Study Abroad Language Requirements

In countries where fluency in the language is very difficult to attain at Brown, programs taught in English with intensive language study are available. Students attending programs where the following languages are the target languages of instruction will not receive credit for English language courses:

• French
• German
• Italian
• Portuguese
• Spanish

French

Minimum Requirement: Brown in France- FREN 0600 (or the equivalent of six semesters of college level French) with a B or better. It is also mandatory for students to have taken at least one course in French the year before departure.

Alternative Programs: FREN 0600 for any other approved or petition program in France or Francophone Countries (i.e. Francophone Africa, Switzerland, etc.)

Studying French at Brown and Abroad

German

Minimum Requirement:

• Brown in Germany Track 1—GRMN 0500 (or the equivalent of five semesters of college level German) with a B or better. GRMN 0600 and GRMN1090 are highly recommended.
  
  
• Brown in Germany Track 2—GRMN 0300 (or the equivalent of three semesters of college level German) with a B or better.

Studying German at Brown and Abroad

Italian

Minimum Requirement: Brown in Bologna- ITAL 0300 (or the equivalent of three semesters of college level Italian) with a B or better.

Middlebury Program in Florence- five semesters of Italian.

Exception: Concentrators in Art/Semiotics, Classics, History of Art and Architecture, Urban Studies, or Visual Arts do not need to have studied Italian previously and may choose from the list of Approved Alternative Programs or petition other programs specifically designed for those concentrations.

Studying Italian at Brown and Abroad

Japanese

Minimum Requirement: Students must have passed Japanese 400 before attending the fall or full year program. For the spring term students must have passed Japanese 500.

Note: For students applying to a Brown in Japan program, all students attending KCJS will be required to take Japanese language along with two English language electives. At Keio, students fluent in Japanese may take courses at the regular University. Otherwise, they will take courses taught in English at the university's International Division.

Studying Japanese at Brown and Abroad

Portuguese

Minimum Requirement: POBS0400 (students from other institutions need the equivalent of at least four semesters of college level Portuguese). POBS 0610 and/or 0620 highly recommended. In addition, students are expected to have taken at least one course focusing entirely on Brazil in Literature, History or the Social Sciences.

Studying Portuguese at Brown and Abroad

Spanish

Brown Programs

Brown in Barcelona:  Minimum requirement HISP600.  All students (regardless of prior family, academic, travel or residence experience) must complete one course at Brown (HISP600 or higher).

Brown in Cantabria (Engineering):  Recommended Spanish proficiency equivalent to Spanish 200 (Basic Spanish II) or Spanish 110 (Intensive Basic Spanish).  Will consider students with no previous Spanish language experience on a case-by-case basis (see your OIP advisor).  This program is particularly appropriate for civil, environmental, and mechanical engineering concentrators. Spaces are limited and priority will be given to full year applicants. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 or higher GPA).

Brown in Granada (Intensive Language):   This intensive language program accommodates students from beginning through advanced language proficiency levels who are seeking to acquire or hone their Spanish language skills. 

Brown in Granada (Translation and Interpretation):  Demonstrate advanced Spanish proficiency equivalent to level C-1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CPFR). Interested students will be assessed by Brown's Hispanic Studies Department to determine language proficiency.   Students who have not completed at least HISP600 will not be eligible for this program.

Brown in Cuba:  Minimum Requirement HISP500, but HISP600 is highly recommended.  All students (regardless of prior family, academic, travel, or residence experience) must complete one course at Brown (HISP 500 or higher). 

Alternative Programs:  For Spain programs, minimum requirement HISP600.  All students (regardless of prior family, academic, travel or residence experience) must complete one course at Brown (HISP600 or higher).

For Latin America and Caribbean destinations:  Minimum Requirement HISP500, but HISP600 is highly recommended.  All students (regardless of prior family, academic, travel, or residence experience) must complete one course at Brown (HISP 500 or higher). 

Studying Spanish at Brown and Abroad