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2024-2025

Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish), Bachelor of Arts

VCU

Community college:
AA&S or AA in Liberal Arts (Virginia Community College System)
Virginia Community College System
Associate degree

Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts or Associate of Arts and Science in Liberal Arts

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

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 Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language 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 and 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 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 Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language 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.

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language strengthens graduates' preparedness to 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. This degree also provides an excellent background and qualification for admission to graduate degree programs in foreign languages, international studies, international law, diplomacy, business, or journalism.


We encourage students to double major in Foreign Language and another major in the School of World Studies such as Anthropology, International Studies or Religious Studies. Doing so strengthens cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record, and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Bilingual Customer Service Representative
  • Community Organizer Assoc
  • Copy Editor
  • Digital Marketer
  • ESL Teacher - Teaching Assistant
  • Event Planner
  • Flight Attendant
  • Health Systems Front Desk Specialist
  • International Insurance Representative
  • Language Teacher (Private School)
  • Management Trainee
  • NGO Staff
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Diplomat
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Linguistics Specialist
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.25+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Foreign Language with concentration in Dual Languages, French, German, Spanish

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish), Bachelor of Arts

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AA in 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
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
  • Explore the School of World Studies website.
  • Explore museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events in the region.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience Year 2
  • Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Meet with your community college advisor to finalize plans to complete your associate degree.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • 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.
  • Explore the accelerated BA in foreign language and MS in Business program.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Consider learning a second foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
  • Enroll in the SDV student success course.
  • Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Explore community college financial aid resources and submit your FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore the School of World Studies website.
  • Explore museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events in the region.
  • Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
  • Volunteer for community service projects.
  • Register to vote.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Meet with your community college advisor to finalize plans to complete your associate degree.
  • Be prepared: Once you enroll at VCU, your VCU GPA will be determined by your grades at VCU.
  • Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
  • 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.
  • Explore the accelerated BA in foreign language and MS in Business program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Consider learning a second foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies-related events.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about VCU's REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2024-2025

Foreign Language (French, German, or Spanish), Bachelor of Arts

Virginia Community College System (AA&S or AA in Liberal Arts)

Virginia Community College System courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 or 101 College Success Skills 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
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH Any approved MTH course (MTH 154 or MTH 155 recommended) MATH 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature Select one of the following (UCGS Block II): ART 100, ART 101, ART 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 221, MUS 222, MUS 226, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 210, HUM 216, HUM 220, HUM 256, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 111, PHI 220, REL 100, REL 230, REL 237, REL 240, ENG 225, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 250, ENG 255, ENG 258, ENG 275 (the course must come from a different group than the previous requirement). VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social Science Select one of the following (UCGS Block III): ECO 150, ECO 201, ECO 202, GEO 210, GEO 220, PLS 135, PLS 140, PLS 241, PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211, SOC 268. VCU equivalent 3 General education
Lab Science Select one of the following (UCGS Block IV): BIO 101, BIO 102, BIO 106, CHM 101, CHM 111, CHM 112, ENV 121, ENV 122, GOL 105, GOL 106, GOL 110, PHY 100, PHY 201, PHY 202, PHY 241, PHY 242. VCU equivalent 4 General education
History Select one of the following (UCGS Block VI): HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 111, HIS 112, HIS 121, HIS 122. VCU equivalent 3 General education
World Language I World Language (101-level): French, German or Spanish (or elective if placed into higher level language) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
World Language II World Language (102-level): French, German or Spanish (or elective if placed into higher level language) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
World Language III World Language (201 or 205): French, German or Spanish VCU equivalent 3 Major
World Language IV World Language (202 or 206): French, German or Spanish VCU equivalent 3 Major
Complete requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 20 to 22 Elective
Community college credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign Language, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in French
WRLD 302 Communicating Across Cultures 3 Major
WRLD 490 Seminar in World Cultures and Languages 3 Major
WRLD 495 World ePass Portfolio 0 Major (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
FREN 300 Communication and Composition 3 Major
FREN 301 Self and Society: Effective Writing 3 Major
FREN 305 or FREN 307 Oral Communication or French Conversation and Film 3 Major
FREN 320 French Civilization and Culture 3 Major
FREN 321 Francophone Civilization and Culture 3 Major
FREN 330 Survey of Literature 3 Major
FREN 331 Survey of Literature 3 Major
Select FREN courses (400 level or higher); may include up to three credits of FRLG 493 6 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. 24 to 27 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
Foreign Language, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in German
WRLD 302 Communicating Across Cultures 3 Major
WRLD 490 Seminar in World Cultures and Languages 3 Major
WRLD 495 World ePass Portfolio 0 Major (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
GRMN 300 Communication and Composition 3 Major
GRMN 301 Self and Society: Effective Writing 3 Major
GRMN Select one: 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 Select 300-level (or higher) German course 3 Major
Select GRMN courses (400 level or higher); may include up to three credits of FRLG 493 6 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. 24 to 27 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
Foreign Language, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in Spanish
WRLD 302 Communicating Across Cultures 3 Major
WRLD 490 Seminar in World Cultures and Languages 3 Major
WRLD 495 World ePass Portfolio 0 Major (Ancillary)
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 (Ancillary)
SPAN 300 Communication and Composition 3 Major
SPAN 301 Self and Society: Effective Writing 3 Major
SPAN 320 or SPAN 321 Civilization of Spain I or Latin American Civilization I 3 Major
SPAN 331 or SPAN 330 Survey of Latin American Literature or Survey of Spanish Literature 3 Major
SPAN Select one: SPAN 305, SPAN 307, or SPAN 311 3 Major
SPAN Choose six credits of 300-level SPAN electives or 400-level SPAN electives. 6 Major
Select SPAN courses (400 level) from list below. May include up to three credits of FRLG 493, SETI 400, SETI 410 or SETI 420. 6 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. 24 to 27 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
The accelerated B.A. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.A. in Foreign Language and M.S. in Business with a concentration in marketing management in a minimum of five years by completing up to 12 credit hours of approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including WRLD 302 and 21 credits earned at the 300-level in French, German or Spanish; an overall GPA of 3.25; and a GPA of 3.0 in the major course work.