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.

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 high school or four semesters of college coursework
  • 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 an Applied Language/Culture Course (3+1)

  • Successful completion of third-level coursework in a single world language plus an approved culture, applied language, or experiential course related to world languages (equivalent to 3 s.h.)
    • Equivalent to three years high school language or appropriate combination of high school and college-level coursework
  • The CLAS General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC) will approve the applied language/culture courses using criteria created in collaboration with the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Examples may include:
    • Courses that contribute meaningfully to a student’s understanding of the culture(s) and language of study
    • Community-engaged or experiential learning relevant to the culture of the language studied, including experiences that may use the language studied
    • Study abroad with focus on language of study, or in a country where the language of study is dominant
    • Topics in language studies such as introduction to language or foundations of language learning, language and social justice, bi/multilingualism, language and identity

Second Level of Two Languages (2+2)

  • Successful completion of second-level coursework in two different world languages
  • Equivalent to two years high school or two semesters college in two different world languages

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.
    • Applied language/culture courses that are approved for the 3+1 pathway will be available beginning in summer 2024 and may not be taken earlier. Courses taken prior to summer 2024 will not be applied as "+1". 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 2+2 pathway or for third-level coursework in a single world language for the 3+1 pathway.
  • The earliest degree conferral session for a student using the 3+1 or 2+2 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.

Course Information

  • World language courses for the 2+2 or 3+1 pathways may include any combination of high school and college-level course work, 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.

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.