Through certain programs, it's possible for students to complete their entire language curricular goal in just one semester!
Back to Language Opportunities
What is Gettysburg's Language Curricular Goal?
Students must complete one year of language study, or its college-level equivalent, as a college graduation requirement. This two-course sequence must be in the same language.
The following programs can give students enough intensive beginning, intermediate, or advanced language study in one semester to complete this goal.
Arabic
Amman, Jordan: Modernization and Social Change (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social Sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English; Arabic
Language Study: Arabic
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or early January through late May.
Mandatory Coursework: Modernization and Social Change Seminar (3 credits), Intensive Arabic (6 credits), Research Methods and Ethics(3 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT Jordan: Modernization and Social Change Program Website
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Cairo, Egypt: American Language Institute, American University in Cairo (AUC)
Program Type: Integrated
Duration: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year
Academic Focus: Arabic
Language of Instruction: English; Arabic
Language Study: Arabic
Eligibility Requirements: 30 credits completed; 3.0 GPA
Full-time Course Load: 12-15 credits
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or late January through late May.
Mandatory Coursework: None
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Residence Halls
AUC Arabic Language Institute Website
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Rabat, Morocco: Migration and Transnational Identity (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social Sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English; Arabic
Language Study: Arabic
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December or late January through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: Migration and Transnational Identity Seminar (4 credits), Intensive Arabic (6 credits), Field Study Seminar (2 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT Morocco: Migration and Transnational Identity Program Website
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Rabat, Morocco: Multiculturalism and Human Rights (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social Sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English; Arabic
Language Study: Arabic
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December or late January through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: Multiculturalism and Human Rights Seminar (4 credits), Intensive Arabic (6 credits), Field Study Seminar (2 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT Morocco: Multiculturalism and Human Rights Program Website
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Chinese
Beijing, China: Chinese Language Program- Capital Normal University (CET)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Fall and Spring
Academic Focus: Chinese Language and Humanities
Language of Instruction: Chinese; English
Eligibility Requirements: Any major in good standing may apply; 3.0 GPA.
Full-time Course Load: 20 course hours/week
Program Dates: Late August to mid-December or mid-February to early June.
Mandatory Coursework: A core language course at the appropriate level (at least 20 hours per week)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Shared rooms in residence halls with a Chinese roommate.
CET Chinese Language Program Website
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Kunming, China: Language, Culture and Ethnic Minorities (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December or late February through early June.
Mandatory Coursework: Intensive Mandarin Language Study (6 credits), Chinese Culture and Ethnic Minorities Seminar (3 credits), Field Study Seminar (3 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits).
Elective Language Study: You have the option of either completing an Independent Study Project or continuing your language study for 4 additional credits (enough to fulfill the language requirement).
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT China: Language, Culture and Ethnic Minorities Program Website
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Danish
Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Year, Fall and Spring
Academic Focus: Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Natural Science, Languages and Arts
Language of Instruction: English
Eligibility Requirements: 2.7 GPA; Sophomore status when applying; Some program tracks have prerequisites.
Full-time Course Load: 12 credits (4 courses)
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or mid-January through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: A ‘core course,’ which determines which DIS program track the student is enrolled in, is required.
Elective Language Study: Intensive Beginning Danish, 6 credits
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
DIS Website
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French
Aix-en-Provence, France: Institute for American Universities (IAU)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Fall, Spring or Academic year
Academic Focus: Language, social sciences, humanities, and arts
Language of Instruction: French; English
Eligibility Requirements: See ‘Gettysburg Pre-requisites’
Full-time Course Load: 5 courses (Language courses and 2-3 other courses in English/French)
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or late January through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: Students take two required courses in French language for the intermediate program; Students in the advanced program for minors take three required courses in French.
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: Satisfactory completion of French 101-102 (or 103-104) for intermediate program; Satisfactory completion of 201-202 for advanced program; All students must meet with your academic advisor of the French Department prior to applying.
Living Arrangements: Homestay
IAU Aix-en-Provence Program Website
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German
Berlin, Germany: Language and Culture (CIEE)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Anthropology, Economics, German, International Affairs, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Theatre Arts.
Language of Instruction: English
Eligibility Requirements: Overall GPA of 3.0, applicants must hold second semester sophomore status
Full-time Course Load: 15-16 semester hours
Program Dates: Late August to mid-December or early January to mid-April
Mandatory Coursework: German at the beginning or intermediate level; seminar on living and learning in Berlin.
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
CIEE Berlin Program Website
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Italian
Ferrara, Italy: Language and Culture (CIEE)
Program Type: Group
Academic Focus: Anthtopology, Art History, Globalization Studies, History, International Affairs, Political Science, Women and Gender Studies
Language of Instruction: English, Italian
Eligibility Requirements: 2.75 GPA, 0-3 semesters of college-level Italian or equivalent
Full-time Course Load: 5 courses
Program Dates: Early September to mid-December or mid-January to mid-May
Mandatory Coursework: Italian language course, seminar on contemporary Italian history
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Apartment or homestay
CIEE Ferrara: Language and Culture Website
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Ferrara, Italy: Liberal Arts (CIEE)
Program Type: Hybrid
Academic Focus: Anthropology, Art Studio, Art History, Film Studies, Globalization Studies, History, International Affairs, Italian Studies, Political Science, Sociology
Language of Instruction: Italian
Eligibility Requirements: 2.75 GPA, 4 semesters of college-level Italian or equivalent
Full-time Course Load: 15-17 semester hours
Program Dates: Early September to mid-December or mid-January to mid-May
Mandatory Coursework: Italian language course
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Apartment or homestay
CIEE Ferrara: Liberal Arts Website
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Japanese
Japan: Kansai Gaidai University
Program Type: Integrated
Duration: Fall, Spring or Academic Year
Academic Focus: Japanese Language, East Asian Studies, Business, Humanities, Social Science
Language of Instruction: English
Eligibility Requirements: 3.0 GPA; sophomore status when applying.
Full-time Course Load: 4-5 courses (14-17 semester hours)
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or late January through late May.
Mandatory Coursework: Japanese Language Course (5 credits spoken, 3 credits written)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay or residence hall on the Kansai Gaidai campus
Kansai Gaidai University Website
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Nepali
Kathmandu, Nepal: Development and Social Change (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social Sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English; Nepali
Language Study: Nepali
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Late August through mid-December or late January through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: Development and Social Change Seminar (3 credits), Intensive Nepali (6 credits), Field Methods and Ethics (3 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT Nepal: Development and Social Change Program Website
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Spanish
Cuernavaca, Mexico: Spanish Language and Culture (Universal)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Fall
Academic Focus: Spanish Language
Language of Instruction: Spanish; English
Eligibility Requirements: Spanish at all levels.
Full-time Course Load: 4 courses
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December.
Mandatory Coursework: 1-4 Spanish language course(s) at beginning, intermediate or advanced level
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: All students must meet with Professor Kent Yager in the Spanish Department prior to applying.
Living Arrangements: Homestay
Universal Spanish Language and Culture in Cuernavaca, Mexico Program Website
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Seville, Spain: Spanish Language and Culture (IUS)
Program Type: Group
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Spanish Language and Humanities
Language of Instruction: Spanish; English
Eligibility Requirements: open to Spanish at all levels
Full-time Course Load: 4 courses
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December or early February through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: 1-4 Spanish Language classes at beginning, intermediate or advanced level.
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: All students must meet with Professor Beatriz Trigo Martinez in the Spanish Department prior to applying.
Living Arrangements: Homestay
IUS Spanish Language and Culture Program Website
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Swahili
Mombasa, Kenya: Islam and Swahili Cultural Identity (SIT)
Program Type: Group Program and Field Based Study
Duration: Fall or Spring
Academic Focus: Social Sciences and humanities
Language of Instruction: English; Swahili
Language Study: Swahili
Eligibility Requirements: 2.5 GPA; Sophomore status when applying
Full-time Course Load: 16 credits
Program Dates: Early September through mid-December or early February through mid-May.
Mandatory Coursework: Islam and Swahili Cultural Identity (3 credits), Intensive Swahili (6 credits), Research Design and Ethics (3 credits), and Independent Study Project (4 credits)
Gettysburg Pre-requisites: None
Living Arrangements: Homestay
SIT Kenya: Islam and Swahili Cultural Identity Program Website
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Using the "Program Finder" feature
Curious about what other study abroad programs are affiliated with Gettysburg? Search programs by language study, region, etc. with Program Finder.
Things students should be thinking about:
How do I get approval?
To get Gettysburg's approval to fulfill the language requirement, students will need the approval of the corresponding language department and the registrar.
Most approvals occur via the Gettysburg online application in Student Center, however, as noted in their descriptions, in order to participate in certain programs you will need to meet with a representative from a related department.
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What language level am I?
Some programs require one or more "semesters of college-level" language study before applying. If you have experience from high school, you may already be at this level without having taken any language classes in college. This can be determined by a placement test, which can be taken on campus. You will also likely be taking one once you get to your off-campus location as well.
Levels of language study at most US universities are as follows:
Beginning: first two semesters, 101 and 102
Intermediate: third and fourth semesters, 201 and 202
Advanced: fifth semester and later, 300 or 400-level classes
International universities may differ from this standard, so students should always research program choices to see how each level is defined.
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Is the program a good fit?
Although the prospect of completing the language requirement is quite appealing, it is always important to get as much information about the program as possible to make sure it is a good fit both academically and personally. Are you interested in the theme of the program and the other course offerings? Are you comfortable with the living situation and local culture? Does the program fit with your academic goals? Is it relevant to your career goals? How does your family feel about you living in this country for 4 months?
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Whom should I talk to?
The Off-Campus Studies Office, your academic advisor, the heads of relevant departments, family, and friends/acquaintances who have previously gone abroad can all be very helpful in the decision-making process.
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