Summer 2024 World Languages Pathways

To provide greater choice to students without compromising multilingualism as a core value of a liberal arts and sciences education, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) will be adding additional pathways for students to fulfill the General Education (GE) 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.

Pathways

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 one of three pathways:

Fourth Level (current requirement)

  • 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
  • More information may be found at GE CLAS Core: World Languages

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) will approve the world language and cultural exploration courses, which will be available beginning 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.
  • 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.

Substitutions Related to Disabilities

  • As is currently the case, 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.

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. Current and former students may opt-in to the updated requirements in summer 2024 or later 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.

Information for Current and Former Students

  • Current and former CLAS students may opt in to the updated World Languages requirement beginning in summer 2024. 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 will be available beginning 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 a student using the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course or Second Level of Two Languages pathway is summer 2024.
    • Students do not need to be enrolled in summer session 2024 if all requirements will be complete for summer 2024 degree conferral.
    • During summer 2024, CLAS Undergraduate Programs can provide students with an anticipated degree verification letter for summer 2024 degree conferral, if needed, for purposes of employment, etc.
    • Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August.

Common Questions and Answers

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 (fall 2023, spring 2024, or later).

When will my degree audit be updated with the new world languages pathways?

If you plan to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway or Second Level of Two Languages pathway, you will need to opt-in to the new requirements in MyUI beginning in February 2024. Your degree audit will be updated in June 2024.

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.

I plan to complete the Second Level of Two Languages pathway courses in spring 2024. Can I graduate in spring 2024? 

No, if you want to complete your world language requirement with the Second Level of Two Languages pathway you will need submit a degree application for graduation in summer 2024 or later. Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August 2024. However, if you will graduate in summer 2024 you may take part in the spring 2024 CLAS commencement ceremony. Learn more about participating in the spring ceremony by visiting the UI commencement website.

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 will be available beginning in summer 2024 and later, in both on campus and online formats. Courses will be available to view in MyUI prior to summer 2024 early registration (March 4-8, 2024).

I plan to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway courses in spring 2024. Can I graduate in spring 2024?

No, it is not possible to complete the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway in spring 2024, as the World Language and Cultural Exploration courses will be available only in summer 2024 or later. If you want to complete your world language requirement with the Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway you will need enroll for the appropriate course(s) and submit a degree application for graduation in summer 2024 or later.

Summer 2024 degrees will be conferred in August 2024. However, if you will graduate in summer 2024 you may take part in the spring 2024 CLAS commencement ceremony. Learn more about participating in the spring ceremony by visiting the UI commencement website.

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.