Language Requirement

Fulfilling the IR Foreign Language Requirement

In general, the IR language requirement is met by completing 5 semesters of a modern foreign language. However, 6 semesters are required for some Asian and Middle Eastern languages. The list of courses for each language is shown below.

For course availability, contact the various language departments or the Center for Language Studies (CLS).

For questions about substitutions of equivalent classes, contact the Kennedy Center Advisement Office (273 HRCB). For example, for CLS languages, newly added 330 courses and some older 300-level courses may also substitute. The IR program will not make substitutions for classes that are less intensive than those listed.

• If you took a course listed below that is not on your MyMAP, you will need to go to the Advisement website and make a “Substitution Request.”
• If you fulfilled the previous requirements (listed as “old” below), it still counts.

The IR foreign language requirement is waived for international students for whom English is their second language. Contact the Kennedy Center Advisement Office for details.

Note: The IR program only counts currently spoken world languages for credit. This means we do not count proficiency in, for example, Latin, ancient Greek, or Biblical Hebrew.

(updated May 2024)