Language and Culture Requirement

1. West Chester University believes that college students today require exposure to global cultures, and the University integrates this belief into courses and programs in various ways. Departments in the College of the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the College of Business and Public Management, in particular, see a need for students earning bachelor of arts degrees to gain competency in language and cultures as a critical aspect of their education. The University provides options for these students based on varying levels of language competency deemed appropriate by major departments for study in their field. Questions regarding language requirements should be directed to the department chairperson.  A number of B.A. degree programs require a language proficiency gained from completing the second half of the intermediate year (202) of a language. At this level, students may be expected to have a working knowledge of the language and culture of a country. These programs are as follows:
   1. English
   2. Languages and Cultures (in a second language)
   3. History
   4. Linguistics Program
   5. Mathematics (limited to French, German, and Russian)
   6. Political Science (International Relations Concentration only)
2. Other B.A. degree programs offer students the following options:
   1. Demonstrating language proficiency through the intermediate level (202) or
   2. Demonstrating language proficiency through the Elementary II (102) level of a language and further acquiring a cultural foundation through taking three culture cluster courses within the same language area. This option is available for the following languages:
      1. American Sign Language
      2. Arabic
      3. French
      4. German
      5. Italian
      6. Russian
      7. Spanish
   3. Each has an approved set of associated culture cluster courses. It is not necessary for students to complete the Elementary II (102) level before taking culture cluster courses.
3. While this option does not give students the depth and focus of language study, the three courses will help them understand a culture. (In this option, students may elect to further their language skills by taking an additional semester of the language, plus two culture cluster courses.)
4. Degree programs offering the culture cluster option are as follows: 
   1. Anthropology
   2. Communication and Media
   3. Communication Sciences and Disorders
   4. Interdisciplinary Studies
   5. Philosophy
   6. Political Science (Government & Politics Concentration only)
   7. Sociology
   8. Theatre and Dance
   9. Urban Community Change Program
   10. Women's and Gender Studies
5. Some B.S. degree programs also require a language. Students should see their advisors.
6. The Department of Languages and Cultures handles testing and placement.
7. Course substitutions to the language requirement of a department will be granted if the student meets one of the following criteria:
   1. The student is able to demonstrate proficiency through successful testing by the Department of Languages and Cultures.
   2. The student holds a diploma from a secondary education institution in another country. This institution must be at least the equivalent of a U.S. high school, and instruction must be in a language other than English.
   3. Students who may request course substitutions because of a disability should refer to "Services for Educational Accessibility."
   4. Students should take note of the policies regarding taking courses out of sequence.

Second degree students who have not met the language requirement in their prior degree program will be required to do so if a language requirement is part of their second degree program.  

Of the three required culture cluster courses, students who choose that option may take no more than two in the same department, except that only one may be taken in the department in which they major. Students are encouraged to begin taking their culture cluster courses as soon as possible. The 201 level of language courses is acceptable for use as one of the three culture cluster courses. Any exceptions to these conditions must be petitioned. A student may not use one course to simultaneously fulfill a general education distributive requirement and a culture cluster requirement.