College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: BA
Specialized Admission: No
Contact: Victoria Morrow
Address: 364 Diffenbaugh Building
Phone: (850) 644-2606
Email: mlladvising@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The B.A. in Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics offers a uniquely comprehensive preparation for today’s globalized world, simultaneously training students in a specific foreign language of their choice (or a combination of two languages) and providing expertise through general courses on literature, culture, and film in a broader global perspective. In addition to acquiring foreign language skills in reading, writing and speaking, students also have the option to choose course work focused on professional fields (translation, languages for careers, etc.). Students in this degree will be required to (a) take two core courses: LIN 2004 World Languages and FOW 2100 Literature and the World, and (b) select one of the majors offered (French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, German, Russian; Dual Languages, and World Literature and Cultural Studies) and follow the Academic Map for that major. Other languages within the department include Arabic and Hebrew. The B.A. in Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures provides students with marketable skills (language proficiency, global expertise, critical thinking) that help them stand out to potential employers in a wide variety of careers in government, diplomacy, foreign affairs, international relations, language teaching, tourism, hospitality, and international business and entrepreneurship.
Students must complete the following prerequisites required for the bachelor’s degree.
Must demonstrate proficiency in the major language by testing or course completion at the intermediate level. At FSU the intermediate level is X220.
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review.
Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (2614 or equivalent) level.
Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major
Students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.00, at least half the required General Education hours, including English composition and mathematics, or an A.A. Degree.
Major Program of Studies at FSU
World Literatures & Cultural Studies Major: (30 hours)
CORE REQUIREMENTS – 6 HOURS
- LIN 2004 World Languages
- FOW 2100 Literature and the World
WORLD LITERATURES & CULTURAL STUDIES MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: (24 hours)
LANGUAGE COURSEWORK – 12 HOURS
Students will complete 12 credit hours of coursework beyond the 2220 level in a primary language. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be at the 4000-level.
CULTURAL STUDIES & LITERATURE COURSEWORK – 12 HOURS
Students will complete 12 credit hours of Cultural Studies in Translation coursework.
- Arabic in Translation (ABT)
- Chinese in Translation (CHT)
- French in Translation (FRT)
- German in Translation (GET)
- Italian in Translation (ITT)
- Japanese in Translation (JPT)
- Russian in Translation (RUT)
- Spanish in Translation (SPT)
- ASN3822
- ASN4463
- FOW3240
- IDS3188
- IDS3312
- IDS3195
- IDS3330
- IDS3459
- SLL3500
- SLL3510
- SLL4200
Requirements may include coursework in literature, grammar, composition, and language skills.
This major requires a minimum of 12-15 hours in an approved minor area. Coursework taken to satisfy the Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement may not be applied toward the major or minor. See advisor and http://www.modlang.fsu.edu for details. A grade of C minus or higher must be earned in each course applied toward any major or minor in Modern Languages.
Digital Literacy: (3 hours)
CGS 2060 (3) Computer Fluency or CGS 2100 (3) Microcomputer Applications for Business/Economics will fulfill this requirement for the major.
Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with a University approved college-level course.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36
Major Coursework 30
Minor Coursework 12-15
Arts and Science Foreign Language requirement 0-12, depending on placement
Digital Literacy 3
Oral Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for these majors at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
4. Students who plan to earn the B. A. degree must complete both a foreign language through the intermediate (2200 or equivalent) level and nine additional hours in the fields of history and humanities.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Secondary school teacher, Post-secondary foreign language and literature teacher, Translator, Interpreter, Software Developer, Accountants and Auditors, Business Representative, Travel Agent, International Relations Specialist, Intelligence Specialist, Linguist, Customs Official, Librarian, Tour and Travel Guide, International Flight Attendant, Librarian, Media Specialist.
Representative Employers: All economic sectors rely heavily on foreign language skills, including professional and technical services, management occupations, healthcare, the military, and tourism and hospitality. Graduates with foreign language degrees have found occupations in all these sectors. Foreign language training provides highly transferable skills beyond translation and education: Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, Defense, State Governments, Colleges and Universities, K-12 schools, Travel Agencies, Airlines, Libraries, Museums, Publishers, United Nations, FBI, CIA, NSA, Peace Corps, Non-governmental organizations with international scope, etc.
International Opportunities: International Study is available for all students and may include opportunities for internships or taking course work towards various majors and minors. International study may have an impact on the MAP; therefore, it is important to consult with the academic advisor before participating. Interested students can find information about international study, research, internships, and service opportunities at: global.fsu.edu/undergraduate-students/going-abroad.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
Thirty semester hours of coursework including Core requirements of FOW2100 and LIN2004; World Literatures and Cultural Studies majors will complete 12 semester hours in one of the Department’s language courses numbered above 2220. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be at the 4000 level. Majors will complete12 credit hours of Cultural Studies in translation coursework to include courses with the following prefixes: ABT, CHT, FRT, GET, ITT, JPT, RUT, SPT, as well as ASN3822, ASN4463, FOW3240, IDS3188, IDS3312, IDS3195, IDS3330, IDS 3459, SLL3500, SLL3510, SLL4200.
Majors must complete 12-15 hours for a minor (more if required by minor department). All courses taken to fulfill the 30 hours of major coursework must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of C minus or better must be earned in each course applied toward any major or minor degree earned in the department.
Placement tests are available through the FSU Assessment & Testing Facility for French, German and Spanish. Students with prior proficiency in languages other than French, German, and Spanish must consult an advisor in the Department of Modern Languages for proper course placement. If you are placed above a milestone, it is important that you continue with the next milestone in its place. Total hours above 120 vary based on language proficiency level of student.
Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| 1st GE Core Mathematics3 |
| GE Core Social Science/History3 |
| GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| 1st Language course, XXX11204 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st Language course, XXX1120 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| GE Natural Science3 |
| GE History or Social Science3 |
| 2nd Language course, XXX11214 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 2nd Language course, XXX1121 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| GE Natural Science w/Lab4 |
| FSU Ethics course3 |
| 3rd Language course, XXX2220 4 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics Course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 3rd Language course, XXX2220 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice3 |
| Oral Communication Competency3 |
| FOW2100 Literature and the World3 |
| Cultural Studies in Translation course3 |
| Language 2XXX or 3XXX3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| No Milestones |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| Digital Literacy course3 |
| LIN2004 World Languages3 |
| Cultural Studies in Translation course3 |
| Language 3XXX3 |
| Language 3XXX or 4XXX3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete 3 credit hours of 3000-level coursework in Language |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| Cultural Studies in Translation course3 |
| Language 4XXX3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete FOW2100 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete LIN2004 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete Scholarship in Practice Course |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| Cultural Studies in Translation course3 |
| Minor course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| Complete 6 hours of 4000-level coursework in either Language |
| Complete a Pre-Graduation Check |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| Minor course3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |