University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Foreign Language and Literature Major
University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 27,134 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time, two terms | for out-of-state residents
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
About: The Foreign Language and Literature major at The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown teaches Spanish and French for global communication and cross-cultural competence. You’ll study in small classrooms, work directly with faculty, and develop critical thinking, creativity, and intercultural skills. You can combine the degree with minors such as Writing, English Literature, Communication, or Multimedia and Digital Culture.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter diplomacy, education, translation, international business, public service, and travel. Roles include Diplomat, Foreign Language Instructor, Legal Translator. You’ll gain skills in localization, cultural interpretation, language teaching, and communication for careers in government, NGOs, publishing, and customer services.
Be a Global Citizen
Connect Across Cultures
In our increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate in a foreign language has never been more valuable or prized. The Foreign Languages and Literature program at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown will empower you for a career that spans the globe, connecting cultures from Europe to South America to Asia--and even further abroad.
Our passion to help you succeed is what drives us. Let Foreign Languages and UPJ help discover what drives you.
Why Major in Foreign Language and Literature at UPJ?
Learning a foreign language is integral to success in today's global marketplace. UPJ's programs in Spanish and French expose students to not only the power of global communication but also a world of global art, commerce, literature, and law.
There is no job field within which a foreign language would not be useful. As a student of Foreign Language, you will:
- Learn directly from faculty in classrooms in an intimate, diverse, and personal environment.
- Have a classroom experience that prioritizes student thinking, creativity, and excellence.
- Have direct access to educators to speak about career success.
- Network with like-minded peers and working, established professionals.
Each student who elects Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in Foreign Languages and Literature must complete the following requirements:
- At least 15 credits in a second language beyond the elementary level
- At least 15 credits in literature and civilization courses in the same language
- At least 21 credits in other Division of Humanities courses (Related Area) chosen with an advisor
- At least 9 credits in Required Humanities
Foreign Language Minor
Spanish: The 18-credit Spanish minor at Pitt-Johnstown allows students to study intermediate Spanish language, Hispanic and/or Latin American literature, and Spanish and/or Latin American culture. Students minoring in Spanish are encouraged to study abroad to complement their classroom work at UPJ and gain an in-depth experience in the culture of one or several Spanish-speaking countries. Students wishing to immerse themselves in greater depth in Spanish language and literature can opt to earn a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Foreign Languages and Literature.
French: The French minor at Pitt-Johnstown consists of 18 credits of study above the elementary level French language, and a study of French and Francophone literature and culture. Students minoring in French are encouraged to study abroad to complement their classroom work at UPJ and gain an in-depth experience in the culture of one or several Francophone countries. Students wishing to immerse themselves in greater depth in French language and literature can opt to earn a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Foreign Languages and Literature.
Pitt-Johnstown Financial Aid
Scholarship eligibility for incoming first-year or new students to Pitt-Johnstown will be assessed by the Admissions Office upon acceptance.
Process For Continuing Students
Each year, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Financial Aid Office awards numerous Gift and Endowed (G&E) scholarships, made available to deserving students through the generosity of many individuals, clubs, organizations, industries, businesses, and foundations.
The selection of scholarship recipients is based on specific criteria defined by the donor. A student’s academic performance and financial need may also be considered when deciding upon qualified candidates. Most G&E scholarships are geared toward continuing students; Pitt-Johnstown may require students to complete a scholarship application for consideration.
Completing the scholarship application does not guarantee selection, however, by completing the application, students are automatically considered for each scholarship that Pitt-Johnstown offers as well as several outside scholarships.
General Requirements
For consideration, students must:
- be enrolled for at least 6 credits in a degree-seeking program at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have successfully completed 12 credits as a degree-seeking student at Pitt-Johnstown.
- have earned a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1 to be considered for need-based scholarships.
- be registered for the upcoming fall term by May 15.
- comply with Pitt-Johnstown's satisfactory academic progress standards for financial aid.
- not be in default on an educational loan or not owe repayment on a federal grant.
- not have earned a Bachelor’s Degree.
Scholarship Exclusions/Adjustments
Limited G&E funds are available to full scholarship recipients. Scholarship awards may be adjusted if Financial Aid determines a student is the recipient of a full tuition scholarship or tuition remission.
Any student who receives a scholarship and/or grant awards that total more than Pitt-Johnstown’s annual cost of attendance, as defined by the Financial Aid Office, will have one or more awards reduced or cancelled.
The Financial Aid Office awards G&E scholarships based upon the information available at the time of the award, including intended major or cumulative GPA, as well as any other possible variables. In the event that this information is inaccurate or changes, the Financial Aid Office has the right to reduce, change, or cancel the award.
Your Future, Revealed
A foreign language degree applies to nearly all employment positions, especially those that do business in global markets, including:
- Diplomat
- Foreign Service Worker
- Immigration or Citizenship Officer
- International Business Advisor
- Cultural Interpreter
- UN Representative
- Foreign Correspondent
- Foreign Language Instructor
- ESL Instructor
- Airline Customer Service Agent
- Bilingual Tour Consultant
- FBI Agent
- Legal Translator
- Localization
- Publishing Translation
Add to Your Degree with a Minor
Want to maximize your employment flexibility? UPJ offers a huge selection of minors to pair with your Foreign Language and Literature degree. Some of the most popular choices include:
- Writing
- English Literature
- Communication
- Multimedia and Digital Culture