Undergraduate Study in Modern Languages
Minors
- Minor in Chinese
- Minor in East Asian Studies
- Minor in European Studies
- Minor in French
- Minor in German
- Minor in International Business, Language, and Culture
- Minor in Japanese
- Minor in Korean
- Minor in Linguistics
- Minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies
- Minor in Russian
- Minor in Spanish
Bachelor's Degrees
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Language & Intercultural Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Global Economics and Modern Languages
- Bachelor of Science in International Affairs and Modern Language
College Credit for High School Study
Modern Languages will grant 6 to 8 hours of credit in any language taught by the School for high school study in that language, provided the student has two or more years of high school credit in the language in question and has completed six credit hours at the 2000, 3000, or 4000 level with an average grade of C or higher. To have the credit entered on their records, students must submit the Modern Languages Proficiency Credit (Advanced Standing) form http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/docs/pdf/advstanding-ml.pdf to the School of Modern Languages for its approval, and pay $90 for each 3 or 4 hours of credit. No grade is attached to this credit, but the credit can fulfill the humanities requirement for graduation.
- Students submitting a score of four or five on the Advanced Placement (AP) Examination in French, German, or Spanish "Language Level III" or "Literature Level III" may receive six hours of credit for courses numbered 2001-2 in the respective language.
- For the Japanese AP exam, students who receive
- For the Chinese exam, students who receive
- Students who submit language scores of five or above for courses taken at the higher level from a certified high school International Baccalaureate program may also receive credit for courses numbered 2001-2 in French, German, or Spanish, for 3001-2 in Japanese, and for 3003-4 in Chinese.
Students with credit for the DSD German language exam may receive the following credit: DSD I: GRMN 3XXX (3 hours); DSD II: GRMN 3XXX (6 hours). Students may not receive credit for both the DSD I and DSD II.
Official scores should be sent to the Registrar's office for processing.
The School will not grant credit for high school study in a foreign language to students who have taken 1000 level courses in that language or the equivalent at Georgia Tech, or at other college-level institutions for which they have received transfer credit.
Graduate Course Option
Under the Graduate Course Option, undergraduate students with a final grade-point average of 3.5 or higher may count six credit hours of their undergraduate credits toward a master's degree at Georgia Tech in the same field. This means that qualified IAML students could complete the Master of Science in International Affairs with thirty additional credit hours rather than 36 credit hours if they chose to further their study in International Affairs; likewise, qualified GEML students could complete the MS in Economics with thirty additional credit hours in ECON courses.
Humanities Credits
Each course is essentially a unit in itself, but beginning students are encouraged to pursue at least the elementary two-semester sequence (1001 and 1002) in order to achieve a minimum level of proficiency and to receive humanities credit for both courses. Humanities credit is awarded for Modern Languages 1001 classes upon successful completion of the corresponding 1002 classes. In some instances, students may complete a Modern Languages course at 1001 and then be placed at the second-semester level and complete the 2001 level course. Therefore, the sequence that will warrant HUM credit for Modern Languages courses may be either the 1001-1002 or the 1001-2001 sequence. Students may not enroll in or receive advanced standing for 1000 level courses after the successful completion of any 2000, 3000 or 4000 level course; nor can credit be earned for 2000 level courses after successful completion of any 3000 or 4000 level course. Courses at the 3000 and 4000 level do not have to be taken in chronological order, provided prerequisites are fulfilled.
With minor exceptions, students can fulfill their humanities requirement for graduation by taking courses in the School of Modern Languages, including linguistics courses and courses taught as ML courses (courses in a language not yet included in the General Catalog). Students should consult the Catalog course descriptions and the section of this catalog titled "Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements," in order to determine which courses are classified as humanities in their respective colleges. With the approval of their major schools, students may take any course offered by the School of Modern Languages on a pass/fail basis.
Minor Programs
The School of Modern Languages offers minors in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish as well as in Russian Studies. This program is designed for students who wish to develop their language skills to at least an intermediate level and to provide themselves with a greater depth than possible with a certificate program.
- Students must earn 15 credit hours of language electives in a single language beyond the 2002 course.
- Students may include the 2002 course for CHIN/JAPN/KOR/RUSS (or the 2011 course in CHIN)
- All 15 hours of 3/4000-level courses for FREN/GRMN/SPAN
- Students pursuing a minor in Russian Studies should take their electives in at least two different departments/schools (Modern Languages, International Affairs, and/or Literature, Media, and Communication)
- A maximum of 9 semester hours of transfer credit is allowed in each minor. All courses counting toward a minor must be taken on a letter-grade basis, and a grade of C or better must be received in each course.
Students wishing to pursue one or more of these minors should declare the minor by filling out the minor change form with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Modern Languages
Study Abroad
The School of Modern Languages offers special summer immersion programs in China, France, Senegal, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. These intensive programs in Languages for Business and Technology (LBAT) consist of six to eight weeks of study abroad in which classroom lessons in business, culture, and technology are combined with field work, cultural events, excursions, and visits to area businesses — all conducted in the target language. The LBAT experience offers a unique opportunity for rapid growth in proficiency, to build a deeper appreciation for the cultures and lifestyle patterns of other peoples, and to make lifelong social and professional contacts. Students will earn nine to fifteen credit hours (depending on the language program and the options available) at the 3000 level; in some programs, lower-division language courses are offered. These credits count toward a certificate, a minor, or the joint majors with International Affairs and Economics or ALIS degree. Program costs vary according to the country visited and the length of the program.
Study Abroad and Internships
In collaboration with the Colleges of Engineering and Computing, the School of Modern Languages has initiated a Study Abroad and International Internship program that incorporates intensive applied language acquisition and cultural study. Students who participate in this program can expect to become versed in a foreign culture, fluent in a second language on professional and social levels, and gain advanced practical experience in their field. This program will prepare students for leadership positions in the global workforce in business, industry, and government.
Modern Languages works with international companies and with the Georgia Tech Center for Career Discovery and Development to establish internships and jobs abroad. Programs generally include one semester of study followed by a six month internship with a global company (some limitations as to language and field of study exist). The LBAT summer immersion course or equivalent is recommended, since students will need to take classes in the language spoken. HOPE scholarships and other financial aid apply. Additional language classes are available abroad. Students retain regular status at Georgia Tech by enrolling in FS 4000 during the semester of study and in INTN 3011, INTN 3015, INTN 3018, and in the Modern Language or Co-op International Internship (INTN 3011 or COOP 3011) during the internship. Students participating in this program are encouraged to contact their academic advisors, the International Division in the Center for Career Discovery and Development, the Office of International Education, and Modern Languages advisors. See www.modlangs.gatech.edu for more information.
Suggested Placement
Students who have never completed any course for high school or college credit in the language should begin in a 1001 course. Students with previous study in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish should take the placement test found at www.modlangs.gatech.edu in order to determine their optimal beginning placement. Students interested in any of the other languages should consult with a language advisor for beginning placement. See www.modlangs.gatech.edu for more information.
Linguistics Certificate
The Linguistics Certificate consists of 12 credit hours.
Track A: General Linguistics
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| LING 2100 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select nine credit hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Special Topics 1 | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics | ||
| Human Language Processing | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Science | ||
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Psychology | ||
| French Phonetics | ||
| Japanese Discourse and Grammar | ||
| Japanese Applied Linguistics | ||
| Bilingualism in the Spanish Speaking World | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Three credit hours maximum; focus on the linguistic system(s) of selected languages; must be approved by Linguistics advisor
Track B: Language Processing
Track B: Language Processing is a joint collaboration between the School of Modern Languages and the College of Computing. This certificate is designed with computer science majors in mind who have an interest in linguistics and natural language processing.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| LING 2100 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select nine credit hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Languages and Computation | ||
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Science | ||
| Special Topics 1 | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Natural Language Understanding | ||
| Human Language Processing | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Three credit hours maximum; must be approved by Linguistics advisor
For Track B students, other courses listed under the AI thread or in Linguistics may also count with prior approval from the linguistics advisor.
All courses counting towards a LING certificate must be taken on a letter grade basis and a grade of C or better must be received in each course.
Other information:
- The School of Modern Languages may also accept one linguistics course on the 3000- or 4000-level taken at other accredited universities for either Track A or Track B. Students wanting to take such a course need to clear its acceptability with the LING advisor at Georgia Tech.
- A 2000-level course may be accepted by the LING advisor if its contents are based upon examples from another language, given the possible difficulty involved in having enough command of the language to deal with more complex materials.
- Students who wish to use a course taken abroad to obtain credit towards the LING certificate must submit a copy of the syllabus of the course and petition to obtain approved form the LING advisor prior to travelling abroad.
- Some CS and ML courses may have language prerequisites.