World Language Studies Certificate

Program Statement

The World Language Studies certificate supports and prepares students seeking either a language pathway for transfer into a bachelor's degree, or a stackable credential for goals related to employment or personal needs, including heritage learners seeking proficiency. For students unsure of their future career, this certificate provides career readiness needed in our modern, diverse workplace and society. Students can broaden their social network, and increase knowledge and pride in the linguistic/cultural heritage and contributions of our area.

Program Information

• This certificate requires 5 courses totaling 16–18 credits and can be completed in 4 semesters.
• Students can take courses in American Sign Language, Portuguese, Spanish and Cape Verdean Creole.
  • Students seeking Cape Verdean Creole should choose ASL, Spanish or Portuguese for the 101 – 202 sequence and then take CVC 101: Elementary Cape Verdean Creole I and CVC 102: Elementary Cape Verdean II.
• Students who earned the Seal of Bi-Literacy in high school or those who took 2 or more same language classes with a B or better in high school should meet with the program coordinator for placement and/or possible college credit.
• Students should take all four language courses in four consecutive semesters to avoid regression in language acquisition.  101 and 201 language courses are usually offered in the fall, and 102 and 202 language courses are offered in the spring.  
• Suggested program electives are:
  • Internship courses:
    • INT 101: Work-Based Experience; INT 110: Internship Experience; INT 210: Internship Experience I; and INT 220: Internship Experience II.
  • Cultural/history courses tied to our language offerings: 
    • DST 110: Deaf Culture, DST 151: Deaf History, DST 252 Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore
    • POR 322 The Portuguese Language in the World: An Introduction to Lusofonia
    • SPA 322: Spanish Language in the World, SPA 351:Advanced Spanish Literature
  • Other related courses:
    • COM 160: Intercultural Communication, EDU 225: Diversity and Multicultural Education, HST 252:African-American History, ​​​and HST 265: Immigration and Ethnicity in American History.
• Students are strongly encouraged to take any Internship course as part of their program elective credits. Please contact Experiential Education Center at EEC@BristolCC.edu to learn more.
• The certificate is designed so that students in many programs at Bristol can include our required coursework in their program to meet general education requirements and/or program electives. Please seek out your program advisor for individualized planning.
• All courses in this certificate count towards the Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts Humanities degree.
• Are you a heritage learner who was raised using this language, and who doesn't yet know how to turn that skill into a career? Reach out to the program coordinator listed on the right.

After Bristol

Students can utilize this certificate as part of their transfer process to a bachelor's program in related fields such as: interpreting, teacher of foreign language (secondary) or ESL/TESOL.  Students will also stand out as transfer candidates in unrelated fields such as: business, finance, allied health, social work, K – 12 teaching, etc. This also serves as a stackable credential to build a resume for career-seeking or promotion, or to meet professional development requirements across fields.

Colleges to consider for transfer include: Bridgewater State University (Spanish, Spanish Early Childhood Education , Spanish Elementary Education, Spanish Secondary Ed, TESOL), Framingham State University (American Sign Language Interpreting, ASL Studies, World Language and Linguistics, Spanish), Boston University (Deaf education, Deaf Studies), Northeastern University (ASL-English Interpreting), UMass Dartmouth (Portuguese, Spanish, International Business, International Politics), UMass Amherst University without Walls: Translation and Interpreting), UMass Lowell (World Language and Cultures), Rhode Island College (World Languages Education), University of Rhode Island (World Language Education), Salve Regina (World Language Education), University of New Hampshire – Manchester (ASL-English Interpreting, ASL/Deaf Studies).