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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2018-2019

Foreign Language

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
German
Program description

The foreign language program offers a varied interdisciplinary humanities curriculum, global in scope and designed to increase students’ knowledge about the cultures and traditions, languages, literature and media, history, values, concerns, and aspirations of peoples in different countries and regions of the world. The goal of the program is ultimately also to both broaden students’ comparative intercultural perspectives and develop their cross-cultural communication abilities. Students have the option to pursue a focus or even combination of concentrations in foreign language(s), area studies and/or global issues (in either cinema and/or social justice), depending upon their interests and career plans. Within each chosen concentration or minor, the range of offerings allows for flexibility in configuring each individual’s course of study, which can be organized in a manner that best suits a student’s particular needs.

The Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language will qualify students to pursue any of a number of career paths, including international communications, business and marketing, aid and development, journalism, or education; government foreign service, international affairs, immigration service or the Peace Corps; nongovernmental organizations involved in development, relief programs, immigration or human rights advocacy; or public relations in a multicultural environment. Graduates of our program will also find opportunities in teaching at home or abroad, as well as in work with a variety of public-service organizations. In addition, an undergraduate degree in foreign language provides excellent background and qualifications for admittance to graduate degree programs in a number of humanities disciplines, including foreign languages and international studies, as well as in international law, business or journalism.

Career opportunities
  • The US government
  • Interpreter/translator, teacher
  • International political organizations, embassies, and consultants
  • Import/export or international banking
  • Hospitality industry
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Adult English as a Second Language Teacher
  • Air Traffic Controller
  • Bank Teller
  • City and Regional Planning Aids
  • Editors
  • High School Teacher
  • Human Resource Specialist
  • Immigration and Customs Inspector
  • Interpreters and Translators
  • Proofreaders and Copy Markers
  • Social and Human Services Assistant
  • Travel Guide
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.25

Contact information

Department name:
School of World Studies
Building/room location:
312 North Shafer Street
Phone:
(804) 827-1111
Email:
info-sws@vcu.edu
http://worldstudies.vcu.edu/academics/foreign-languages/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
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Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take WRLD 203/INTL 203.
  • Either continue language course sequence from high school or begin new language sequence.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with academic or career advisor.
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility). 

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.
  • Complete all prerequisite coursework for major (through 202-level of target language).
  • Explore scholarship opportunities for study abroad and strategies for degree success.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA).
  • Join a foreign language club.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break, and other leadership and service events.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend the SWS Student Research Conference and other International-related events.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café!
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference. 
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Engage in an active process of career exploration via SWS programming (ongoing sequence of workshops) and via Career Services.
  • Create a draft resume and come to drop-ins at VCU Career Services to have it reviewed.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year to explore your interests. 
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • See a SWS advisor at least once, each semester.
  • Complete WRLD 302 and minimum of 15 credits of 300-level coursework in target language.
  • Start developing your World ePass portfolio.
  • Study abroad for a summer, semester or year-length program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Create and complete a foreign language related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department. 
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Center.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Participate in summer, semester-length or year-long study-abroad experience.
  • Participate in Foreign Language discussion groups and Conversation Partner program. 
  • Explore a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office   
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Start research in preparation for presentation at the Student Research Conference.
  • Identify at least three career options within your field of interest that you may want to pursue. 
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
  • Volunteer as a foreign language tutor in area schools, or as a tutor for children and adults learning English. 
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Based on career goals, talk to a career/academic advisor or a faculty member about whether graduate school or a job fits your career goals.
  • Join job listserv sites that provide access to job postings in desired fields. Revisit gap analysis assessment and continue adjusting strategic career plan with Career Services.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation.
  • Take WRLD 490 Senior Capstone.
  • Complete two 400-level courses in major at VCU.
  • Do an internship (FRLG 493) as a world language teaching assistant in local school systems.
  • Complete the World ePass by mid- final semester.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector.
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Volunteer or take on a leadership role within a student organization that relates to foreign languages.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Build your intercultural competence by becoming a conversation partner to an international student.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department. 
  • Attend OMSA Tunnel of Oppression.
  • Learn to teach English through VCU’s TEFL certificate, an internationally-recognized credential for overseas employment as an English teacher.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Present at the Student Research Conference and Senior Symposium.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
  • Expand your network and remember that you can network anywhere.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2018-2019

Foreign Language

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
Spanish | German | French
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take WRLD 203/INTL 203.
  • Either continue language course sequence from high school or begin new language sequence.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with academic or career advisor.
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility). 
Experience Year 2
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.
  • Complete all prerequisite coursework for major (through 202-level of target language).
  • Explore scholarship opportunities for study abroad and strategies for degree success.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA).
  • Join a foreign language club.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break, and other leadership and service events.
  • Attend the SWS Student Research Conference and other International-related events.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café!
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference. 
  • Engage in an active process of career exploration via SWS programming (ongoing sequence of workshops) and via Career Services.
  • Create a draft resume and come to drop-ins at VCU Career Services to have it reviewed.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year to explore your interests. 
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Year 3
  • See a SWS advisor at least once, each semester.
  • Complete WRLD 302 and minimum of 15 credits of 300-level coursework in target language.
  • Start developing your World ePass portfolio.
  • Study abroad for a summer, semester or year-length program.
  • Create and complete a foreign language related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department. 
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Center.
  • Participate in summer, semester-length or year-long study-abroad experience.
  • Participate in Foreign Language discussion groups and Conversation Partner program. 
  • Explore a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office   
  • Start research in preparation for presentation at the Student Research Conference.
  • Identify at least three career options within your field of interest that you may want to pursue. 
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
  • Volunteer as a foreign language tutor in area schools, or as a tutor for children and adults learning English. 
  • Based on career goals, talk to a career/academic advisor or a faculty member about whether graduate school or a job fits your career goals.
  • Join job listserv sites that provide access to job postings in desired fields. Revisit gap analysis assessment and continue adjusting strategic career plan with Career Services.
Excel Year 4
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation.
  • Take WRLD 490 Senior Capstone.
  • Complete two 400-level courses in major at VCU.
  • Do an internship (FRLG 493) as a world language teaching assistant in local school systems.
  • Complete the World ePass by mid- final semester.
  • Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector.
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Volunteer or take on a leadership role within a student organization that relates to foreign languages.
  • Build your intercultural competence by becoming a conversation partner to an international student.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department. 
  • Attend OMSA Tunnel of Oppression.
  • Learn to teach English through VCU’s TEFL certificate, an internationally-recognized credential for overseas employment as an English teacher.
  • Present at the Student Research Conference and Senior Symposium.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
  • Expand your network and remember that you can network anywhere.
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.