Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in German
VCU
Businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies are increasingly looking for employees with real world international experience who are able to communicate in a second language. The Foreign Language program is designed precisely for students to gain this experience and develop their abilities to communicate in a second language. The program offers major concentrations in French, German, and Spanish, as well as minors in French, German, Italian Studies, Russian Studies, and Spanish. The goal of the program is to broaden students’ multicultural perspective and to develop their ability to communicate across cultures so they can succeed in diverse professional environments.
The degree encourages students to develop and utilize their abilities to communicate in different languages and to understand the powerful role that language and culture play in shaping every aspect of society. The Foreign Language curriculum places particular emphasis on the study of language as spoken in and shaped by everyday contexts, including work, rest, and recreation, and in and through popular film, music, and media.
The Foreign Language degree provides a strong foundation for understanding language and culture and flexibility for students to pursue their own course of study. As is true with World Studies’ degrees in Anthropology, International Studies, and Religious Studies, Foreign Languages offers students opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs.
Completing a degree in foreign languages strengthens student ability to secure work in global communications, marketing, public relations, and management; foreign aid and development; journalism; education; foreign service; international affairs, immigration services and the Peace Corps; organizations involved in development, disaster relief, immigration, human rights, and environmental justice advocacy; business and management 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, diplomacy, business or journalism. We encourage students to double-major in Foreign Language and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Anthropology, International Studies or Religious Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.
- Administrative Assistant
- Bilingual Customer Service Representative
- Blogger/Vlogger
- Community Organizer Associate
- Copy Editor
- Digital Marketer
- ESL - Teacher Assistant
- Event Planner
- Flight Attendant
- Health Systems Front Desk Specialist
- International Insurance Representative
- Language Teacher (Private Schools)
- Diplomat
- Foreign Correspondent
- Intelligence Agency Officer
- Linguistics Specialist
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- MATH 131
- 1-2 additional science courses
- Yes
- No
- 2.25
Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in German
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Experience | Year 2 |
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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor each semester.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Use Navigate to connect with your advisor and create a program plan.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
- Visit the VCU Transfer Admissions webpage.
- Explore the School of World Studies website.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend diversity-focused events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to foreign languages through the NOVA career planning system.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the NOVA career planning system.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and explore VCU's Career Pathways.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Understand how you will fund your education by taking advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor or counselor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU School of World Studies.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
- Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival).
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
- Consider learning a second foreign language.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
- Plan to complete at least two job experiences (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
- Create a resume.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct 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.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language with a concentration in German
Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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SDV | SDV 100 or SDV 101 | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
World Language #1 | GER 101 Elementary German I (or transfer elective if placed out of the 101 requirement) | GRMN 101 | 3 to 4 | General education |
CST | Select 1: CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication OR CST 126 Interpersonal Communication | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
Science #1 | Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
Science #2 | Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR BIO 102 General Biology II OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR CHM 102 Introductory Chemistry II OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR GOL 106 Historical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 102 Introduction to Physics II OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
World Language #2 | GER 102 Elementary German II (or transfer elective if placed out of the 101 requirement) | GRMN 102 | 3 to 4 | General education |
ENG Literature | Select 1: ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II | ENGL | 3 | General education |
History | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 121 United States History I OR HIS 122 United States History II | HIST | 3 | General education |
MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Elective |
World Language #3 | GER 201 Intermediate German I | GRMN 201 | 3 | Major |
Humanities/Fine Arts #1 | Select 1: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR MUS 121 Music Appreciation I OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR REL 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion OR REL 231 Religions of the World I OR REL 233 Introduction to Islam | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Social/Behavioral Sciences #1 | Select 1: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Open elective | Select 1: HIS 203 History of African Civilization I OR HIS 231 History of Latin American Civilizations I OR HIS 251 History of Middle East Civilization I OR HIS 253 History of Asian Civilizations I OR GEO 210 People and the Land: An Intro to Cultural Geography OR PLS 140 Introduction to Comparative Politics OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
World Language #4 | GER 202 Intermediate German II | GRMN 202 | 3 | Major |
Social/Behavioral Sciences #2 | PLS 241 International Relations I | POLI 105 | 3 | General education |
History elective | Select 1: HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I OR HIS 102 History of Western Civlization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 203 History of African Civilization I OR HIS 231 History of Latin American Civilizations I OR HIS 251 History of Middle East Civilization I OR HIS 253 History of Asian Civilizations I | HIST | 3 | Elective |
Elective | Select 1: ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II OR GEO 210 People and the Land: An Intro to Cultural Geography OR PLS 140 Introduction to Comparative Politics OR PSY 219 Cross-Cultural Psychology OR REL 231 Religions of the World I OR REL 232 Religions of the World II OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
Northern Virginia credits transferred to VCU | 60 to 62 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
---|---|---|---|
Experiential learning requirement. Students must fulfill an experiential learning requirement through an approved internship, service-learning course or study abroad program. See VCU advisor for options. | 0 to 3 | Major | |
World ePass Portfolio (see VCU advisor). The World ePass portfolio content requirements include professional preparation, transferable skills articulation, academic career highlights, experiential learning experiences and global citizenship. | 0 | Major | |
GRMN 300 | Composition and Communication | 3 | Major |
GRMN 301 | Grammar and Writing | 3 | Major |
GRMN | Select one of the following: GRMN 305, GRMN 307, or GRMN 311 | 3 | Major |
GRMN 320 | From the Vandals to Kant: Civilization and Literature I | 3 | Major |
GRMN 321 | From Faust to Nazism: Civilization and Literature II | 3 | Major |
GRMN 322 | From Kafka's World to the EU: Civilization and Literature III | 3 | Major |
GRMN | GRMN elective (300-level or above); see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
GRMN | Select three GRMN electives (400-level or above); see VCU advisor for course options | 9 | Major |
WRLD/INTL 203 | Cultural Texts and Contexts | 3 | Major |
WRLD 302 | Communicating Across Cultures | 3 | Major |
WRLD 490 | Senior Capstone in World Cultures and Languages (capstone) | 3 | Major |
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 9 | Elective | |
Open electives | 10 to 12 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 58 to 60 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |