Foreign Language Reading Proficiency

Foreign language requirements for graduate study

Our department’s foreign language requirements reflect the need for graduate students to achieve a level of reading knowledge suitable for literary analysis. Students entering the M.A., M.A./M.L.S., and M.A.T. programs are normally expected to have reading proficiency in at least one foreign language. Proficiency implies the ability to read sophisticated literary texts with no assistance other than a dictionary.

Students entering the doctoral program are normally expected to have reading proficiency in at least two foreign languages. Students in the doctoral program will need to certify reading proficiency in three foreign languages in order to be eligible for the Ph.D. qualifying examinations.

Students in the M.A. and M.A./M.L.S. programs ultimately need to certify reading proficiency in two foreign languages in order to complete the requirements for their degrees.

Learn more about reading proficiency in our Student Portal