Resources and Opportunities

SFSU has more than 100 scholarships available to you, including more than a dozen in the Modern Languages and Literatures Department. Perhaps studying abroad may present your most valuable opportunities. Immerse yourself in the language and culture in some of the world’s most magnificent destinations, while working toward your degree and paying the same tuition as at SFSU.

On our campus, you will have access to study spaces, reading rooms and the Modern Language Laboratory.

Study Abroad

Nothing enhances the study of a language better than living in a country where that language is spoken. Meet with your language program advisers to learn about programs available for different languages in different host countries.

While all courses taken as part of the official study abroad programs and bilateral programs automatically count as SFSU units (upon receipt of traxnscripts from the host university), each language program may place additional restrictions on how many of these units can count toward the language major. Most language programs require that no more than half of the units required for the major or minor can be earned abroad, but check your SFSU Bulletin and consult with a language program adviser for specifics. In addition, study abroad units, in most cases, can be double counted as units satisfying the requirements of complementary studies — please check with your language program adviser or the SFSU Bulletin for details. Coursework taken at an institution that has an official relationship with SF State will transfer automatically. Coursework taken at an unsanctioned program may not transfer at all.

Learn more about SFSU Study Abroad programs.

Chinese Study Abroad Program

Study abroad in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, at universities with specializations in Chinese language study, Chinese language teaching, Chinese for business and translation and interpretation.

Chinese Language

For general Chinese language study, including all levels of Chinese language and linguistics, literature and culture, we recommend Peking University in Beijing and National Taiwan University in Taipei. Both are study abroad partners in CSU’s International Program, allowing you one year at the top institutions in their respective countries. Both are also large, comprehensive research universities with classes in all subjects and at all levels, from undergraduate studies to doctoral seminars.

If you already have advanced-level Chinese language skills, you may enroll, through the CSU International Programs, at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) and National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan), or through the SFSU Bilateral Program at the City University of Hong Kong.

Translation and Interpretation

Once you become an advanced student of the Chinese language and are interested in translation and/or interpretation, we recommend the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), which provides professional training for Chinese-English and English-Chinese translators and interpreters. This program is alos a great fit if you’re in the Strategic Language Initiative (SLI) Translation-Interpretation Program [*Please note: Add link to SLI program page]. You must complete at least 12 units of graduate level translator and/or interpreter training at NTNU, among other requirements, in order to be eligible for the SLI certificate of completion.

Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

Already proficient and wishing to become a teacher of Chinese as a second language? We recommend the teacher training module at the Department of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan. Chung Yuan Christian University is an SFSU bilateral exchange partner, requiring a commitment of at least one semester.

Business and Management

If your studies include a focus in business and/or management with an eye toward conducting business in the Chinese-speaking world, check out the Chinese language program at National Cheng Chi University (Taiwan), which is known for its business school. As an SFSU bilateral exchange partner, you’ll study at National Cheng Chi University for at least one semester.

German Study Abroad Program

Through the California State University (CSU) International Program, you may study at places like Universität of Tübingen, Universität of Heidelberg or Musikhochschule Trossingen, Aachen.

Check out funding opportunities provided by the German Academic Exchange Service.

The SFSU German Program also facilitates paid summer internships in German-speaking Europe offered by International Cooperative Education, among others. You’ll work in a German-speaking professional setting for six weeks to three months. Past interns have worked at BMW and in holistic health care, retail and beyond. The organization sets up the internship as well as housing. Visas are provided. Informational meetings are arranged on campus in the fall semester.

The Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft e.V. in Cologne is a nonprofit organization dedicated to international advanced training and human resource development. It works with partner organizations in Germany and abroad to offer practice-oriented training, exchange and foreign language programs.

The Deutscher Bundestag Internship Program in Berlin offers four-month internships with the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Russian Study Abroad Program

Spend your summer in beautiful St. Petersburg. For details, please contact Krista Hanson by telephone at (415) 239-3542, by email at klhanson@sfsu.edu in person at her office in Humanities 458.

Internship and Employment Opportunities

• American Council of Teachers of Russian: Accredited programs, homestays, volunteer opportunities, financial aid
• Beloit College Center for Language Studies: Summer Intensive Language Studies
• Middlebury Language Schools
• Monterey Institute of International Studies: Summer Intensive Language Program
• California State University, Northridge: STARTALK Russian Language and Culture Summer Immersion Program
• University of Washington: Intensive Summer Program
• University of Pittsburgh: Slavic and East European Summer Language Institute
• The Center for Citizen Initiatives: Productivity Enhancement Program
• Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St.Petersburg

Spanish Study Abroad Program

Utilize the California State University’s programs in Spain, Chile and Mexico. The Spain and Chile programs require you to have at least two years of college-level Spanish prior to applying. However, the Mexico program is open to beginners.

What Courses Will Transfer

Coursework taken through officially sanctioned international programs will transfer automatically. However, this does not mean that all classes taken abroad can be used to fulfill the requirements of the Spanish major. All classes taken in an official CSU International Program will transfer to the University, but only 15 units may be applied toward the major. Students hoping to apply study-abroad credits toward completion of a major or minor in Spanish must consult with an adviser prior to departure.

Non-Sanctioned Programs

The Spanish Program does not recommend that students participate in programs that do not have a formal relationship with SFSU or the CSU. Please be aware that if you enroll in a foreign university or privately owned language school abroad that does not have a formal relationship with SFSU, the classes you take will not transfer automatically, and may not even transfer at all. Enroll in such programs is at your own risk.

If you wish to enroll in foreign universities or language schools, please note:

• Spanish Program faculty will not pre-approve coursework taken through non-sanctioned programs.
• The Spanish Program is not responsible for ensuring that you get credit for those classes.
• It is your responsibility to present a transcript to the SF State Admissions Office, which has the sole responsibility to evaluate coursework taken abroad and decide whether it will transfer.
• If such coursework is accepted by Admissions, whether or not to allow that coursework to be applied toward completion of a major or minor in Spanish is at the discretion of the Spanish Program.