Certificates in Language Studies

The Upper-Division Certificate in Language Studies program (17 credits) is intended for those students who want to explore another part of the world as part of their overall education but who do not have the time to complete a traditional minor. In addition, MLL-rubric classes conducted in English offer the possibility of investigating the target cultures in some detail without waiting to attain advanced language competency.  Certificates are offered in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.  Note that all courses applied to the certificate requirements must be completed with a grade of B or higher.  Certificates cannot be combined with a major or minor in the same language.

Certificate in Arabic Studies

Certificate required courses:

•  ARBC 201
•  ARBC 202
•  ARBC 301

Certificate electives (choose two):

•  ARBC 325, ARBC 333, ARBC 350, ARBC 317, ARBC 355, MLL 424

NOTE: At least three courses must be taken at UMBC in order to complete the certificate.

Certificate in Chinese Studies

Certificate required courses :

•  CHIN 201
•  CHIN 202
•  CHIN 301

Certificate electives (choose two):

•  MLL 220
•  MLL 300
•  MLL 328
•  MLL 329
•  MLL 334
•  MLL 335
•  Any CHIN courses above 301

NOTE: At least three courses must be taken at UMBC in order to complete the certificate.

Certificate in French Studies

Certificate required courses:

•  FREN 201
•  FREN 202
•  FREN 304

Certificate electives (choose two):

•  MLL 205
•  MLL 215
•  MLL 219
•  MLL 250
•  MLL 319
•  Any FREN courses above 304

NOTE: At least three courses must be taken at UMBC in order to complete the certificate.

Certificate in German Studies

Certificate required courses:

•  GERM 201 [4-cr.]
•  GERM 202 [4-cr.]
•  GERM 301 [3-cr.]

Certificate electives (choose two):

•  Any GERM course above 301 [3 cr.]
•  MLL 332: Special Topics in German Culture [3 cr.]

NOTE: At least three courses for the German Certificate requirements must be taken at UMBC.

Certificate in Japanese Studies

Certificate required courses:

  • JPNS 201 – Intermediate Japanese I [4 credits]
  • JPNS 202 – Intermediate Japanese II [4 credits]
  • JPNS 301 – Advanced Japanese I [3 credits]

Certificate electives (choose two):

  • JPNS 302 – Advanced Japanese II [3 credits]
  • JPNS 309 – Business Japanese  [3 credits]
  • MLL 316 – Japanese Language in Society [3 credits]
  • MLL 317 – Images of Society in Contemporary Japanese Films [3 credits]
  • MLL 327 – Modern Japanese Culture [3 credits]
  • MLL 333 – Japanese Food Culture [3 credits]

NOTE: At least three courses for the Japanese Certificate requirements must be taken at UMBC.

Certificate in Korean Studies

Certificate required courses:

•  KORE 201 — Intermediate Korean I[4 cr.]
•  KORE 202 — Intermediate Korean II  [4 cr.]
•  KORE 301 — Advanced Korean I [3 cr.]

Certificate electives (choose two):

•  KORE 302 — Advanced Korean II  [3 cr.]
•  KORE 309 — Business Korean  [3 cr.]
•  KORE 310 — Korean Language in Social and Cultural Context  [3 cr.]
•  MLL 311   — Introduction to Korean Culture[3 cr.]
•  MLL 315   — Images of Society in Contemporary Korean Films  [3 cr.]

NOTE: At least three courses for the Korean Certificate requirements must be taken at UMBC.

Certificate in Russian Studies

Note: the following program changes will take effect with the 2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog:

Certificate required courses:

•  RUSS 201
•  RUSS 202
•  RUSS 301

Certificate electives (choose two):

• MLL 270: Introduction to Russian Culture and Civilization
• MLL 271: Introduction to Modern Russian Civilization and Culture
• MLL 370: 19th-Century Russian Literature and Society
• MLL 371: 20th-Century Russian Literature and Politics

• Any RUSS course(s) above RUSS 301. Note that RUSS 350 is a one-credit course designed to be taken in three successive semesters, each paired with a different level of RUSS 202 through 302. The course may be taken for a total of 3 credits as the sequence is completed.

NOTE: At least three courses for the Russian Certificate requirements must be taken at UMBC.

Certificate in Spanish Studies

Certificate required courses:

• SPAN 201, 202, and either 301 or 304

Certificate electives (choose two):

• a SPAN course above 301 or 304
and one of the following:
• MLL 280: Introduction to the Spanish-Speaking World
• MLL 213: Film and Society in Spain
• MLL 218: Film and Society in Latin America
• ECON 387: Economic Development of Latin America
• HIST 327: Modern Latin American History
• POLI 377: Latin American Politics

• Another SPAN course above 301 or 304

NOTE: At least three SPAN courses must be taken at UMBC in order to complete the certificate.