Undergraduate Programs

To declare, change, add, or remove a Major, Minor, or Certificate, please refer to the College of Arts and Science's webpage on Undergraduate Program Declaration. For general inquires on RALL undergraduate programs, please reach out to RALL's Director of Undergraduate Studies, Juan Godoy Peñas, Ph.D.

The College of Arts and Sciences highly encourages students to choose more than one area of study (double-majors, dual degree, cross-college majors). There are usually enough elective credit hours in your degree program to accommodate at least one of the following. In fact, many classes count toward multiple programs, allowing you to "double dip" and thereby reduce the number of courses required to complete the program.

RALL has partnered with other Departments to develop the following Double Major Pathways:

Why a Double Major With a Language?

Enhanced Global Career Opportunities and Cultural Competence and Sensitivity
Research indicates that language skills are often in demand for positions in diplomacy, global marketing, multinational corporations, and international organizations, which may offer higher salaries and more opportunities for advancement. This cultural competence is highly valued in global contexts where understanding local customs, practices, and societal structures can provide a significant advantage.

Improved Communication and Interpersonal Skills
These improved communication skills are particularly valuable in professions where interacting with people, understanding diverse cultures, and working across language barriers are essential.

Stronger Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Research shows that learning a second language enhances cognitive abilities, such as memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Double-majoring in a language can improve your ability to think analytically and critically.

Increased Employability in Niche Roles and Higher Salaries
A double major with a language can make you uniquely qualified for specialized roles, such as translator, interpreter, or language consultant, especially in fields like healthcare, law, technology, and journalism. Studies indicate that bilingual employees tend to earn higher salaries compared to their monolingual counterparts, particularly when the language skills are paired with technical or business expertise.

Preparation for Graduate Programs and Broader Network and Social Opportunities
A language major combined with another field prepares students for interdisciplinary graduate programs, such as international law, global health, international business, or linguistics. Language majors often have access to a global network of peers, professors, and professionals in various sectors such as diplomacy, journalism, and the arts. This expanded network can be crucial for professional development and career advancement.

Increased Self-Esteem and Personal Fulfillment
Research suggests that mastering a new language is personally fulfilling and boosts confidence, especially when paired with a complementary field. The ability to engage with another culture through language fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

General Education at the University of Cincinnati requires a Capstone Experience by which students demonstrate mastery of the major and of the four Baccalaureate Competencies:

  1. Critical Thinking
  2. Effective Communication
  3. Knowledge Integration
  4. Social Responsibility

It is wise to begin thinking about your Capstone early in your senior year. If you procrastinate, you may find your graduation delayed until you have completed the Capstone Project.

Plan on coming up with your own ideas for a Capstone Project. Although they may provide guidance, faculty are not responsible for suggesting topics or for recommending projects.

TO COMPLETE YOUR CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT YOU MUST:

  1. Link the Capstone to a course with a number above 3002 (302 quarter system) that you have taken or are presently taking. The course must support the kind of project you wish to pursue.
  2. Within the first week of the semester, fill out the Capstone Project Registration Form (FREN & SPAN) and ask the instructor of your course to indicate support for the project by signing the form.
  3. By the end of the first week of the semester submit by email the signed form to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of RALL to discuss and to secure registration block removal for the course Capstone 5001 (FREN or SPAN) for one credit.
  4. Register for the course Capstone 5001 (FREN 5001 or SPAN 5001) for one credit.  Note: The course is blocked for all students; to have the block removed, you must email the completed Capstone Project Registration Form, signed by your Capstone mentoring professor, to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of RALL.
  5. Participate in at least one Capstone Forum while working on the Capstone project. You will present in the target language (French or Spanish). The presentation will be an oral summary of the project. Presented in the target language (French or Spanish). The dates of the Capstone presentations for Fall and Spring semesters are in the registration form.
  6. The Capstone Project must be completed and graded within two semesters of the date on the project form. Your instructor will grade the project and communicate the grade in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The instructor will also submit an evaluation of the Capstone Project.

The final Capstone Project with all revisions will be due the week before final exams of the semester, in which you are graduating.

POSSIBLE FORMATS for the CAPSTONE PROJECTS

 (all to be presented in the target language):

  1. A ten-page research paper developed in a course.
  2. A webpage or Power Point presentation with a five-page description of the creative process and the result.
  3. A ten-page literary work, for example an essay, poem, or group of poems.
  4. A ten-page translation of a literary or cultural work, accompanied by an explanation of issues addressed in the process of translation.
  5. An alternative project - proposed by the student and accepted by the instructor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

The Arab world, made up of 22 countries and the Palestinians, extends from the Arabian/Persian Gulf in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west and has a population of about 300 million, 20 million of whom are Christian Arabs. Arabic is their dominant mode of expression. It is also an important language in other countries. Arabic is the language of Islam, and more than a billion people use it as a vital spiritual component of their daily lives. The United Nations adopted Arabic as one of its six official languages in 1974. Explore Arabic program options in the following links.

Fluency in a second language is a valuable skill. French is an official language of 28 countries on five continents, including France, Canada, Belgium, Senegal and Vietnam. Learning French will allow you to converse with and better understand people throughout the world. Along with English, French is the world's most important diplomatic language. It is an official language of such organizations as the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO and the international Red Cross. Explore French program options in the following links.

Double Majors are also available for French. Please inquire with the RALL Director of Undergraduate Studies,  Juan Godoy Peñas, Ph.D, for more information.

French Certificate options include Business French and French/English Translation Studies.

The Italian Certificate is an interdisciplinary program that explores the language, cultures, economics, history, geography, and politics of Italy. Students may also study abroad in Italy.

Students of Spanish study the language, culture, and literature of Spain, most of Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking United States. Spanish majors develop linguistic skills and enrich themselves through the study of a variety of cultures. Students with a BA in Spanish often seek teaching careers, either in secondary education or in colleges and universities following completion of graduate studies in the field. Spanish is also a strong liberal arts major that allows students to develop critical thinking, reading and writing skills in addition to knowledge of a foreign language and culture. Our increasingly multilingual society makes this combination of skills highly valued in a wide range of positions in the public and private sectors.

Double Majors are also available for Spanish. Please inquire with the RALL Director of Undergraduate Studies,  Juan Godoy Peñas, Ph.D, for more information.

Spanish Cerificate options include Arts in Spanish, Spanish/English Translation Studies, Business Spanish, Spanish for Service Learning in Social Work and Health Care Services.

RALL offers basic language classes in Portuguese (1001 and 1002), but does not currently offer any major, minor, or certificate programs for this language.