Pictured | Laura Crull | Spanish / Minor in English | Elkhart, Indiana (hometown)
Briannah McCall | Sustainability Studies / Minor in Spanish | Kouts, Indiana (hometown)
Javier Zamarripa | Political Science / Minors in Spanish and History | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)
Cassie Calderon | Spanish/Pre-Physical Therapy / Minors in Latino Studies and Psychology | Goshen, Indiana (hometown)
Chelsea Klett | Spanish / Sustainability Studies | Middlebury, Indiana (hometown)
Esmeralda Guzman | Spanish / Minor in American Studies | La Porte, Indiana (hometown) |
Leanne Suarez | Spanish / Minor in Labor Studies / Certificate in International Studies | Georgetown, Kentucky (hometown)

World Language Studies

The Department of World Language Studies (WLS) offers courses in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish and a major and minor in French, German, and Spanish. The department is committed to preparing students for the complex, multicultural, and transnational environment of life and work in the target languages. Students are encouraged to consider taking a minor in a foreign language as a complement to their major in another discipline, remembering that a minor is now a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement. Students may pursue, in addition to WLS, the Certificate in International Studies, or a minor in an interdisciplinary program at IU South Bend, such as Latin American/Latino Studies, European Studies, or Film Studies. Contact an advisor in the department for further information.

Language Requirement

The study of languages other than English is essential to understand and appreciate our global community. In recognition of this fact, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires that its Bachelor of Arts majors functional in a second language. Functionality is attained between proficiency levels of Novice High and Intermediate low by American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) national standards.

This requirement can be met in one of three ways:

• Successful completion of a fourth-semester language course designated in the IU South Bend Schedule of Classes as 204. (204 is the last class in a four-semester sequence: 101, 102, 203, and 204)
• Successful completion of a 300- or 400-level course in which the primary instruction is in a language other than English.
• Formal training, as evidenced by a secondary or university diploma, in a language other than English.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree should consult with their major department to determine the language requirement. Students from other academic programs on campus may take world language courses as electives and may earn world language credits by course placement as described below.

Placement Examinations

In order to place students in the appropriate level, all incoming students with prior experience with French, German, Japanese or Spanish must take the language placement exam. Students with no prior foreign language experience should enroll in 101. Placement examinations are offered frequently. Please contact the department for exact times and dates.

The Department of World Language Studies offers a placement examination in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish to determine in which semester a student should enroll. If a student places into and completes a course with a grade of B or higher, he or she is eligible to receive between 3 and 12 additional credit hours for lower level courses.

Earning Special Credits

Earning a grade of “B” or higher in a second language 300 and 400 level course qualifies a student for up to 12 special credits with a grade of “Satisfactory” in first and second year courses: 101, 102, 203, and 204 (3 credits each).

Earning a grade of “A-” or higher in the situation described above qualifies a student for up to 12 special credits with a grade of “A” in all first and second year courses listed above. 

These special credits are not transferable to an institution outside the Indiana University system.

Credits online are excluded from approval.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to IU South Bend from other institutions should consult the placement policies above and the department chair for advising.

International Students and Students Whose Native Language is Not English

International students and other students whose native language is not English, may be exempt from the liberal arts and sciences world languages requirement by demonstrating formal proficiency, as evidenced by a secondary or university diploma, in their native language. Students may earn credit by examination if the language is offered for instruction at IU South Bend; they may also satisfy the world languages requirement by taking the English as a Second Language Placement Exam and completing the ESL courses (if any) required thereby. International students majoring in their native language are required to take a minimum of 18 credit hours in world languages, of which at least 9 must be at the 400-level.