Undergraduate Studies

Undergraduate Majors

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers majors in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

Minors

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers minors in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Persian Studies, and Pacific Asian Studies.

Related Resources

B.A. in Chinese (Concentration in Chinese Language)

The Concentration in Chinese Language is designed for beginning language learners with little or no background in Chinese Language. The program places emphasis on the building of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and an appreciation and understanding of literature and culture.

B.A. in Chinese (Concentration in Chinese Literature & Linguistics)

The Concentration in Chinese Literature and Linguistics is aimed at native and near-native speakers of Chinese language, and consists of 18 units of required coursework in advanced language, linguistics, oratory, literature and culture, plus an additional 12 units of lower and upper division electives in Chinese or a related subject.

B.A. in Chinese (Concentration in Flagship Chinese Language)

The Concentration in Flagship Chinese Language, in line with federally-funded Chinese Flagship guidelines nationwide, consists of 35 units of lower and upper division language training, many of which are specifically tailored to students in the Flagship program, plus 9 units of coursework in linguistics, classical language, and GWAR.

B.A. in Spanish

The Spanish major consists of 30 units of upper division coursework. Up to 16 units of prerequisite coursework or demonstrated language proficiency is required to begin the major. All upper division courses are conducted in Spanish, and students are expected to use Spanish in their speaking, reading, and writing.

B.A. in French

The Bachelor of Arts in French is a 30 unit major consisting of courses in French language, literature, linguistics, and culture. All upper-division courses are conducted in French, and students are expected to use French in their speaking, reading, and writing. A minimum of four semesters is required to complete the required and elective courses for the major.

B.A. in German

The academic program leading to a B.A. in German offers a wide range of courses to meet the diverse needs of today's student population, including coursework in language, literature, linguistics and culture. In addition, students can select courses in translation and German for business.

B.A. in Italian

The Italian major consists of 30 units of upper-division coursework. Up to 14 units of lower division coursework or demonstrated language proficiency is required for the major.

B.A. in Japanese

The Japanese major consists of 45 units of lower and upper division coursework.

Chinese BA+MA Blended Program

The SF State Scholar Program in Chinese is designed for motivated undergraduate Chinese majors who wish to complete both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees within a five year timeframe. Those accepted into the program enroll in graduate-level classes starting in their senior year, thereby shortening time to graduate degree completion.

Minor in Chinese (Concentration in Chinese Language)

This minor is aimed at beginning level learners with little or no background in Chinese Language. Native speakers of Chinese and international students who have completed secondary and/or tertiary education in Chinese language in a Chinese-speaking country are discouraged from choosing this minor. The minor consists of 19 units of coursework in modern Chinese language.

Spanish BA+MA Program

The SF State Scholar Program in Spanish is designed for motivated undergraduate Spanish majors who wish to complete both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees within a five year timeframe. Those accepted into the program enroll in graduate-level classes starting in their senior year, thereby shortening time to graduate degree completion.

Minor in Chinese (Concentration in Chinese Literature & Linguistics)

This minor is aimed at native and near-native speakers of Chinese Language, and consists of 18 units of required coursework in advanced language, linguistics, oratory, literature, and culture, plus an additional 6 units of upper division electives in Chinese or a related subject.

Minor in Spanish

The Spanish minor consists of up to 14 units of lower-division and from 9 to 15 units of upper-division coursework. Students must complete the lower-division sequence -- or the equivalent -- prior to beginning upper-division coursework. The program may waive some or all lower-division requirements if the student demonstrates appropriate competency through advising, by taking the placement test, or by having taken the equivalent coursework elsewhere.

Minor in Japanese

The Japanese minor consists of 24 units of lower and upper division coursework.

Minor in French

The Minor in French is a 21 unit minor consisting of courses in French language, literature, linguistics, and culture. All upper-division courses are conducted in French, and students are expected to use French in their speaking, reading, and writing.

Minor in German

The minor consists of 17 units. All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Minor in Italian

The Minor in Italian consists of 17 course units, including 14 units of core requirements and 3 units of electives in Italian.

Minor in Persian Studies

The Persian Minor program, consists of 18 units, offers a diverse range of multidisciplinary lower and upper division undergraduate courses in culture, history, politics, philosophy, religion, literature, language, film, and media.

Minor in Pacific Asian Studies

The Pacific Asian Studies minor consists of 21-24 units of coursework on three distinct Pacific Asian civilizations: (1) Greater China, (2) Japan and Korea, and (3) Southeast Asia and comparative studies.

Area Studies Minors

You may also be interested in multidisciplinary minors in European Studies, Middle East and Islamic Studies, Pacific Asian Studies, or Persian Studies.

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