World Languages Pathways

Now available to CLAS students

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has added additional pathways for students to fulfill the General Education CLAS Core World Languages requirement starting in summer 2024.

CLAS offers courses approved for General Education in fourteen languages through the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Department of Classics.

Timing

Students entering the UI for their first degree-seeking session in summer 2024 or later may complete the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement through any of the three pathways. Other current and former students may opt-in to the updated requirements with no other changes to their GE CLAS Core requirements. The earliest date a student may graduate with the updated World Languages requirement is summer 2024.

Substitutions related to disabilities

Students with a documented learning disability related to learning a world language may be approved for world language substitution coursework. The student applies for accommodations though Student Disability Services (SDS). Upon approval, CLAS notifies the student regarding the requirements of the world language substitution.

Pathways

Students entering the university for their first degree-seeking session in summer 2024 or later may complete the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement through one of three pathways:

Pathways

Fourth Level
  • Successful completion of fourth-level coursework in a single world language
  • Equivalent to four years (levels) in high school or four semesters (levels) of college coursework in the appropriate sequence
  • May be completed in a variety of ways, including credit by examination and placement and proficiency testing for languages taught at UI and languages not taught at UI

Learn more about Fourth level requirements

Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course
  • Successful completion of third-level coursework in a single world language in high school or college, plus an approved World Language and Cultural Exploration course
  • For the World Language and Cultural Exploration course, students explore topics and issues through the lens of a world language (other than English) and/or culture or multiple world languages and/or cultures. Courses help students expand their knowledge of language systems and structure and/or the role of language in social interactions, cultural environments, and identity formation. Suitable work may align with prior world language experience or engage with a different language, and may include a study abroad or experiential learning course. A minimum of 3 s.h. is required.
  • The CLAS General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC) approves world language and cultural exploration courses, which became available starting in summer 2024.
  • Student learning outcomes for the world language and cultural exploration course:
    • Students build understanding of one or more world language(s) and/or culture(s).
    • Students make connections among language, culture, and identity and/or increase their understanding of the structure of a language or languages other than English.
    • Students develop and enhance intercultural competencies, helping them to engage with people and/or cultures whose dominant language is not English.

Second Level of Two Languages
  • Successful completion of second-level coursework in two different world languages
  • Equivalent to a two-year world language sequence in high school or a two-semester world language sequence in college in two different world languages

Course information

  • World language courses for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration course pathway or Second Level of Two Languages pathway may include any combination of high school and college-level coursework, including transfer courses.
  • The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken before, concurrently, or after taking the three levels of world language coursework. 
  • The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken in an area related to the world languages coursework, or in a different area.
  • Course levels for world language courses offered at the UI are noted in the MyUI course description. For example, PORT:2000 Accelerated Elementary Portuguese is a second-level course.
  • Transfer students who have not sent an official high school transcript to the UI Office of Admissions must do so if they want to use high school courses to satisfy any portion of the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
    • The student must request that their high school send the transcript directly to the UI Office of Admissions, electronically to admissions@uiowa.edu, or by mail to: Enrollment Management, 2900 University Capitol Centre, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52242.

Information for students who first enrolled prior to summer 2024

Current and former CLAS students who first entered the University of Iowa prior to summer 2024 may opt in to the updated World Languages requirement. All other GE CLAS Core requirements for students who opt in will remain the same.

  • Courses that are approved as a World Language and Cultural Exploration course became available in summer 2024 and may not be taken earlier. Courses taken prior to summer 2024 will not be applied as a World Language and Cultural Exploration course. Please note, GE status is never applied retroactively to a course and is only effective starting with the GE status implementation date.
  • Students may use approved world language courses taken prior to summer 2024 for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway or for third-level coursework in a single world language for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway.

The earliest degree conferral session for any CLAS student using the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course or Second Level of Two Languages pathway is summer 2024.

  • Former students who may qualify for a CLAS degree with one of the new World Languages Pathways may contact CLAS Undergraduate Programs to discuss conferral of their degree retroactively. 

FAQ about World Languages Pathways

I already have the fourth-level world language requirement completed; do I need to do anything?

No. You may complete the fourth-level world language requirement as noted on your degree audit and you may graduate when all degree requirements are complete.

My degree audit isn't showing the new world languages pathways. How do I opt-in?

If you wish to use one of the new pathways to fulfill your World Languages requirement, you must opt-in to the pathways in MyUI.

  • On the Student Information tab under Advising, choose World Languages Pathways
  • Choose “Yes, I would like to opt-in to the World Languages Pathways program.”
  • Click “Save Opt-in Status”
  • A message displays that you have successfully updated World Languages Pathways Opt in Status.

When can I take courses for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway?

You may complete the courses for the Second Level of Two Languages pathway at any time.

When can I take a World Language and Cultural Exploration course for the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway?

World Language and Cultural Exploration courses became available starting in summer 2024, in both on campus and online formats. Courses taken prior to summer 2024, whether at the University of Iowa or at a transfer institution, may not be used for World Language and Cultural Exploration.

I am a transfer student and took world language courses in high school. Is there anything I need to do?

If you transferred to the UI and have not sent an official high school transcript to the UI Office of Admissions, you must do so if you want to use high school courses to satisfy any portion of the World Languages requirement. Contact your high school and request that they send your transcript electronically to admissions@uiowa.edu, or by mail to: Enrollment Management, 2900 University Capitol Centre, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52242.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Your academic advisor can review options with you for completing your World Languages requirement. If additional questions arise after speaking with your advisor, please contact CLAS Undergraduate Programs, clas-undergrad@uiowa.edu, or 319-335-2633.