Foreign Languages Major

Develop a command of Spanish or French by following an intensive course of study as a foreign language major. Choose from four concentrations: 

French / French Education

Whether on its own or in combination with another major, a major in French provides students with the background they need to broaden and enhance career opportunities.  Majors in the French concentration or the French Education track are expected to develop their French reading, writing, and speaking skills beyond the intermediate level and have opportunities to study abroad for advanced-level credit.  A French major offers a strong complement for double majors in a range of disciplines such as Psychology, Nursing, International Studies or Business, by allowing students to acquire the intercultural competency necessary for those pursuing careers in the arts, business, communication, education, international development, the health professions, and tourism. Many French majors go on to teach at the elementary and the secondary level and students who graduate with the French Education major are eligible to receive certification to teach French at the Pre-K to 12 level in Maryland upon graduation.   

View degree requirements and course descriptions for the French concentration in the Undergraduate Catalog.

View degree requirements and course descriptions for the French education concentration in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Spanish / Spanish Education

Whether on its own or in combination with another major, a major in Spanish provides students with the background they need to broaden and enhance career opportunities.  Majors in the Spanish concentration and the Spanish Education track are expected to develop their oral and written proficiency beyond the intermediate level and have opportunities to study abroad and do service learning. In classes specific to Heritage Speakers of Spanish, students will apply and further develop use of oral and written language in collegiate contexts. A Spanish major offers a strong complement for double majors in a range of disciplines such as International Studies, Political Science, Biology, Psychology, Nursing or Business, by allowing students to acquire the intercultural competency necessary for those pursuing careers in the arts, business, communication, education, international development, the health professions, tourism, and education.  Upon graduation, Spanish Education majors are eligible to receive certification to teach Spanish at the Pre-K to 12 level in Maryland.   

View degree requirements and course descriptions for the Spanish concentration in the Undergraduate Catalog.

View degree requirements and course descriptions for the Spanish education concentration in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Advising

All foreign languages majors are assigned an adviser in the target language and receive advising each semester.

Language Placement Testing

Incoming and transfer students

Students wishing to enroll in Spanish courses who do not already have college credit for the language, are required to take the online. Spanish Placement Test. Please be sure to complete it BEFORE you meet with your advisor on your day of orientation. If it's not complete when you meet with your advisor, you will delay the course selection process. Consult the Placement Scale for Spanish.

Students wishing to enroll in French, German, Italian, or Russian courses who do not already have college credit for the language, are recommended to take the online placement test. 

• Take the French Placement Test.
• Take the German Placement Test.
• Take the Italian Placement Test. 
• Take the Russian Placement Test.

This test is not time consuming. It is the responsibility of each student to complete the test. You will need to allow several days for your score to upload to your student account.

If you want to have your score upload expedited, send an email to llc AT_TOWSON with your name, TUID, language tested for, score, and date of completion.

Students with previous knowledge of any other language offered by the department who wish to enroll in a language class should contact the appropriate language coordinator or the department at llc AT_TOWSON.

WHY TOWSON UniverSity?

Program Advantages

Small classes taught by experienced faculty give you a real opportunity to interact with your instructors and fellow classmates.

You’ll get direct experience practicing your language skills through internships, service learning, and study abroad/away opportunities.