Program Details
Foreign Language with concentration in French, Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of ArtsVirginia Commonwealth University
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
In today’s world, language learning is more important than ever. The ability to navigate across diverse language, ethnic, racial and cultural? ?borders allows connection with others, helping create a more inclusive and mutually respectful society. Additionally, employers the world over value the communication skills, cultural competence and practical experiences language students acquire through course work, internships, service learning and study abroad. Proficiency in a second language offers special practical benefits: VCU graduates with language skills are among the more qualified candidates for jobs in international businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. They also qualify for jobs as language teachers in schools, where they often serve as role models, mentors and leaders. VCU’s B.A. in Foreign Language curriculum allows students to focus on either one or two languages, including the option to combine their major with other disciplines as they work with advisers to plan for their future careers. VCU course work leads majors to explore cultural traditions and historical developments in various parts of the world, and to pursue applied vocabulary and practices that they can use in real-world situations locally, nationally, globally and virtually. Special effort is made to develop intercultural communication competence. Becoming a language major is one of the best decisions a student can make! Most will find a seamless transition to VCU from high school or community college programs. Placement testing and the transfer of Advanced Placement, IB and other college-level courses from high school or from a community college can shorten time to degree completion and make it easier for students to pursue dual or double majors and build on minors or certificate programs from across VCU.
Outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following: Demonstrate oral and aural communication skills in context Demonstrate written communication skills Demonstrate critical and analytical reading skills Demonstrate literary and cultural competency? Demonstrate proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing in French Demonstrate historical, literary and cultural competency in the Francophone world
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | The B.A. in Foreign Language encourages students to develop and utilize their abilities to communicate in different languages and to understand the powerful role that language and culture play in shaping every aspect of society. The Foreign Language curriculum places particular emphasis on the study of language as spoken in and shaped by everyday contexts, including work, rest, and recreation, and in and through popular film, music, and media. A degree in Foreign Language offers students opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs. Furthermore, languages go with every major, minor or academic program, because pretty much everything we do involves communication with other people across languages, cultures, and professions. Moreover, people and their languages and cultures have always been on the move worldwide. While English gets a person around major cities, over 75% of the world does not speak a word of it. In the USA today, intercultural communication is a daily affair. So, no matter the major a student chooses, complementing it with language study will deepen one’s grasp of the subject and expand opportunities. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language, students must complete 39 credits within the major, 33 credits of which must be upper-level (300-level or above), with a minimum major GPA of 2.25. All foreign language majors, students transferring credits from study abroad and transfer students who major in a foreign language must include in their target-language course work a minimum of 12 VCU credits. Both credit and distribution requirements (minimum of 11 courses in target language) for the concentration must be satisfied. Foreign language majors who plan on becoming language teachers in the K-12 school system are required to complete a total of 30 credits of upper level (300- and 400-level) course work in one target language to meet certification requirements. Each student completing a degree program within the School of World Studies is required to complete a World ePass as part of their experiential learning requirement; students are also encouraged to participate in a study abroad program. For more information on the ePass portfolio and study abroad opportunities, students may visit the overview page for the School of World Studies. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Complete the Associate of Arts or the Associate of Arts & Sciences to best prepare for this degree. Course Recommendations: Courses equivalent to VCU FREN 202 and MATH 131 Intro to Contemporary Math. Students with high school language courses on their transcripts can often transition into upper level language courses. Dual enrollment courses, AP success (4+ scores), IB diplomas, and the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) all can be factored in. Other options like placement testing, credit-by-exam, and transfer credit for study abroad are also available. Thanks to the Mellon Humanities Program, community college students at John Tyler Community College and Reynolds Community College who have taken the 101-202 levels of languages can take 300+ level coursework at VCU while enrolled in the VCCS. The most important thing is to NOT waste your languages! It's true what they say: If you don't use it, you'll lose it! Sign up for language courses your first semester at VCU and grow your human capital of bi- and multilingualism. Don’t wait until junior or senior year; rather, do languages + another minor to prepare yourself for the global 21st century.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | VCU languages have several exciting opportunities. For those who major in Foreign Languages with teaching in mind, the School of Education minor in teaching and learning offers provisional certification for teaching Foreign Language in Virginia (and 33 other states!). There is also an accelerated Masters program where French is coupled with a Masters in International Marketing in the VCU School of Business. VCU offers excellent opportunities to extend your knowledge of the diverse world by going on Study Abroad programs around the world, or by taking the Italian language and Less Commonly Taught languages such as Arabic, Chinese and Russian. We also offer minors in Italian, Russian studies and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Foreign Language majors routinely earn Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships or spend a year teaching English with the Teaching Assistant Program in France. Spanish majors and Spanish/English Translation and Interpretation students are regularly placed with the Department of Health and Virginia’s Judicial System. The French Film Festival, with its internships and REAL experiential learning in subtitling, puts VCU students in touch with Francophone filmmakers and artists for immediate and lifelong collaborations. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived. Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Arts degree is recommended for this major. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied. The Associate of Arts degree is recommended for this major. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C.. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in General Foreign Languages, Major in Classical Studies | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in General Foreign Languages, Major in French | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in General Foreign Languages, Major in German | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Christopher Newport University | Bachelor of Arts in General Foreign Languages, Spanish Major | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, Major in Modern Foreign Languages | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: French BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: French PK-12 BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: German BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: German PK-12 BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: Spanish BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: Spanish PK-12 BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: Teaching English as a Second Language BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Longwood University | Modern Languages: Teaching English as a Second Language PreK-12 BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BA in Foreign Languages | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Radford University | BS in Foreign Languages | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Foreign Languages, BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | French-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Not Specified |
| Old Dominion University | German-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Not Specified |
| Old Dominion University | Spanish-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Not Specified |
| Old Dominion University | World Cultural Studies-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | Not Specified |
| University of Mary Washington | BA in French | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Mary Washington | BA in German | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| University of Mary Washington | BA in Spanish | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Bridgewater College | Spanish Major - BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1124.00 | Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 27-3091.00 | Interpreters and Translators | Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another. | Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occ |
| 25-2031.00 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete