California State University

What you'll study

This degree integrates core courses in general linguistics with in-depth study of one or more Romance languages (commonly Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese) and their literatures. You will build competence in speaking, reading and writing while learning to analyse language structure, use and change.

• Core linguistics: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics and field methods.
• Romance language sequence: progressive language courses from elementary through advanced conversation and composition; civilisation and culture modules exploring literature, film and society.
• Literature and cultural studies: surveys of medieval to contemporary literature, literary analysis, comparative literature approaches and specialised topics (e.g. colonial and postcolonial literatures, gender studies in Romance literatures).
• Applied and professional options: translation and interpreting, language pedagogy, second language acquisition, language assessment, digital humanities and corpus linguistics.
• Research and capstone: senior seminar, independent research project or internship in community organisations, schools, publishing houses or language technology firms.

Most programmes require a balance of major requirements, general education courses and electives. Many campuses in the California State University system also encourage or facilitate study abroad, community immersion and practicum placements to develop real-world language skills.

Entry requirements

Admission is through the California State University system application process. Typical expectations include a completed high school diploma or equivalent with a record of academic coursework in English and foreign languages. Applicants are usually assessed on high school grades and the strength of their preparation; competitive candidates will have taken language courses and academic coursework in humanities and social sciences.

• Freshman applicants: successful completion of secondary school with a recommended preparatory curriculum that includes foreign language study. Minimum GPA expectations vary by campus and demand but applicants should aim to demonstrate solid academic achievement.
• Transfer applicants: an associate degree or collegiate coursework with a focus on language, linguistics or liberal arts; campuses may require completion of lower-division general education and major prerequisites.
• International students: evidence of academic credentials equivalent to U.S. secondary education and proof of English proficiency (for example recognised scores on TOEFL, IELTS or other accepted exams), plus demonstration of language study appropriate to the major.
• Other considerations: placement testing in the chosen Romance language may be required to determine course level; some campuses recommend or require an interview, writing sample or statement of purpose for applicants focusing on literature, translation or specialised linguistics tracks.

Career prospects

Graduates leave with a combination of analytical linguistic skills and robust language abilities attractive to employers in multiple sectors. Common career paths include:

• Education: classroom teaching (with additional credentialing for K–12), adult education, language instruction and curriculum development.
• Translation and interpreting: community interpreting, literary and technical translation, localisation for media and technology companies.
• Language services and publishing: editing, publishing, bilingual content production and editorial roles.
• Government and non‑profits: diplomatic service support, immigration services, community outreach and programme coordination for international organisations.
• Technology and research: roles in language data annotation, natural language processing, user experience research and corpus linguistics.
• Further study: graduate study in linguistics, applied linguistics, literature, TESOL, translation studies, law or other professional degrees.

Why study at California State University

The California State University system offers accessible, professionally oriented undergraduate education with a strong emphasis on applied learning and community engagement. Programmes in Romance languages and linguistics across the system typically provide:

• Practical training: language labs, practicum placements and opportunities for internships with local schools, community organisations and businesses.
• Flexible pathways: options to combine language study with minors or certificates in areas such as education, translation, TESOL, digital humanities or international studies.
• Support for study abroad and immersion: established exchange links and short-term programmes in Romance-language countries to accelerate proficiency and cultural understanding.
• Faculty expertise: instructors who combine research in applied linguistics and literature with experience in language teaching and community-based projects.
• Career-focused outcomes: strong networks with regional employers and a focus on skills that translate directly to employment in education, public service, publishing and language technology.