Support for World Languages and Cultures Students

This page provides essential academic resources and support services for students in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Whether you're looking for advising tools, course planning materials, scholarships, student organizations, or tutoring support, you'll find everything you need to stay informed and on track. From four-year maps and course projections to important student forms and program contacts, this page is designed to help you successfully navigate your undergraduate experience and make the most of your time at KSU.

Advising

 

Testing: Placement, Examination for Credit & OPI(c)

Placement Testing :

Want to know which course you should register for? Take the Computerized Adaptive Placement Exam (CAPE), hosted by the World Languages Resource Collection.

  • The Department of World Languages and Cultures administers Advanced Standing Exams for 3200, 3302 and 3303 in Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The form and instructions can be found here.

    The form should include Department Chair, Dr. Federica Santini  for signature.

    Please contact Nina Burnette for details or questions.

    Application Forms

  • For the Department of World Languages and Cultures (DWLC), Kennesaw State University only administers and accepts CLEP Subject Examinations for French, German, and Spanish. Examinees must be a currently registered student at Kennesaw State University in order to be tested at KSU. Students will not be permitted to take a CLEP exam or to receive credit by examination for a course in which the student is currently or was previously enrolled, unless the student withdrew from the course within the drop/add registration period.

    All CLEP exams are computerized and are completed in one sitting; EXCEPT the CLEP Composition Modular exam. This exam requires two appointments. The first appointment consists of a 90-minute computerized multiple-choice exam. Upon passing this section the student will then make his/her second appointment along with another sitting fee of $22.00. The second appointment is a timed 90 minute typed essay (typed on the computer in Word).

    More information: testing.kennesaw.edu 

  • The KSU Academic Testing Services Team has officially assumed responsibility for administering the Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS). FLATS exams offer students the opportunity to receive credit by examination for language proficiency in over 50 foreign languages. For more information about FLATS, please visit or call the KSU Academic Testing Services Team at 470-578-4800 (Kennesaw Campus) 470-578-3982 (Marietta Campus).
  • The state of Georgia requires candidates for educator certification to take the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®) as part of the educator certification process. These computer-delivered assessments have been developed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and Educational Testing Service (ETS).

    The purpose of the GACE assessments is to assure that the knowledge and skills acquired by prospective Georgia educators are aligned with state and national standards for educator preparation and with state standards for the P–12 student curriculum — the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS).

    The GACE website is the best source of information for questions regarding test administration, test preparation, and related GACE issues: gace.ets.org

  • The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) or Chinese Proficiency Test is a standardized test designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese language proficiency of nonnative speakers. The test is supervised by the State HSK Commission under the People Republic of China Ministry of Education. 

    The Atlanta Contemporary Chinese Academy (ACCA) is currently the official test center for North America.

 

Oral Proficiency Interview: OPI & OPI(c):

  • WLED candidates can consult the OPI Familiarization Manual for more information.

    Prior to Registering Online: You must confirm 2-3 available dates with the proctor. These dates must be at least 10 (ten) business days from the first requested date.

  • Register online at: http://www.languagetesting.com 

    • Click on the "Apply for Academic Test" link
    • Click on GA Teacher Only under the "Apply on Internet" column

    You must purchase a phone card in order to place and charge the phone call for your scheduled OPI appointment.

    Cost of phone interview: $134.00, however, the fee is determined by ACTFL and beyond the authority of KSU, so fees may increase without prior notice.

  • A recommendation for a teaching certificate in a foreign language requires a rating of Advanced Low (for Type I languages) or Intermediate High (for Type II languages) on the official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Candidates in the Alternative Teacher Preparation Program in World Languages must provide a copy of their OPI certificate with the appropriate rating before being admitted to the Yearlong Clinical Internship I (WLED 4670). Undergraduate degree candidates (B.A. in Modern Language & Culture: Concentration II) must submit a copy of the official certificate during Yearlong Clinical Experience I (WLED 4650) in order to complete course requirements.

World Languages Resource Collection

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Kennesaw State's World Languages Resource Collection seeks to support student achievement, innovate teaching materials and methodology, and advocate for learning about world languages and cultures. We offer a wide range of tools and services for students, faculty, and the campus community at large.

Scholarships

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Boren Scholarships

Boren Scholarships, is an initiative of the National Security Education Program, that provides unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad.

 

Students should connect with the Office of Prestigious Undergraduate Awards for additional application assistance.

 

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Kennesaw State University Scholarships

Kennesaw State University is proud to offer scholarships to incoming freshmen, currently enrolled students and transfer students

 

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Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.

Students should connect with the Office of Prestigious Undergraduate Awards for additional application assistance.

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Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation

The Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate college/university women who have attained at least the honor of Silver Award Girl Scout, and who plan to or are currently pursuing a major/minor in foreign language at a four year college/university.


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Careers


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Kennesaw State Department of Career Planning and Development

Job listings, resume development, internships, and more!

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What Can I do with a Major in Foreign Languages?

A foreign language major involves the study of languages and literature other than one’s own. It develops cultural awareness and sensitivity, improves one’s ability to communicate and promotes greater appreciation for other societies’ business environments.


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Finding a job that uses languages

Language skills open up a range of specialist careers to you, but they make you more employable to almost any company with ambition.


Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions :

  • Yes. Placement tests are offered that you can take from home, online, or on-campus. Please refer to information on our website for more details.
  • Yes. KSU participates in the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE) program which permits you to “cross-register” for courses at other participating GA institutions. You must have your advisor's approval to cross-register so please contact the Department of World Languages to arrange an appointment with an advisor and indicate that you wish to cross-register.

    Before meeting with your advisor, consult the websites of other ARCHE institutions to determine if they offer courses you can take. Carefully read the Eligibility Criteria Checklist on the ARCHE Cross Registration Application to make sure that you qualify for this opportunity.

Modern Language and Culture Program (ML&C) :

  • Most of your questions can be answered by visiting the Programs section of our website. If you don’t find answers to your questions there, please contact us for further assistance.
  • The ML&C degree with a primary language of Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish requires the same number of courses (10 courses in the primary language above the intermediate level) at KSU as at other major USG institutions. (UGA and GSU, for example, require 10 courses above the intermediate level for their degrees.) The distinguishing feature of KSU's program is the addition of an applied "concentration" which directly links a student’s language study to their professional goals.
     
  • Yes, you may pursue a "second degree" in ML&C. The KSU Undergraduate Catalog states:
    "Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges may obtain a second baccalaureate degree from KSU by satisfying the following requirements:
    • Meet all major requirements listed for the chosen program of study.
    • Complete the Georgia Legislature history and Constitution requirements.
    • Students earn at least 30 semester hours in residence at Kennesaw State University. If the first baccalaureate degree was earned at Kennesaw State University, this 30 hours must be in excess of any hours used towards the first baccalaureate degree.
    • Complete (for students with majors in the Bagwell College of Education) the lower division major requirement courses in Education."
    An academic advisor can assist you in determining which courses you will need to complete for the second degree. Please connect with your academic advisor.
  • The BA in ML&C comprises 39 hours, 30 hours of coursework in CHIN, FREN, GRMN, ITAL, JAPN, KOR, or SPAN and 9 hours of coursework in the student's concentration. At least 30 semester hours of upper-division course work in the major field must be completed at KSU. In addition, at least 24 hours of the 39 hours required for the degree must be earned in residence at KSU. At least 39 hours of upper-division work must be completed overall. (Lower-level coursework substitututed for upper-level does not count; however if coursework is transferred in through the KSU database and approved at the upper-division, that coursework can be counted in the total of 39 hours required.) Your transfer evaluation report will indicate which courses are transferred to KSU with a KSU equivalent number. Please review the Owl Transfer Credit Database to see the classes that can possibly transfer into the ML&C program at KSU.
  • Yes, however, you may complete up to three of the required courses by taking an examination for advanced standing. To determine if you are eligible to take the advanced standing examinations, please consult our webpage on testing.
  • All of our minors require 5 courses in the language, beginning with your language's 2002, after which you need to complete 4 courses at the 3000 level or above. You do not need to see an advisor to declare a minor.