Olin Center for Language and Cultural Studies

Olin hosts our faculties for Arabic, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. In addition to majors on languages and cultural studies, there is also an International Literary and Visual Studies program, or ILVS, for those who appreciate the role that cultural expression plays in the workings of human interactions, and who love literature, film, and the visual arts.

If you’re interested in pursuing a BA or a BS degree at the School of Arts and Sciences, you would need to complete a language/culture requirement as a part of your liberal arts education. There are actually two parts within this requirement. First, every BA/BS student must demonstrate knowledge of a language other than English through the third semester college level. The second part may be satisfied in several different ways including: advanced courses in the same language, study of an additional language, or study of a specific culture through courses taught in English. You may place out of part or all of this requirement with standardized testing scores. Also, almost every Tufts student takes one, or in some cases, multiple language placement exams during orientation, and these exams usually place us in a level corresponding to our proficiency. Language proficiency is a core component of a Tufts education and opens up various options for you to study abroad. It also expands your post-graduation opportunities.