Language Certificate | University of Pennsylvania

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are offered several choices to guide their study of a language other than English. In addition to completion of the College's Foreign Language Requirement, students may choose a major or minor in a language and literature department or program, or they may choose to pursue a language certificate. The language certificate is intended to provide an additional incentive for students who may want to continue language study beyond the requirement, but who may not be able to include in their academic program a major or minor in a language.

Policies Governing the Language Certificate

The language certificate may be earned by completing three courses of language study or courses in literature and culture taught in the original language. Courses used for the language certificate must be at a level beyond that required for the Foreign Language Requirement by the relevant department. The courses must be taught in the original language.
Study abroad courses may be used with departmental approval.
Students must earn a minimum average grade of B+ in the three courses used for the language certificate. The courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Students who would like to obtain a language certificate should apply to the department in which that language is offered. If it is not offered in any department, they should apply to the Director of the Penn Language Center. The department or Center will verify completion of the requirements for the certificate.
Completion of the certificate will be noted on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.