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Certificate of Distinction in Foreign Languages

This certificate awarded to students majoring or minoring in International Studies, signifies that they have completed extra course work in a foreign language at NU going above and beyond the WCAS language requirement. There are three ways to earn this certificate:

Option 1: Term Papers

(For non foreign language and literature majors only)The applicant has written term papers in a foreign language in three Northwestern courses outside the Language and Literature departments (or in Language and Literature courses at the 300 level).

Option 2: Advanced Coursework

The applicant has taken four 200 or 300-level foreign language courses beyond the WCAS foreign language proficiency level, subject to the College's double-counting restrictions. (for students majoring or minoring in a foreign language, at least two of the four courses may not be double-counted with either the foreign language major or with International Studies)

Option 3: Proficiency in an Additional Language.

The applicant has achieved WCAS proficiency in an additional foreign language. (For students proficient in 2 or more languages). Placement out of a language does not alone count. For example if you place out of a language you must complete one upper level course in that language in addition to completing two years of another language.

Application deadline for current seniors is Friday, June 2, 2023.

Click here to submit your application

Send us an email if you have questions or would like to meet with an advisor at international-studies@northwestern.edu