Languages & Cultures - Spring Curriculum Guide


Languages and Culture

Pathway selected because you are interested learning about people and cultures; would like to strengthen your writing, reading, and communication skills; broaden your understanding of beliefs, art, and literature; and/or would like to better understand our complex and diverse global society.

Courses and timing are subject to change depending on student interests. Based on initial placement in pre-requisite and general education courses, some majors may take more than four years to complete. Please contact your academic advisor for more information.

If you have previous knowledge in a language, it is possible to place into a higher level course within that language department. Placement based on testing that varies by language department. Please contact your advisor or the language department for more information.

Curriculum Suggestions

First & Second Semesters

First Semester (16-17 credits)Second Semester (17 credits)
GE 2.1.1–ENGL 101 – 3 creditsGE 2.1.2– ENGL 102 – 3 credits
GE 1.2—based on math placement – 3 creditsExploratory Course – 3 credits
GE 3S Social Science – 3 creditsGE 3H Arts & Humanities – 3 credits
First Year Course – 2-3 creditsSecond Level Language Course – 5 credits
First Level Language Course – 5 creditsAdditional Math (if needed) – 3 credits
Third & Fourth Semesters
Third Semester (15-17 credits)Fourth Semester (15 credits)
AE 4.1 Human Diversity – 3 creditsAE 4.2 Global/Cultural Awareness – 3 credits
GE 3 Natural Science – 3-5 creditsFourth Level Language Course – 3 credits
GE 2.2 - COMS 130 or Major Specific Course – 3 creditsMajor Specific Course – 3 credits
Third Level Language Course – 3 creditsMajor Specific Course – 3 credits
Major Specific Course – 3 creditsMajor Specific Course – 3 credits

Exploratory Courses: Spring

AAAS 104 - Intro to African-American Studies [AE 4.1] 3 cr. 
AAAS 105/HIST 104 - Intro to African History [GE 1.1, 3H] 3 cr. 
AAAS/HIST 160 - Intro to West African History [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
AAAS 203/GEOG 201/GIST 210 - Culture and Health [AE 4.2] 3 cr.
AMS 100 - Introduction to American Studies [GE 3H, AE 4.1] 3 cr.
AMS 110 - American Identities [GE 3S, AE 4.1] 3 cr.
AMS 290/REL 171 - Religion in American Society [GE 3H, AE 4.1] 3cr.
ANTH 100 - General Anthropology [GE 3S, AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
ANTH/LING 106 —Introductory Linguistics [GE 1.1, GE 3S, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
ANTH 150 - Becoming Human [GE 1.1, 3S] 3 cr.
ANTH 160 - Varieties of Human Experience [GE 3H, GE 3S, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
ANTH 293/EALC 130/REL 130 - Myth, Legend & Folk Beliefs of Eastern Asia [AE 4.2] 3 cr.
CLSX/HIST 105 - Introduction to Ancient Near East & Greek History [GE 3H] 3 cr.  

CLSX 148 - Greek and Roman Mythology [GE 1.1, 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
CLSX 168 - Ancient Epic Tales [GE 1.1, 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
ECIV 104 - Eastern Civilizations [AE 4.2] 3 cr.
ENGL 203 - Topics in Reading & Writing [GE 1.1, GE 2.1, GE 3H] 3 cr.
ENGL 209 - Introduction to Fiction [GE 1.1, GE 2.1, GE 3H] 3 cr. 
EPSY 310 - Career & Life Planning 3 cr.
GEOG 100 - World Regional Geography [AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
GEOG 102 - People, Place, and Society [GE 3S, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
HA 100 - Introduction to Western Art History [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
HA 166 - The Visual Arts of East Asia [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
HIST 124/LAC 100 - Latin American Culture & Society [AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
HUM 110 - Introduction to Humanities [GE 2.1, GE 3H] 3 cr. 
HUM 204 - Western Civilization I [GE 1.1, GE 2.1, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
HUM 205 - Western Civilization II [GE 1.1, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
JWSH/REL 124 - Understanding the Bible [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
LING 110 - Language and Mind [GE 1.1, GE 3S, AE 4.1] 3 cr. 
PCS 120 - Introduction to Peace & Conflict Studies [GE 1.1, GE 3H] 3 cr.
PHIL 140 - Introduction to Philosophy [GE 1.1 or 3H] 3 cr. 
PHIL 148 - Reason and Argument [GE 1.1, GE 3H] 3 cr.
PHIL 160 - Introduction to Ethics [GE 1.1, GE 3H, AE 5.1] 3 cr. 
REL 104 - Introduction to Religious Studies [GE 1.1, GE 3H] 3 cr. 
SLAV 140 - Introduction to Russian Culture [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr. 
SLAV 148 - Intro to Slavic Folklore [GE 3H, AE 4.2] 3 cr.
SOC 130 - Comparative Societies [AE 4.2] 3 cr.

**Learning a Language is a great way to learn about different cultures, you can find a list of languages that KU teaches at https://languages.ku.edu/contact-information