The World Languages Program is available for students as a major or a minor. A World Language major is for students who plan to teach a world language to children from in kindergarten through 12th grade. The World Language minor will result in the additional certification at the same level as the student's initial license.
Students who satisfactorily complete the undergraduate program (as a major or minor) will be granted a license in one of the following languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, or Spanish.
Students seeking a World Language certification (major or minor) may also add the following licenses:
- Bilingual (only available for Spanish, World Language Licenses; a bilingual license will allow you to teach Spanish for Heritage Speakers only)
- English as a Second Language
Requirements
General Education Requirements (GERs)
UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some of the requirements of your program may fulfill the campus GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.
Students must meet certain criteria and apply to their specific licensure program in addition to admission to UWM. Please see information about minimum credits, GPA, and other requirements at Advance to Professional Sequence.
Program Core
Program core is comprised of foundational courses and should be completed prior to beginning the professional education sequence.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking (GER-HU, fulfilled prior to program admission) | 3 |
| CURRINS 300 | Introduction to Teaching: Colloquium and Fieldwork (fulfilled prior to program admission) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Language Content Area
Complete total credits in chosen language, plus any prerequisites. Initial language courses (levels 1-4) may be satisfied through language proficiency examinations. See academic advisor for details. Language content courses can only count once when listed in multiple categories.
American Sign Language
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| American Sign Language | ||
| ASL 301 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| ASL 302 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
| ASL 303 | American Sign Language III | 3 |
| ASL 304 | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| ASL 305 | American Sign Language V | 3 |
| ASL 306 | American Sign Language VI | 3 |
| ASL 325 | Skills Development: ASL V | 1 |
| ASL 326 | Skills Development: ASL VI | 1 |
| ASL 327 | Skills Development: Classifiers | 1 |
| ASL 328 | Skills Development: ASL Depiction | 1 |
| ASL 330 | Deaf History | 3 |
| ASL 352 | American Deaf Culture | 3 |
| ASL 358 | ASL/English Linguistics I | 3 |
| ASL 363 | ASL/English Linguistics II | 3 |
| ASL 500 | Fingerspelling & Numbers | 3 |
| ASL 510 | Classifiers | 3 |
| ASL 520 | ASL Literature | 3 |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
Arabic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | ||
| ARABIC 201 | Third Semester Arabic | 5 |
| ARABIC 202 | Fourth Semester Arabic | 5 |
| ARABIC 301 | Fifth Semester Arabic | 3 |
| ARABIC 302 | Sixth Semester Arabic | 3 |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Islam: Religion and Culture | ||
| Internship in Arabic, Upper Division | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Ad Hoc: | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Cultures and Civilizations of the Muslim Middle East | ||
| Arabs and Islam in America | ||
| Islam: Religion and Culture | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Honors Seminar in the Humanities: (Linguistic, Literature, or Cultural topic) | ||
| University Honors Seminar in the Social Sciences: (Linguistic, Literature, or Cultural topic) | ||
| Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca. 500-1258 | ||
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | ||
| Topics in Middle Eastern History: (Linguistic, Literature, or Cultural topic) | ||
Chinese
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | ||
| Reading, Writing, and Linguistic Content | ||
| CHINESE 301 | Fifth Semester Chinese | 4 |
| CHINESE 302 | Sixth Semester Chinese | 4 |
| CHINESE 401 | Seventh Semester Chinese | 3 |
| CHINESE 402 | Eighth Semester Chinese | 3 |
| Literature Electives (choose two): | 6 | |
| Introduction to Chinese Poetry | ||
| Literature and Society: (Chinese Literature Before the 20th Century) | ||
| Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: (Modern Chinese Literature) | ||
| Cultural Electives (choose one): | 3 | |
| Contemporary Chinese Societies through Film | ||
| Chinese Language and Culture | ||
| Capstone Elective | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Electives (select 10 credits) | 10 | |
| Chinese Painting | ||
| Chinese Art and Architecture | ||
| Topics in Chinese Art: | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture | ||
| A Taste of China: Learning Chinese Culture and Society through Cuisine | ||
| Chinese Calligraphy | ||
| Introduction to Chinese Poetry | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Societies through Film | ||
| Chinese Language and Culture | ||
| Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | ||
| Popular Culture, Entertainment, and China's Modernization | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Business Chinese | ||
| Internship in Chinese, Upper Division | ||
| Study Abroad: (highly encouraged) | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Literature and Society: (Chinese Literature before the 20th Century) | ||
| Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: (Modern Chinese Literature) | ||
| First-Year Seminar: (Growth and Development in China, Japan, and Korea) | ||
| World Cinema: (Hong Kong Cinema) | ||
| East Asian Civilization to 1600 | ||
| Asian Americans in Historical Perspective | ||
| Premodern China | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Revolution in China | ||
| Introduction to Asian Religions | ||
| Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
French
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| French | ||
| FRENCH 303 | Conversation and Composition: Intermediate Level | 3 |
| FRENCH 324 | Contemporary French Language and Culture | 3 |
| FRENCH 325 | Intensive Grammar and Usage | 3 |
| FRENCH 332 | Reading French Texts | 3 |
| Choose 18 credits from the following: | 18 | |
| Literature of the French-Speaking World in Translation: | ||
| Phonetics | ||
| French Immersion: Advanced | ||
| Growing Up French | ||
| Advanced Written Expression | ||
| Castles, Cathedrals, and Common People: The Foundations of French Culture | ||
| Royalty, Reason, and Revolution: The Golden Age of French Culture | ||
| Reaction and Innovation: French Culture of the 19th and 20th Centuries | ||
| Seminar in Literature of the Francophone World: | ||
| Seminar in French and Francophone Cultures: | ||
| Seminar in French Literature: | ||
| Institutions and Culture of Contemporary France | ||
| Cinema of the French-Speaking World: | ||
| Topics in French and Francophone Studies in Translation: | ||
| Internship in French | ||
| Seminar on Masterpieces of Literature Written in French: | ||
| Seminar in Contemporary French Literature: | ||
| Seminar in French Language: | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
German
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GERMAN 204 | Fourth-Semester German | 3 |
| GERMAN 331 | German Grammar in Practice | 3 |
| GERMAN 332 | Presentation and Composition | 3 |
| GERMAN 333 | Texts and Contexts | 3 |
| GERMAN 334 | Introduction to German Studies | 3 |
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| German Phonetics | ||
| German for Professional Purposes | ||
| Seminar on the History and Structure of German | ||
| Reading Older German Handwriting | ||
| Seminar on German Studies: | ||
| Seminar on Themes and Motifs in German Literature: | ||
| Select 6 credits from courses taught in the German program numbered between 470 and 488 | 6 | |
| German for Professional Purposes | ||
| Seminar on the History and Structure of German | ||
| Reading Older German Handwriting | ||
| Seminar on German Studies: | ||
| Seminar on Themes and Motifs in German Literature: | ||
| Select 6 credits from courses in German at the 300-level and above; OR 3 credits from courses in German at the 300-level and above and 3 credits from pre-approved electives listed below | 6 | |
| History of Film I: Development of an Art | ||
| History of Film II: Development of an Art | ||
| Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | ||
| Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | ||
| German Painting, 1800-1933 | ||
| Dada and Surrealist Art | ||
| History of Film I: Development of an Art | ||
| History of Film II: Development of an Art | ||
| Europe: East and West | ||
| German Life and Civilization: Part I | ||
| German Life and Civilization: Part II: | ||
| Views of Germany: | ||
| The History of Medieval Europe: The Early Middle Ages | ||
| The History of Medieval Europe: The High Middle Ages | ||
| Women and Gender in Europe: 1350 to 1750 | ||
| The First World War | ||
| The Second World War in Europe | ||
| Germany: Hitler and the Nazi Dictatorship | ||
| The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism & the Fate of Jewish People in Europe, 1933-45 | ||
| Topics in European History: | ||
| Introduction to Jewish History | ||
| Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images | ||
| General History of Western Music I | ||
| General History of Western Music II | ||
| German and French Lyric Diction | ||
| Music of the Baroque Era | ||
| Music of the Classic Era | ||
| Music of the Romantic Era | ||
| Music since 1900 | ||
| Song Literature I: Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Phenomenology | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Japanese
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ||
| JAPAN 301 | Fifth Semester Japanese | 4 |
| JAPAN 302 | Sixth Semester Japanese | 4 |
| JAPAN 401 | Seventh Semester Japanese | 4 |
| JAPAN 402 | Eighth Semester Japanese | 4 |
| Choose one from the following: | ||
| Japanese Language and Culture | ||
| Reading Japanese Short Stories | ||
| Seminar in Japanese Literature and Culture: | ||
| Translating Japanese Media | ||
| Business Japanese I | ||
| Choose one from the following: | ||
| Japanese Performance Traditions | ||
| Seminar in Japanese Literature and Culture: | ||
| Translating Japanese Media | ||
| Research and Research Writing in Japanese | ||
| Choose 8 credits from the following: | 8 | |
| Introduction to Japanese Literature | ||
| Japanese Popular Culture | ||
| Japanese Film: Themes and Methods | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Enhanced Knowledge & Skills for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test | ||
| Japanese Conversation II | ||
| Reading Japanese Short Stories | ||
| Extensive Reading in Japanese | ||
| Japanese News Media | ||
| Japanese Performance Traditions | ||
| Japanese Performance Traditions: Readings | ||
| Seminar in Japanese Literature and Culture: | ||
| Translating Japanese Media | ||
| Fun Kanji | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Introduction to Translation: Japanese to English | ||
| Business Japanese I | ||
| Internship in Japanese, Upper Division | ||
| Internship in Japanese, Upper Division | ||
| Study Abroad: | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Japanese Culture and Society | ||
| Japanese Art and Architecture | ||
| Buddhism Across Asia | ||
Latin
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | ||
| Reading and Writing Development | ||
| LATIN 103 | First Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 104 | Second Semester Latin | 4 |
| LATIN 205 | Third Semester Latin | 4 |
| Literature | ||
| CLASSIC 202 | Introduction to Roman Life and Literature | 3 |
| LATIN 306 | Readings in Latin Literature: | 3 |
| LATIN 501 | Readings in Latin Prose: | 3 |
| LATIN 502 | Readings in Latin Poetry: | 3 |
| LATIN 699 | Directed Reading | 3 |
| Literature and Culture Electives (choose two): | 6 | |
| The Celtic World | ||
| Greek Art and Archaeology | ||
| Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | ||
| Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | ||
| Roman Art and Archaeology | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Greek Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Greek Life and Literature | ||
| The Life and Literature of Classical Athens: Herodotus and Dramatists | ||
| The Life and Literature of the Roman Empire | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Literature: | ||
| Readings in Classical Greek Prose: | ||
| Readings in Ancient Greek Poetry: | ||
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Greek City-State | ||
| A History of Greek Civilization: The Age of Alexander the Great | ||
| A History of Rome: The Republic | ||
| A History of Rome: The Empire | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Spanish
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | ||
| SPANISH 308 | Advanced Writing and Reading | 3 |
| SPANISH 318 | Advanced Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| or SPANISH 319 | Advanced Speaking and Listening for Heritage Speakers | |
| Select three electives at 300-level | 9 | |
| Using Spanish in the Business World | ||
| Advanced Spanish Grammar | ||
| Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics | ||
| Understanding Literature and Culture | ||
| Health Issues in the Hispanic World | ||
| Social and Historical Issues in the Hispanic World: | ||
| Only one of the following 300-level courses, taught in English, counts as an elective: | ||
| Introduction to Latino Literature in English | ||
| Topics in Latino Literature in English: | ||
| Select three electives at the 400-level or above (must take at least one Phonetics and one literature) | 9 | |
| Spanish Phonetics and Phonology | ||
| Spanish Syntax and Morphology | ||
| Hispanic Sociolinguistics | ||
| From the Middle Ages to Modernity: The Rise of the Hispanic World | ||
| Contemporary Literature and Culture of Latin America | ||
| Contemporary Literature and Culture of Spain | ||
| Select one course at the 500 level (fulfills L&S Research Requirement) | 3 | |
| Seminar in Spanish Literature: | ||
| Seminar in Latin-American Literature and Culture: | ||
| Seminar in Hispanic Literature and Culture: | ||
| History of the Spanish Language | ||
| Seminar in Hispanic Linguistics: | ||
| Seminar in Spanish Golden Age Literature: | ||
| Seminar on Cervantes: | ||
| Seminar in Modern Spanish Literature and Culture: | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Professional Sequence
A grade of C or better must be earned in all professional sequence coursework, including student teaching. Prerequisites may be required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Learning and Development (preferred) | ||
| Cognition: Learning, Problem Solving and Thinking | ||
| Human Development: Theory and Research | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Exceptional Individual | ||
| Inclusion for Secondary Educators: Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language (preferred) | ||
| Survey of Exceptional Education | ||
| ED POL 375 | Cultural Foundations of Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 350 | Field Seminar in Language Education | 1 |
| CURRINS 437 | Pre-Student Teaching in World Language Education | 2 |
| CURRINS 542 | History and Politics of Second Language Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 543 | Developing Biliteracy | 3 |
| CURRINS 545 | Reading in the Content Areas: Middle, Junior, and Senior High School | 3 |
| CURRINS 546 | Language, Content, and Comprehensible Input | 3 |
| CURRINS 637 | World Language Methods and Materials | 3 |
| CURRINS 655 | Applied Educational Linguistics | 3 |
| CURRINS 438 | Student Teaching in World Language Education ‡ | 9 |
| CURRINS 445 | Seminar in Language Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- ‡
Students must complete an application to request/be assigned a student teaching placement. To be approved for placement, additional criteria must be met. See Benchmarks for details.
Requirements for Graduation
For information on credit, GPA, and other requirements for graduation, see UWM Degree Requirements.
Second Degree Pathway
Students follow the same pathway as first-degree students.
Post-Baccalaureate Pathway
Students follow the same pathway as first-degree students with the exception taking CURRINS 338 for 3-9 credits.
English as a Second Language Minor - option
World Language majors wishing to complete an English as a Second Language minor would also need these additional requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CURRINS 443 | Pre-Student Teaching in English as a Second Language Education | 2 |
| CURRINS 444 | Student Teaching in English as a Second Language Education | 3 |
| CURRINS 541 | Principles and Methods of Teaching ESL | 3 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Additional Requirements for Certification
- Successfully complete the content knowledge requirement for your program through one of the following:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in content coursework.
- For ASL: ASL Proficiency Interview: Intermediate Plus.
- For all other languages: ACTFL OPI/WPT: Intermediate High.
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all UWM and transfer courses.
- Demonstrate successful completion of the Pedagogical Knowledge Assessment (PKA).
- Meet all applicable Wisconsin statutory and testing requirements.
- Complete approved coursework in the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin, met through one of the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 213 | American Indian Peoples of Wisconsin (GER-CD, GER-SS) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 276 | Introduction to American Indian Literature: (topic: History, Literature & Sovereignty of Wisconsin Tribes (GER-CD, GER-HU) | 3 |
| ACT 31: History, Culture and Sovereignty Rights of Wisconsin Indians Workshop | ||
| Or an approved equivalent | ||
Advance to Major
Advance to Professional Sequence
Advance to the World Language Education program Professional Sequence requires satisfactory completion of the requirements listed below. For more information about the application process, visit our website.
- GER: OWC-A Completion of Oral-Written Communication part A competency.
- GER: QL-A: Completion of Quantitative Literacy part A competency.
- Completion of CURRINS 300 with a grade of C or better.
- Completion of COMMUN 103 with a grade of C or better.
- A 2.5 minimum GPA in all UWM and transfer courses at time of admission application.
- A minimum of 48 credits (UWM and transfer credits) at the time of admission application. It is not required to have all content area courses completed at the time of application.
- For post-baccalaureate and second degree candidates, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Criminal Background Check
Criminal Background Check (CBC). For all students, a background check shall be completed no more than 6 months prior to the date of admission (advance to professional sequence) into the educator preparation program. The background check shall include a review of criminal conduct at the state and federal levels.
Benchmarks
Student Teaching
Students must complete an application to request/be assigned a student teaching placement. Deadlines for submission are posted by the Office of Clinical Experiences.
To be approved, students must ALSO meet the following criteria:
- Take the Department of Public Instruction Mandated Content Exam (language proficiency) - ASL students require SLPI Intermediate Plus. Other languages require a minimum score of Intermediate-High on both the ACTFL OPI and the WPT.
- Complete an Immersion Experience - Required for all prospective language teachers, this requirement must be met by spending a significant amount of time in a community/country where the chosen major language is spoken. Submit documentation of experience to your academic advisor prior to student teaching placement.
- Be advanced to the professional sequence.
- Complete all required coursework. An exception to allow a student to take a course concurrently with student teaching requires approval by the student's faculty advisor.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all undergraduate coursework, including transfer courses.
- Have a 2.75 minimum GPA in all World Language content courses completed prior to advancement to the professional program.
- Content Knowledge: Minimum score of Intermediate-High on the ACTFL OPI and WPT tests or a minimum score of SLPI Intermediate Plus for ASL students; a or a minimum GPA of 3.0 in languages content courses.
- Removal of all F and/or I (incomplete) grades in courses that count toward graduation or certification.
- TB test results submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences (may take up to 6 weeks).
- Criminal Background Check submitted to the Office of Clinical Experience.
Undergraduate Advising
Our purpose is to provide collaborative, mentoring relationships which promote educational, career, and professional development. We value a student-centered, holistic, and ethical approach to advising based on strong partnerships with students, faculty and staff, and the larger campus community. We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment. We encourage students to be self-reliant through informed decisions and choices based upon dissemination of accurate information. We value our own continuous professional development to enhance the quality of the advising experience.
How to Prepare for an Advising Meeting
- Review your Advisement Report in PAWS.
- Come prepared with questions or topics for discussion.
- Make a list of courses you think you should take.
- Investigate opportunities to prepare for the job you want.
- Keep a record of your academic progress.
- Understand you are ultimately responsible for creating your educational, life, and career plans.
- Maintain honest and open communication with your advisor.
- Take responsibility for choices you make as a student and member of the UW-Milwaukee community.
Scheduling an Appointment
Office of Student Services
Enderis Hall, Room 209
(414) 229-4721
soeinfo@uwm.edu
Graduate Advising
If you are a School of Education graduate student, you may schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor by contacting your faculty advisor directly. Faculty contact information can be found in the Directory. Your faculty advisor will be listed in your PAWS account.
Honors in the Department of Teaching and Learning
Departmental Honors are granted to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester.
College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.