May 03, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  Message from the President
  Academic Calendar
  About the University
  Admissions
  General Education: The Human Community
  Colleges
  Academic Departments
  Degree Requirements at James Madison University
  Programs of Study
  Course Descriptions
  Academic Policies and Procedures
  Student Services and Learning Resources
  Tuition and Fees
  Financial Aid, Scholarships and Student Employment
  University Faculty
  Publishing Statement
  Your Right to Know
  Non-Discrimination Statement
  Archived Catalogs
  Catalog PDFs
HELP
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Modern Foreign Languages, B.A.

Program Description

Students can study world languages and cultures and earn a B.A. degree in Modern Foreign Languages with a major in Arabic, French, German, Italian, or Spanish. They can minor in any of these languages as well as Chinese and Russian; however, a student may not major and minor in the same language. The department also offers instruction in Japanese, Korean and Latin.

To complete a major, students should choose a combination of courses based on the language they are studying. Courses listed without a specific language prefix are offered in all languages. Up to two courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement. Course substitutions must be approved by the advisor.

Degree and Major Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
General Education  141
Foreign language classes (intermediate level required) 20-14
Philosophy course (in addition to General Education  courses)3
University electives29-43
Major requirements (listed below)

Total

33

120

Footnotes

1 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures’ placement test. 

Major Requirements

All language sections share certain core requirements. Up to two courses taught in English may be counted toward the total major unit requirement.

 Language Foundations 15 Credit Hours

  • 300: Language for Living 
  • 301: Pop Culture Through Language 
  • 320 (321): Culture and Communication in Context 
  • 322: Language Landscapes
  • 307 or 308: Culture and Civilization

Exploring Languages and Cultures (3 courses; choose one course from each group) 9 Credit Hours  

  • Group 1: Culture and literature  
  • Group 2: Linguistics and language structures   
  • Group 3: Professional language

Electives (3 courses) 9 Credit Hours

  • Any other courses from the above core categories 
  • Elective classes in the language not included in the core 
  • WLC courses  

Total: 33 Credit Hours

Arabic

Language Foundations: 15 Credit Hours

Exploring Languages and Cultures: 9 Credit Hours

Choose one course from each of the three groups.

Group 1: Culture and Literature

Group 2: Linguistic and Language Structures

Group 3: Professional Language

Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Choose three additional courses from the following list:

  • Any other courses from the above categories 
  • Elective ARAB classes not included in the core 
  • WLC courses related to Arabic language and/or culture  

Footnote

1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Total: 33 Credit Hours

French

Language Foundations: 15 Credit Hours

Exploring Languages and Cultures: 9 Credit Hours

Choose one course from each of the three groups.

Group 1: Culture and Literature

Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures

Group 3: Professional Language

Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Choose three additional courses from the following list:

  • Any other courses from the above categories 
  • Elective FR classes not included in the core 
  • WLC courses related to French language and/or culture

Footnote

1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Total: 33 Credit Hours

German

Language Foundations: 15 Credit Hours

Exploring Languages and Cultures: 9 Credit Hours

Choose one course from each of the three groups.

Group 1: Culture and Literature

Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures

Group 3: Professional Language

Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Choose three additional courses from the following list:

  • Any other courses from the above categories 
  • Elective GER classes not included in the core 
  • WLC courses related to German language and/or culture

Footnote

1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Total: 33 Credit Hours

Italian

Language Foundations: 15 Credit Hours

Exploring Languages and Cultures: 9 Credit Hours

Choose one course from each of the three groups.

Group 1: Culture and Literature

Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures

Group 3: Professional Language

Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Choose three additional courses from the following list:

  • Any other courses from the above categories 
  • Elective ITAL classes not included in the core 
  • WLC courses related to Italian language and/or culture

Footnote

1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Total: 33 Credit Hours

Spanish

Language Foundations: 15 Credit Hours

Exploring Languages and Cultures: 9 Credit Hours

Choose one course from each of the three groups.

Group 1: Culture and Literature

Group 2: Linguistics and Language Structures

Group 3: Professional Language

Electives: 9 Credit Hours

Choose three additional courses from the following list: 9 Credit Hours

  • Any other courses from the above core categories 
  • Elective SPAN classes not included in the core 
  • WLC courses related to Spanish language and/or culture

Footnote

1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters  writing-intensive requirement for the major.

Total: 33 Credit Hours

Recommended Schedule for Majors

Students are encouraged to begin their WLC course work as soon as possible in their degree plans. The following outline is a sample four-year program. The actual courses a student takes may vary.

First Year

  • Language courses (101-232 or above)1 Credits: 6.00-8.00​
  • General Education Madison Foundations  Credits: 9.00
  • General Education  courses and/or elective courses Credits: 15.00 

First Year Total: 30-32 Credit Hours

Second Year

  • Language courses (101-232 or above)1 Credits: 6.00-12.00
  • Philosophy course Credits: 3.00
  • General Education  courses and/or elective courses Credits: 6.00-15.00

Second Year Total: 29-30 Credit Hours

Third Year

  • 300- and 400-level courses Credits: 12.00-15.00
  • General Education  courses and/or other electives Credits: 12.00-15.00

Third Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Fourth Year

  • 300- and 400-level courses Credits: 9.00-15.00
  • Other electives Credits: 15.00-20.00

Fourth Year Total: 29-30 Credit Hours

Footnotes

1 Other courses may be substituted if a student places in higher-level language courses.

Program Total: 120 Credit Hours