Languages

College of Arts & Sciences

The Geddes Language Center includes a language laboratory equipped with specialized software and hardware, multimedia classrooms, two video viewing rooms, audio and video studios, and extensive digital media production and processing facilities. The center is located on the fifth floor at 685 Commonwealth Avenue. Orientation to Language Center operations and procedures is given during the first week of classes. For hours and additional information, see the Geddes website.

Arabic

  • Arab Cultures Through Film (in English translation)

    CAS LY 283

    Explores Arab cultures with a focus on key historical and social issues through the lens of Arabic films, both as historical artifacts and artworks. Diverse cinematic works from Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and beyond are discussed and analyzed. No prior knowledge of the Arab world or Arabic is required. Effective Spring 2023 this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Historical Consciousness, Teamwork/Collaboration. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

    Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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  • Chinese

    • First-Semester Chinese

      CAS LC 111

      Online offering. Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to the writing system. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

      Summer 1 (May 21-June 28)

      This course is designed for zero beginners. Please note that if you or your family speaks Cantonese or Mandarin, you are not permitted to enroll in CAS LC 111 Online. If you have taken Chinese courses elsewhere, please first take the placement test to figure out your level. To schedule a placement test, please find the information on this: www.bu.edu/wll/undergraduate/placement-tests-transfer-credit-ap/.
      Summer 1 Section O1: As a special provision of this summer online BU Hub course, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2024. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
      For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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    • Second-Semester Chinese

      CAS LC 112

      Prereq: (CAS LC 111) or equivalent. Online offering. Essentials of structure, oral practice, introduction to the writing system. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

      Summer 2 (July 1-August 9)

      Please note that CAS LC 112 is a continuation of CAS LC 111 and is not designed for students who have native or near-native proficiency. If this is the first time you are taking a Chinese course at BU, please complete the placement test and forward your scores to the instructor for permission. Information about the placement test is available here: www.bu.edu/wll/undergraduate/placement-tests-transfer-credit-ap/.
      Summer 2 Section O2: As a special provision of this summer online BU Hub course, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2024. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
      For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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    • French

      • A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in French was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. Information about the online placement test is available at bu.edu/rs/academics/undergraduate/placement-tests/. The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month period.

        First-Semester French

        CAS LF 111

        A multimedia approach for students who have never studied French. A variety of communicative tasks develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

        Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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      • Third-Semester French

        CAS LF 211

        Prereq: (CAS LF 112) or placement test results. Advances proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening in a communicative classroom setting. Grammar is studied in context, through thematic discussions on topics such as daily life and Francophone culture, through short readings, and through diverse written tasks. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

        Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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      • Fourth-Semester French

        CAS LF 212

        Prereq: (CAS LF 211) or placement test results. Advances proficiency in French in a communicative setting through thematic discussions on diverse, contemporary topics and media, short readings, and written tasks. Fulfills CAS second language requirement; prepares for Level 1 Advanced Courses (CAS LF 307 through LF 311). Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

        Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

        Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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      • Italian

        • A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Italian was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. Information about the online placement test is available at bu.edu/rs/academics/undergraduate/placement-tests/. The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month period.

          First-Semester Italian

          CAS LI 111

          For students who have never studied Italian, or by placement test results. Introduction to grammatical structures used in written exercises. Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Readings on contemporary Italian culture. (If CAS LI 131 or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

          Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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        • Second-Semester Italian

          CAS LI 112

          Prereq: (CAS LI 111) or placement test results. Continues study of basic grammatical structures used in written assignments. Emphasis on speaking, aural comprehension, and pronunciation. Readings on contemporary Italian culture. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

          Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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        • Third-Semester Italian

          CAS LI 211

          Prereq: (CAS LI 112) or placement test results. Intended for students with a satisfactory background in elementary Italian who wish to continue study of grammatical structures. Emphasis on speaking, pronunciation, and aural comprehension. Reading about Italian culture and contemporary short stories. Compositions and oral assessments including interviews and/or presentations. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

          Summer 1 (May 22-June 27)

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        • Fourth-Semester Italian

          CAS LI 212

          Prereq: (CAS LI 211) or placement test results. For students who wish to build active use of Italian in speaking, writing, and reading. Intensive practice of spoken and written language. More advanced readings from Italian culture. Writing involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns. Oral assessments including interviews and/or presentations. Satisfactory completion of CAS LI 212 fulfills the CAS language requirement. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

          Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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        • Japanese

          • First-Semester Japanese

            CAS LJ 111

            Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

            Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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          • Second-Semester Japanese

            CAS LJ 112

            Prereq: (CAS LJ 111) or equivalent. Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

            Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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          • Korean

            • First-Semester Korean

              CAS LK 111

              For beginners or according to placement exam. Elementary grammar, conversation, reading, writing. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

              Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

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            • Spanish

              • A placement test is required of every student whose most recent course in Spanish was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University. Information about the online placement test is available at bu.edu/rs/academics/undergraduate/placement-tests/. The test can be taken at any time, but can only be taken once in a 12-month period.

                First-Semester Spanish

                CAS LS 111

                For students who have never studied Spanish, or by placement test results. Introduction to grammatical structures. Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction to Hispanic culture. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

                Summer 1 (May 21-June 28)

                Summer 2 (July 1-August 9)

                Summer 1 Section O1 and Summer 2 Section O2: As a special provision of these summer online BU Hub courses, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2024. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
                For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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              • Second-Semester Spanish

                CAS LS 112

                Prereq: (CAS LS 111) or placement test results. Completes study of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension. Readings on contemporary Hispanic culture. Writing assignments. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

                Summer 1 (May 21-June 28)

                Summer 2 (July 1-August 9)

                Summer 1 Section O1 and Summer 2 Section O2: As a special provision of these summer online BU Hub courses, BU financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for up to one course in summer 2024. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu.
                For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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              • Third-Semester Spanish

                CAS LS 211

                Prereq: (CAS LS 112) or placement test results. Completes study of grammatical structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Readings on Hispanic civilization and contemporary short stories. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

                Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

                Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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              • Fourth-Semester Spanish

                CAS LS 212

                Prereq: (CAS LS 211) or placement test results. Review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture. Frequent compositions. Satisfactory completion of CAS LS 212 fulfills the CAS language requirement. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

                Summer 1 (May 21-June 27)

                Summer 2 (July 1-August 8)

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              • Comparative Literature

                • Tradition and Modernity in Iranian Film and Literature

                  CAS LZ 315

                  Prereq: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). Prereq: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). This course examines how competing notions of tradition and modernity are presented in Iranian cinema by drawing on both classical and modern Persian literary works to draw out underlying connections between the readings and the films. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Aesthetic Exploration. 4 cr. Tuition: $3180

                  Summer 2 (July 1-August 7)

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