Listed below are the foreign language requirements and recommendations for majors at UC Santa Cruz.
Chemistry
RECOMMENDED: To graduate with a B.S. in chemistry with American Chemical Society certification, reading knowledge of German.
Global Economics
REQUIRED: Two years of university-level language courses or the equivalent level of competence.
Health Sciences
REQUIRED: Completion of Spanish 1-4, or the equivalent, and one quarter of Spanish 5M, Medical Spanish.
History
RECOMMENDED: Proficiency in a foreign language is strongly recommended for all history students and is essential for those who plan to pursue graduate studies in history.
Language Studies
REQUIRED: Competence in one language and some study of a second language. Students may choose from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. A proficiency exam tests for competence reasonably attainable in two years of college-level study. Chinese and Japanese may require a third year of study.
Latin American and Latino Studies
REQUIRED: All Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) majors are expected to learn to speak, read and write Spanish or Portuguese, and to make use of these skills on a regular basis in their academic work. Majors must take at least two upper division courses taught in Spanish or Portuguese. At least one of these courses must be taught by core or participating LALS faculty.
Before participating in study-abroad programs or upper division coursework taught in the language, students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese equivalent to the completion of Spanish 56/6 or Spanish for Spanish Speakers 63. Students who have achieved fluency in Spanish or Portuguese through life experience may request exemption from this requirement by means of an oral and written examination.
Linguistics
REQUIRED: Competence either in one language — attained by two years of college study or by successfully passing a standard proficiency exam — or in mathematics, demonstrated by passing two suitable courses.
Literature
REQUIRED: The intensive major requires the ability to do upper division work in at least one language other than English; two courses are required. Literatures such as French, German, Greek, Latin, Italian and Spanish are taught in the original language.
RECOMMENDED: Proficiency in a second language is strongly recommended for all literature students and is essential for those planning graduate study in literature.
Music
REQUIRED: Music majors whose instrument is voice are required to take French 1, German 1 and Italian 1 for the Bachelor of Music degree.
RECOMMENDED: Proficiency in a foreign language pertinent to the student’s research area is strongly recommended for those planning graduate study in music.
Philosophy
RECOMMENDED: Reading knowledge of at least one classical or modern foreign language. Knowledge of foreign languages will be individually determined based on the relevance of linguistic skills to the research interests of the student.
