Applied Modern Language and Culture Bachelor of Science Degree
Applied modern language and culture is a distinctive language degree that pairs a proficiency in Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish with a major in the arts, business, computing, engineering, or the sciences.
Overview for Applied Modern Language and Culture BS
Four Options: Gain advanced proficiency in Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish.
Exciting Study Abroad Opportunities: A required international experience enables you to live, study, or work in an international location through study abroad or an international co-op.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees: Earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study.
Teaching Partnership Program Available: 4+1 or 3+2 programs enable you to earn your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at one of our partner universities.
Today’s workforce is increasingly global, and career opportunities may arise in exciting international locations where a solid understanding of your career field includes proficiency in a second language and its culture.
Applied modern language and culture incorporates foreign language, its experiential implementation, and career preparation. Students select from Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish options and complete a focus area in a field such as business, computing, design, engineering, health care, or the sciences, along with professionally oriented language courses, intensive language and culture training, and international experience.
In the final year, engage in an interdisciplinary capstone seminar that integrates your chosen linguistic/cultural discipline with the professional or technical field you chose to pursue. This capstone seminar culminates in a senior project presentation.
Options
Choose a language—Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish—where you’ll immerse yourself in that region’s language and culture. Learn to speak, understand, read, and write in your chosen language and gain proficiency in the culture and traditions surrounding the language and geographic region.
- Chinese Option: Experience the language and culture of China as you develop your fluency in the language and learn how to apply this skill to your technical or professional discipline.
- French Option: Acquire a high level of proficiency in the French language, as well as an understanding of the cultures of France and other French-speaking regions worldwide.
- Japanese Option: Learn the Japanese language and the culture of Japan and develop your fluency in the language while learning how to apply this skill to your technical or professional discipline.
- Spanish Option: Gain an advanced understanding of the cultures of Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions worldwide. Coupled with your secondary degree, you will be prepared for a career in our globally connected world.
Furthering Your Education in Applied Language and Culture
Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees
Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
- +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.
RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs
Whether your goal is to go into early childhood or elementary education, become a secondary education teacher with a content area specialty at the middle or high school level, or work in the higher education or counseling fields, RIT’s partnership programs with local universities provide a guided pathway to a career in teaching.
These 4+1 or 3+2 programs enable you to earn your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at one of our partner universities. As you progress, you’ll benefit from focused academic advising, career exploration opportunities, and resources for research, learning, and skill development.
RIT's applied language and culture degree is eligible for RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs.
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Apply for Fall 2025
First-year students can apply for Early Decision II by Jan. 1 to get an admissions and financial aid assessment by mid-January.
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Careers and Cooperative Education
Typical Job Titles
| Bilingual Data Analyst | Bilingual Engineer | Bilingual Health Care Professional |
| Bilingual Web Designer | Foreign Service Officer | Game Localization Specialist |
| International Marketing Specialist |
Cooperative Education
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
Co-ops take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. A liberal arts co-op provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between course work and real-world applications.
The applied modern language and culture major includes a required international experience where students live, study, or work in an international location. Through study abroad or an international co-op, students immerse themselves in their chosen language, engage in cultural customs and traditions, and broaden their global perspective and understanding.
Featured Work and Profiles
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![Sarah Sabel stands among a group of students she studied with in Taiwan.]()
2024 Fulbright Scholar: Sarah Sabal
Sabel, a double major in applied modern language and culture (Chinese option) and marketing, will pursue her graduate education at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.
Read More about 2024 Fulbright Scholar: Sarah Sabal -
![Peyton D’Anthony is pictured in Prizren, Kosovo, during a study abroad trip she completed while attending RIT.]()
RIT Graduate Awarded Prestigious Fulbright to Teach in Kosovo
After earning a double major in applied modern language and culture (Spanish) and international and global studies, D’Anthony will travel to a university in Kosovo for a 10-month...
Read More about RIT Graduate Awarded Prestigious Fulbright to Teach in Kosovo -
![Tori Russell posing in front of a house.]()
Second Major Empowers Student to Turn Her Passion into a Degree
Biotechnology and molecular bioscience student Tori Russell recently added applied modern language and culture as a second major, allowing her turn her interest in French into a degree.
Read More about Second Major Empowers Student to Turn Her Passion into a Degree -
![a photo of susanna in the hallway at eastman hall]()
From Rochester to Japan
Helping people connect, even when they speak different languages, is what drives Susannah Johnson (applied modern language and culture–Japanese option).
Read More about From Rochester to Japan
Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Applied Modern Language and Culture BS
Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements
Applied Modern Language and Culture (Chinese track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| MLCH-201 | Beginning Chinese I This course is designed for beginners, with no prior study of Chinese. It introduces students to the sounds, basic sentence structures, and the writing system of Mandarin Chinese. Pinyin, the Romanization (phonetic transliteration) of Mandarin Chinese, is taught and required throughout the course. Students also learn to read and write Chinese characters. Emphasis is on developing listening and speaking skills, as well as building a vocabulary based on the ideographic Chinese characters. Chinese culture is also introduced through the course. Students must take a placement exam if this is their first RIT class in Chinese and they have some prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLCH-202 | Beginning Chinese II This course continues the beginning level of Chinese study. The focus is on developing listening and speaking skills, with an increasing emphasis on reading and writing skills. Students will learn more expressions, sentence structures as well as other parts of the Chinese grammar. Further aspects of Chinese culture are also introduced, in parallel to Chinese language study. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 1 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-201 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MLCH-301 | Intermediate Chinese I This course begins the intermediate level of Chinese study. Knowledge of Pinyin, Chinese characters, and sentence structures covered by the beginning level of Chinese study is required before taking this course. The focus continues to be on developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Further aspects of Chinese culture are also introduced, in parallel to Chinese language study. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-202 or MLCH-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLCH-302 | Intermediate Chinese II This course continues the intermediate level of Chinese study. Knowledge of Pinyin, Chinese characters, and sentence structures covered by the first three semesters of Chinese learning is required before taking this course. The focus continues to be on developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Further aspects of Chinese culture are also introduced, in parallel to Chinese language study. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-301 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLCH-310 | Intermediate Conversational Chinese This course aims to improve students’ Chinese language proficiency and focuses especially on enhancing their conversational skills. The course will also increase students’ knowledge of Chinese culture in comparison with American culture through exposure to authentic sources. Students will learn expressions and manners of speaking during formal and informal Chinese conversations about their daily experiences. Students will develop their listening skills and will be able to gather general ideas and necessary details from authentic oral materials. They will also improve their abilities of narrating and describing familiar topics with various sentence structures. This course is especially suitable for students planning to study or work in China and desiring confidence and basic competence in communicating. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-202 or MLCH-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| MLCH-315 | Intermediate Reading and Writing in Chinese This course is designed to enhance students’ ability to read authentic Chinese materials and write a variety of texts in Chinese, such as messages, blogs, emails, and short stories, more effectively. The main focus is to develop practical reading and writing skills that are essential for daily life by employing vocabulary, idioms, expressions, and structures in a more natural and descriptive fashion. This course provides students the opportunity to practice reading and writing strategies in meaningful and practical contexts, and to reinforce the materials that they have learned. Through reading, writing, discussion, multimedia, and presentations, students will learn the Chinese language in the context of describing nature, people, Chinese daily life and culture. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-301 or MLCH-310 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective A |
3 | |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective B |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1, 2 |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
| Third Year† | ||
| MLCH-410 | Chinese for Science and Technology This course teaches specialized terminology and linguistic structures important for communicating scientific and technological knowledge in the target language. The focus is on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interpreting technical Chinese. Students will learn science and technology terms and structures in a broad range of technical areas via experiential learning activities. In addition, students will research and present topics of their own interest or beyond their disciplines. Students will expand their knowledge of the target language to include technical terms/structures and prepare themselves to better apply their language skills in internships, research, and work while exploring and understanding the culture in professional workplaces. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
Advanced Chinese Language Courses |
6 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
9 | |
MLC Focus Area Course |
3 | |
MLC Program Elective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MLCH-415 | Professional Chinese The course gives students an opportunity to study professional Chinese language and culture as well as to practice presentation and negotiation skills, especially in professional and formal contexts. Students will improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills developed in the elementary/intermediate sequence to master formal interactions in Chinese. They will learn professional vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structures through readings, conversation, and discussion. They will cultivate expressive skills through discussion, writing assignments, and a video tutorial project. This course will be useful for students who are planning to seek employment in Chinese companies or in companies doing business in Chinese speaking areas, and also for students who want to learn more about business in Chinese culture. This is a language class; proficiency equivalent to Intermediate Chinese II is required. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLCH-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
| MLCU-549 | Capstone Seminar in Applied Modern Language and Culture This upper division seminar constitutes the final core requirement in the Applied Modern Language and Culture degree program. Students majoring in Applied Modern Language and Culture will enroll in this course in their final year of study. The capstone seminar will further develop and sharpen the connection between the students’ professional or technical fields and their linguistic and cultural knowledge of the language of the track
The course will involve a variety of written and reading assignments, and/or project which involves professional fields. May be repeated up to twice. (Prerequisite: MLCH-402 or MLJP-402 or MLSP-402 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
Open Electives |
12 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE)for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
ITDL-102 Career Prep (1 SCH ) is recommended in the second year.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
† Students complete Study Abroad and Work Abroad requirements in the third year of study. Prior to studying abroad, MLCH-201, MLCH-202, MLCH-301, MLCH-302, and two Intermediate Enhancement Courses.
Applied Modern Language and Culture (French track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLFR-201 | Beginning French I This is the first course in a two-course sequence. The sequence provides students without prior exposure to the language with a sound basis for learning French as it is used today in its spoken and written forms. The goal of the sequence is proficiency in communication skills with an emphasis on oral proficiency. The sequence also acquaints students with contemporary culture and life in French-speaking countries. Students must take placement exam if this is their first RIT class in French and they have some prior study of French. Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLFR-202 | Beginning French II This is the second course in a two-course sequence. The sequence provides students without prior exposure to the language with a sound basis for learning French as it is used today in its spoken and written forms. The goal of the sequence is proficiency in communication skills with an emphasis on oral proficiency. The sequence also acquaints students with contemporary culture and life in French-speaking countries. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 1 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-201 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MLFR-301 | Intermediate French I This is the first course of a two-course sequence at the intermediate level. The sequence provides students with the tools necessary to increase their ability to function in French. Communicative activities, contemporary texts, vocabulary study, and grammar are used to expand all communication skills, especially oral proficiency. This sequence continues to address issues of contemporary French life and culture as well as the cultures of the Francophone world. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-202 or MLFR-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLFR-302 | Intermediate French II This is the second course of a two-course sequence at the intermediate level. The sequence provides students with the tools necessary to increase their ability to function in French. Communicative activities, contemporary texts, vocabulary study, and grammar are used to expand all communication skills, especially oral proficiency. This sequence continues to address issues of contemporary French life and culture as well as the cultures of the Francophone world. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-301 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLFR-310 | French Oral Communication This course is designed to help students improve their oral communication in French by focusing on increasing and developing speaking and listening skills. Through communicative activities students will gain conversational skills in French and cultural knowledge about France and French people. The course also combines an examination of how French sounds are produced with practical exercises taken from a variety of sources, including songs and movie/tv show clips. Students in this course will improve their general fluency and oral accuracy while also increasing their knowledge of Francophone culture and colloquial French. Taught in French. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-202 or MLFR-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| MLFR-315 | French Reading and Writing Proficiency This course trains students to read and write in French at an advanced intermediate level of competency. Through gradual presentation and recognition of French grammar forms and vocabulary, students learn to comprehend, discuss, and analyze a wide variety of French texts, including songs, scripts of movies and TV series, comic books, skits, news items, canonical narratives, as well as some technical and scientific materials. Students also learn to write and express their ideas in grammatically correct French and to explore different genres and forms of writing. The course also expands students’ knowledge of French and Francophone cultures. Conducted in French. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-202 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective A |
3 | |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective B |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1, 2 |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
| Third Year† | ||
| MLFR-410 | French for Science and Technology This course teaches specialized terminology and linguistic structures important for communicating scientific and technological knowledge in French. The focus is on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interpreting technical French. Students will learn science and technology terms and structures in a broad range of technical areas via experiential learning activities. In addition, students will research and present topics of their own interest or beyond their disciplines. Students will expand their knowledge of French to include technical terms/structures and prepare themselves to better apply their language skills in internships, research, and work while exploring and understanding the culture in professional workplaces. Taught in French with a prerequisite of Intermediate French II. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
Advanced French Language Courses |
6 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
9 | |
MLC Focus Area Course |
3 | |
MLC Program Elective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MLFR-415 | Professional French The course gives students an opportunity to study professional language and culture as well as to practice presentation and negotiation skills, especially in professional and formal contexts. Students will improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills developed in the elementary/intermediate sequence to master formal interactions in French. They will learn professional vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structures through readings, conversation, and discussion. They will cultivate expressive skills through discussion, writing assignments, and a video tutorial project. This course will be useful for students who are planning to seek employment in international companies or in companies doing business abroad, and also for students who want to learn more about business in the target culture. This is a language class; proficiency equivalent to Intermediate French II is required. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLFR-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
| MLCU-549 | Capstone Seminar in Applied Modern Language and Culture (WI-PR) This upper division seminar constitutes the final core requirement in the Applied Modern Language and Culture degree program. Students majoring in Applied Modern Language and Culture will enroll in this course in their final year of study. The capstone seminar will further develop and sharpen the connection between the students’ professional or technical fields and their linguistic and cultural knowledge of the language of the track
The course will involve a variety of written and reading assignments, and/or project which involves professional fields. May be repeated up to twice. (Prerequisite: MLCH-402 or MLJP-402 or MLSP-402 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
Open Electives |
12 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
ITDL-102 Career Prep (1 SCH ) is recommended in the second year.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
† Students complete Study Abroad and Work Abroad requirements in the third year of study. Prior to studying abroad, MLFR-201, MLFR-202, MLFR-301, MLFR-302, and two Intermediate Enhancement Courses.
Applied Modern Language and Culture (Japanese track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLJP-201 | Beginning Japanese I This is the first course in the first year sequence designed for students with no prior exposure to Japanese. It provides a sound introduction to the language as it is spoken and written today. A strong emphasis is placed on oral proficiency and the appropriate use of language in Japanese society. Hiragana and Katakana syllabary is also taught for written communication. Not open to students with prior Japanese instruction. Students must take placement exam if this is their first RIT class in Japanese and they have some prior study of Japanese. Seminar (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLJP-202 | Beginning Japanese II This is the second course in the first-year sequence. It provides a sound introduction to the language as it is spoken and written today. A strong emphasis is placed on proficiency and the appropriate use of language in the Japanese society. Students continue to learn how to use language in real-life situations for different communication purposes. Approximately 120 Kanji characters are also introduced for written communication. Students must have a good command of Hiragana and Katakana and basic knowledge of Kanji to take this course. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 1 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLJP-201 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MLJP-301 | Intermediate Japanese I This is the first course in the second-year sequence designed to give students more advanced instruction and practice in the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending contemporary Japanese. A strong emphasis is placed on proficiency through reading, writing, and speaking activities. Students learn cultural information and practice using the language in real life situations in Japanese society. Approximately 60 new Kanji are introduced. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLJP-202 or MLJP-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLJP-302 | Intermediate Japanese II This is the second course in the second-year sequence designed to give students more advanced instruction and practice in the skills of speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending contemporary Japanese. A strong emphasis is placed on proficiency through reading, writing, and speaking activities. Students learn cultural information and practice using the language in real life situations in Japanese society. Approximately 120 new Kanji are introduced. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLJP-301 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLJP-310 | Practical Reading and Speaking in Japanese This course aims to cultivate basic skills that are essential for daily life in Japan. The main focus is on the development of reading skills and oral communication skills with the use of common phrases, expressions, and Kanji characters that are commonly used in the Japanese society today. This course gives students the opportunity to read various practical texts such as signs, advertisements, notes, instructions, notices, and e-mails. The course also provides students opportunities to strengthen practical communication skills through activities and daily life situations such as filling out forms, asking for information, explaining situations in detail, and giving thoughts on daily matters. This course reinforces the materials learned in the beginning level in Japanese. Students need to continue the sequential courses (Intermediate Japanese I and II) in order to advance in the intermediate level. (This course requires permission of the Instructor to enroll.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| MLJP-315 | Practical Writing and Speaking in Japanese This course aims to enhance basic writing and speaking skills that are essential for daily life in Japan. The main focus is on the development of practical daily conversational skills and writing with the use of common phrases, expressions, and Kanji characters that are commonly used in the Japanese society today. This course gives students the opportunity to practice writing various practical passages and texts such as application forms, advertisements, e-mails, blogs, and letters. The course also provides students opportunities to strengthen practical communication skills through activities and daily life situations such as asking for information, explaining situations in detail, and giving thoughts on daily matters. This course reinforces the materials learned at the beginning level in Japanese. Students need to continue the sequential courses (Intermediate Japanese I and II) in order to advance in the intermediate level. Seminar 3 (Fall). |
3 |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective A |
3 | |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective B |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1, 2 |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
| Third Year† | ||
| MLJP-410 | Japanese for Science and Technology This course teaches specialized terminology and linguistic structures important for communicating scientific and technological knowledge in the target language. The focus is on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interpreting technical Japanese. Students will learn science and technology terms and structures in a broad range of technical areas via experiential learning activities. In addition, students will research and present topics of their own interest or beyond their disciplines. Students will expand their knowledge of the target language to include technical terms/structures and prepare themselves to better apply their language skills in internships, research, and work while exploring and understanding the culture in professional workplaces. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLJP-302 and (MLJP-315 or MLJP-310) or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
Advanced Japanese Language Courses |
6 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
9 | |
MLC Focus Area Course |
3 | |
MLC Program Elective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MLJP-415 | Professional Japanese The course gives students an opportunity to study professional language and culture as well as to practice presentation and negotiation skills, especially in professional and formal contexts. Students will improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills developed in the elementary/intermediate sequence to master formal interactions in Japanese. They will learn professional vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structures through readings, conversation, and discussion. They will cultivate expressive skills through discussion, writing assignments, and a video tutorial project. This course will be useful for students who are planning to seek employment in international companies or in companies doing business abroad, and also for students who want to learn more about business in Japan. This is a language class; proficiency equivalent to Intermediate Japanese II is required. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLJP-302 and (MLJP-315 or MLJP-310) or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
| MLCU-549 | Capstone Seminar in Applied Modern Language and Culture This upper division seminar constitutes the final core requirement in the Applied Modern Language and Culture degree program. Students majoring in Applied Modern Language and Culture will enroll in this course in their final year of study. The capstone seminar will further develop and sharpen the connection between the students’ professional or technical fields and their linguistic and cultural knowledge of the language of the track
The course will involve a variety of written and reading assignments, and/or project which involves professional fields. May be repeated up to twice. (Prerequisite: MLCH-402 or MLJP-402 or MLSP-402 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
Open Electives |
12 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
ITDL-102 Career Prep (1 SCH ) is recommended in the second year.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
† Students complete Study Abroad and Work Abroad requirements in the third year of study. Prior to studying abroad, MLJP-201, MLJP-202, MLJP-301, MLJP-302, and two Intermediate Enhancement Courses.
Applied Modern Language and Culture (Spanish track), BS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLSP-201A | Beginning Spanish IA Beginning Spanish 1-A is for true beginners of Spanish: those who have never studied the language or have very little recollection of it (the latter as acknowledged by placement test results). This course introduces the Spanish language and the culture of Hispanic countries to beginners, and provides a basic foundation in all skills in Spanish (speaking, listening, reading, writing, culture) through intensive practice in a variety of media. Language work progresses from autobiographical information, through the present tense, to preliminary work in the past tenses. This course may be taken as part of the Spanish immersion or the Spanish minor; the Latino/Latin American Studies immersion or minor; as a global perspective course; or as a liberal arts elective. For Rochester RIT main campus, request placement exam at: https://www.rit.edu/liberalarts/mltc/Spanish-placement-test-request-form
or let the Spanish language coordinator know if you are an absolute beginner and have never studied Spanish before. (Pre-requisite: Students must have a score of .88 on the Spanish Language Placement Exam.) Seminar 4 (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 |
|
| MLSP-202 | Beginning Spanish II This course continues the basic grammatical structures, vocabulary and situations of first-year Spanish, with foundation work in all skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing, culture). Beginning Spanish II continues work in the past tenses and includes work on the subjunctive mood, plus the future and conditional tenses. Students work on paragraph-length speech and writing, and move toward readiness for conversation and composition. (Prerequisites: MLSP-201A or MLSP-201B or score of 1 on the placement exam or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
|
General Education – Global Perspective |
||
| YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections RIT 365 students participate in experiential learning opportunities designed to launch them into their career at RIT, support them in making multiple and varied connections across the university, and immerse them in processes of competency development. Students will plan for and reflect on their first-year experiences, receive feedback, and develop a personal plan for future action in order to develop foundational self-awareness and recognize broad-based professional competencies. (This class is restricted to incoming 1st year or global campus students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring). |
0 |
General Education – Artistic Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Ethical Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) |
3 | |
General Education – Social Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective |
3 | |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MLSP-301 | Intermediate Spanish I This is the first course in the Intermediate Spanish sequence (second year). Intermediate Spanish I is a course in Conversation, along with grammar review and culture study. Emphasis is on tourist survival situation dialogues, various forms of conversation, and registers of formality. The basic skills learned in the first year courses are now put into practice. Students must take the placement exam if this is their first RIT Spanish class, and they have some prior study of Spanish. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-202 or MLSP-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLSP-302 | Intermediate Spanish II This is the second course in the Intermediate Spanish sequence (second year). Intermediate Spanish II is a Composition course, emphasizing grammar review, composition, business-letter writing, Spanish for the Professions, and culture, while also including work in speaking and listening. The basic skills learned in the first year courses are now put into practice. In addition to the language work, there is significant work on cultural topics of Spanish-speaking countries at the intermediate level: both formal and informal culture (the arts and daily behavior). Students must take the placement exam if this is their first RIT Spanish class, and they have some prior study of Spanish. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-301 or equivalent course.) Seminar (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
| MLSP-310 | Spanish Grammar Review Spanish Grammar Review is an intensive review of the major grammar components of the Spanish language as typically studied by U.S. college students. Classroom exercises and discussion are supplemented by a textbook and online activity program. The course intends to help students progress in their language study and solidify their grammar skills. In addition to particular exercises in the textbook topics, weekly class work includes an open forum for questions and spontaneous exercises. (Corequisites: Minimum score of 2 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-202 or MLSP-202T or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| MLSP-315 | Hispanic Culture & Civilization Hispanic Culture and Civilization, taught completely in Spanish, examines the history and cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries of the world. Detailed history, regional identities, regional characteristics, connections, similarities and differences, important historical events, cultural expressions, and contemporary issues are discussed, based on readings, documentary films, and research. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 3 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-301 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective A |
3 | |
General Education – Mathematical Perspective B |
3 | |
General Education – Immersion 1, 2 |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
| Third Year† | ||
| MLSP-410 | Spanish for Science and Technology This course teaches specialized terminology and linguistic structures important for communicating scientific and technological knowledge in Spanish. The focus is on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in interpreting technical Spanish. Students will learn science and technology terms and structures in a broad range of technical areas via experiential learning activities. In addition, students will research and present topics of their own interest or beyond their disciplines. Students will expand their knowledge of Spanish to include technical terms and linguistic structures. This course will better prepare them to apply their language skills in internships, research, and work while exploring and understanding the culture of professional workplaces in the Spanish-speaking world. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
Advanced Spanish Language Courses |
6 | |
General Education – Electives |
9 | |
General Education – Immersion 3 |
3 | |
MLC Focus Area Course |
3 | |
MLC Program Elective |
3 | |
Open Elective |
3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MLSP-415 | Professional Spanish The course gives students an opportunity to study professional language and culture as well as to practice presentation and negotiation skills, especially in professional and formal contexts. Students will improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills developed in the elementary/intermediate sequence to master formal interactions in Spanish. They will learn professional vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structures through readings, conversation, and discussion. They will cultivate expressive skills through discussion, writing assignments, and a video tutorial project. This course will be useful for students who are planning to seek employment in international companies or in companies doing business abroad, and also for students who want to learn more about business in Spanish-speaking cultures. This is a language class; proficiency equivalent to Intermediate Spanish II is required. (Prerequisites: Minimum score of 4 on RIT Language Placement Exam or MLSP-302 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Annual). |
3 |
| MLCU-549 | Capstone Seminar in Applied Modern Language and Culture This upper division seminar constitutes the final core requirement in the Applied Modern Language and Culture degree program. Students majoring in Applied Modern Language and Culture will enroll in this course in their final year of study. The capstone seminar will further develop and sharpen the connection between the students’ professional or technical fields and their linguistic and cultural knowledge of the language of the track
The course will involve a variety of written and reading assignments, and/or project which involves professional fields. May be repeated up to twice. (Prerequisite: MLCH-402 or MLJP-402 or MLSP-402 or equivalent course.) Seminar 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
General Education – Electives |
6 | |
MLC Focus Area Courses |
6 | |
Open Electives |
12 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
|
Please see General Education Curriculum (GE) for more information.
(WI-PR) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
ITDL-102 Career Prep (1 SCH ) is recommended in the second year.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two different Wellness courses.
† Students complete Study Abroad and Work Abroad requirements in the third year of study. Prior to studying abroad, MLSP-201, MLSP-202, MLSP-301, MLSP-302, and two Intermediate Enhancement Courses.
Admissions and Financial Aid
First-Year Admission
A strong performance in a college preparatory program is expected. This includes:
- 4 years of English with a strong performance is expected.
- 3 years of social studies and/or history with a strong performance is expected.
- 3 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry.
- 2-3 years of science.
Transfer Admission
Transfer course recommendations without associate degree
Courses in liberal arts, science, and foreign language
Appropriate associate degree programs for transfer
Liberal arts with social sciences, sciences, or languages
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
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Contact
Program Contact
- Kristen Cain
- Senior Staff Assistant
- Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
- College of Liberal Arts
- 585‑475‑2018
- kpcgsl@rit.edu
Offered within
the
Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
Department of Modern Languages and Cultures