School of Arts and Sciences
International Relations Program

IR Major Language Requirement

Deep and sustained language study is an essential tool for developing cultural literacy and sensitivity, which are key learning objectives of the International Relations (IR) major. Majors in IR must therefore demonstrate oral and written proficiency in a language other than English at a level over and above that required by Tufts University: the IR major requires eighth semester-level proficiency in a single language.

All students wishing to complete the IR major should take the appropriate language placement exam as soon as possible in their academic careers to plan their language coursework effectively.

For the IR major, students may demonstrate eighth semester-level proficiency in a single language other than English as follows:

Languages taught at Tufts

Whether beginning or continuing study of a language at Tufts, students must complete the course(s) listed below to demonstrate eighth semester-level proficiency in that language.

  • Students continuing study of a language offered at Tufts will be placed into an appropriate language course based on placement testing and/or previous coursework.
  • Students who place at the 122-level or above on a Tufts language placement exam, as indicated on their transcript, have fulfilled the IR language requirement.

Languages not taught at Tufts

Students wishing to fulfill the IR language requirement in a language not taught at Tufts must have their proficiency level measured by the UPenn language exam. Advising Deans can provide students with additional information about this exam.

  • Students who place at the 122-level or above on the UPenn Exam, as indicated on their transcript, have fulfilled the IR language requirement.
  • Students may continue studying a language not offered at Tufts through study abroad, summer school at other institutions, or cross-registration at other institutions. However, this coursework will not transfer to fulfill the IR language requirement.

Any student may also be exempt from the IR language requirement if they graduated from a high school where all instruction was in a language other than English. Those wishing to pursue this option must consult with their Advising Dean to ensure their Tufts transcript reflects eighth semester-level language proficiency.

 

Tufts Language Course Sequences

The IR major requires eighth semester-level proficiency in a single language. A student completing this requirement through Tufts coursework must have at least one of the following on their transcript:

  • One course from: 

    • ARB 122, 123, 124

  • One course from:

    • CHNS 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128

  • Two courses from:

    • FR 31, 32, 121, 122, 125

    OR

    One course from:

    • FR 123, 131, 132, 133, 136, 140, 141, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151, 154, 156, 158, 162, 163, 168, 169, 172, 175, 177, 178, 179, 191, 192

  • GER 121 and 182

     

  • HEB 122

  • Two courses from:

    • ITAL 31, 32, 121, 155

    OR

    One course from:

    • ITAL 170, 177, 187, 191, 192

  • Two courses from:

    • JPN 121, 122

    OR

    One course from:

    • JPN 123, 124

  • Two courses from:

    • POR 31, 32, 126, 151, 191, 192

     

  • Two courses from:

    • RUS 121, 122

    OR

    One course from:

    • RUS 123, 124, 125, 126, 192-01

  • Two courses from:

    • SPN 30, 31, 32, 33, 121, 128

    OR

    One course from:

    • SPN 104, 107, 122, 123, 129, 140, 142, 143, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 158, 159, 162, 171, 172, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 184, 191, 192

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. The IR major requires you to demonstrate eighth semester-level proficiency in a language other than English. It does not require that you take eight semesters of language. The majority of students elect to continue the study of a language, so they place somewhere above the 0001 level (e.g. SPN0004) and begin the Tufts course sequence from there. Even a student beginning the study of a new language at Tufts may end up taking fewer than eight courses.

  • No. Courses used to fulfill the IR major language requirement must be taught entirely in the target language.

  • No. While this may satisfy Tufts University’s language requirement, it does not satisfy the IR major language requirement. The IR major requires eighth semester-level proficiency in a single language, demonstrated by placement exam or completion of appropriate coursework.

  • Yes. A course used to fulfill the IR major language requirement may also be used to fulfill a thematic concentration requirement.

  • Consult with your Advising Dean. All undergraduates will be sent an email prior to each semester with information on registering for the exam proctored at Tufts. Students should not register on their own. If you have further questions, please email us.

  • You may:

    • Start or continue the study of a language taught at Tufts through the eighth-semester level, or
    • Take the Penn exam a second (and final) time and score at or above the ML0122 level

    Students may not demonstrate eighth semester-level language proficiency in a language not taught at Tufts through coursework at other institutions. This is why students are advised to take the Penn Language Evaluation Exam as soon as possible in their academic careers.