309 Total War Europe (3)
• HIST 311 The Cold War (3)
• HIST 396 Topics in European History (3)
• HIST 420 History of the Holocaust (3)
• MGMT 383 Managing Multicultural Organizations (3)
• POLI 160 International Relations: Conflict and Cooperation (3)
• POLI 261 Global Issues (3)
• POLI 326 International Political Economy (3)
• POLI 353 European Politics (3)
• POLI 366 Regionalism in Global Affairs
• POLI 427 International Law and Organizations
• RUSS 211 Russian History, Culture, and Civilization (3)*
• RUSS 212 Russian Film, Literature, and Culture (3)*
• RUSS 305 Russian for Professional Communication I (3)
• RUSS 306 Russian for Professional Communication II (3)
• RUSS 380 Special Topics in Russian and East European Studies (3)
• RUSS 393 Independent Study (3)
• SOC 360 Globalization and Culture (3)

IV. Comparisons and Communities Requirement (6 Credits)
Option 1 (6 Credits in any other foreign language)

• Any other foreign language course (3)
• Any other foreign language course (3)

Option 2 (6 Credits in WLCU courses)

• WLCU 200 Comparative Cultural Studies (3)
• WLCU 201 International Short Story (3)
• WLCU 202 Diversity in World Cinema (3)
• WLCU 210 World City Studies (3)
• WLCU 320 International Travel and Tourism (3)
• WLCU 321 International Etiquette and Protocol (3)
• WLCU 325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence (3)
• WLCU 340 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)
• WLCU 350 Second Language Teaching Methodology (3)
• WLCU 395 Service Learning (3)
• WLCU 400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History (3)
• WLCU 490 Global Experience (3)
• WLCU 498 Internship (3)

Notes:

1. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, minimum 6 credits must be RUSS courses.
2. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be counted only if they are not taken as part of Culture Foundations Requirement.
3. For Option 1 (Comparisons and Communities Requirement Category), courses taught in English are not eligible.
 

Curriculum Checklist 

I. Language Communication Foundations (12 credits)

• SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I (3)
• SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II (3)
• SPAN 203 Intermediate Spanish I (3)
• SPAN 204 Intermediate Spanish II (3)

II. Culture Foundations (3 credits)

• SPAN 211 Spanish and Spanish American History, Culture, and Civilization (3) or
• SPAN 212 Spanish and Spanish American Film, Literature, and Culture (3) or
• SPAN 213 Latinxs Contributions to the US (3) or
• SPAN 214 Contemporary Problems in Spain and Latin America (3)

III. Communication/Culture/Connections Electives (12 credits)

Group A. Linguistics

• SPAN 206 Structures of the Spanish Language (3)
• SPAN 325 Phonetics and Pronunciation (3)
• SPAN 380 Special Topics in Spanish (3)*
• SPAN 393 Independent Study (3)*

Group B. Communication

• SPAN 221 Conversation and Composition I (3)
• SPAN 321 Conversation and Composition II (3)
• SPAN 380 Special Topics in Spanish (3)*
• SPAN 393 Independent Study (3)*

Group C. Professional Communication

• SPAN 241 Spanish for Health Care (3)
• SPAN 242 Spanish for Education and Social Services (3)
• SPAN 243 Spanish for Business and Law (3)
• SPAN 244 Spanish for Law Enforcement and Homeland Security (3)
• SPAN 340 Introduction to Translation and Interpretation (3)
• SPAN 346 English to Spanish Translation and Interpretation (3)
• SPAN 347 Spanish to English Translation and Interpretation (3)
• SPAN 380 Special Topics in Spanish (3)*
• SPAN 393 Independent Study (3)*
• SPAN 398 Internship (3)

Group 4. Literature

• SPAN 330 Short Story (3)
• SPAN 380 Special Topics in Spanish (3)*
• SPAN 393 Independent Study (3)*
• SPAN 431 Survey of Spanish Literature (3)
• SPAN 432 Survey of Spanish American Literature (3)

IV. Comparisons and Communities Requirement (6 Credits)
Option 1 (6 Credits in any other foreign language)

• Any other foreign language course (3)
• Any other foreign language course (3)

Option 2 (6 Credits in WLCU courses)

• WLCU 200 Comparative Cultural Studies (3)
• WLCU 201 International Short Story (3)
• WLCU 202 Diversity in World Cinema (3)
• WLCU 210 World City Studies (3)
• WLCU 320 International Travel and Tourism (3)
• WLCU 321 International Etiquette and Protocol (3)
• WLCU 325 Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Influence (3)
• WLCU 340 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)
• WLCU 350 Second Language Teaching Methodology (3)
• WLCU 395 Service Learning (3)
• WLCU 400 Comparative Language Studies: Linguistics and History (3)
• WLCU 490 Global Experience (3)
• WLCU 498 Internship (3)

Notes:

1. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, a minimum of three groups must be selected
2. In the Communication/Culture/Connections Category, courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be counted only if the appropriate topic is offered.
3. For Option 1 (Comparisons and Communities Requirement Category), courses taught in English are not eligible.

Acquiring a formal knowledge of speaking and writing in the Spanish language is beneficial to heritage language learners — students who speak another language due to family heritage rather than to have studied the language in school. The Spanish for Heritage Language Learners track focuses on language and cultural related issues that traditional Spanish learners do not experience. Having the Spanish for Heritage Language Learners degree appear on a student’s transcript (usually as a second degree) will testify to the student’s ability to use the Spanish language in formal, professional and academic settings.

See the example course sequence below to see how the Spanish for Heritage Language Learners track can be picked up late and completed without adding extra semesters or summers to your anticipated date of graduation.

Spanish for Heritage Language Learners Requirements

Language core (18 credits):

Spanish 203 Spanish 3 3 cr.

Spanish 204 Spanish 4 3 cr.

Spanish 250 Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 3 cr.

Spanish 350 Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2 3 cr.

Spanish 405 Spain 3 cr.

Spanish 406 Latin America 3 cr.

Elective core (9 credits):

Spanish 208 Spanish for the Health Professions 3 cr.

Spanish 209 Spanish for Social Services 3 cr.

Spanish 210 Commercial Spanish 3 cr.

Note: One of the Elective Core courses above may be substituted by one of the electives below:

Spanish 212 Spanish American Culture and Civ. 3 cr.

Spanish 213 U.S. Hispanic Cultures and Literatures 3 cr.

Spanish 214 Hispanic Culture and Civilization 3 cr.

Spanish 222 Latin American Culture through Film 3 cr.

Common core:

Languages and Cultures 200 Comparative Cultural Studies 3 cr.

Languages and Cultures 400 Comparative Language Studies 3 cr.

NOTES:

College Level Exam Program (CLEP) credits can substitute Spanish 203 and Spanish 204. However, the CLEP test must be taken before receiving a grade in another Spanish course.

All Electives listed above can substitute Spanish 203 and 204.

Spanish 250 / 350 is a stacked course (mixed levels in one classroom). Students must schedule it twice.