Modern and Classical Languages

Inspired by the Statement of Mission of the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit and Catholic university, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages states as its essential objective to “prepare men and women to shape a multicultural world with creativity, generosity and compassion.”

The Department unreservedly promotes language acquisition as a requirement for the accomplishment of this objective. The language requirement not only exposes the inner workings of language in general, but it also provides the point of departure for the development of proficiency adequate to academic and professional needs, and promotes the multidisciplinary study of cultures and societies both outside the U.S. and within our increasingly multicultural communities. Whether as a tool to investigate the past, analyze the present, or forecast the future, knowledge of languages and cultures gives USF students privileges they would otherwise lack.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Minor

Certificate

Certificate Programs

If you want to augment your skills or pursue a new field, we have a certificate program for you. Our professional and academic certificate programs make education available to learners who have full-time jobs, who aren’t ready to jump into a degree program, or who just want to increase their skills and knowledge in a concentrated fashion.

Academic Certificate Programs

USF’s academic certificate programs consist of a subset of the courses offered as part of a graduate program’s curriculum. That’s right: participants in our academic certificate programs take a selection of the same rigorous courses - with the same distinguished faculty - as students in our degreeseeking graduate programs. Academic certificate programs are a great way to focus your learning and professional development without committing to an entire graduate curriculum. Whether you want to study investor relations, learn wetlands delineation, or explore the countries and cultures of the Pacific Rim, we’ve got a certificate program for you.

Professional Certificate Programs

USF’s professional certificate programs offer the ideal mix of quality instruction, market-relevant content, and time commitment that works for you. Composed of continuing education units (CEUs), professional certificates are a great way to advance your career and develop your professional skills. With courses on evenings or weekends, our programs work around your schedule. Whether you want to learn Salesforce, train as an emergency medical technician, or explore the field of data science, we’ve got a certificate program that meets your needs. Join our community of learners for the tools and techniques you need to change the world from here.

General Information

Students from all over the United States and all over the world choose the University of San Francisco, San Francisco’s first university, for an education unparalleled at any other institution.

Why? San Francisco, one of the world’s most innovative and diverse cities, provides extraordinary academic opportunities. Professors and administrators are accessible to students and share with them a passion for justice to constitute a socially responsible learning community. With a USF education, students will acquire core competencies leading beyond the classroom. The University’s Institutional Learning Outcomes are achieved through our rigorous academic programs.

Since 1855 the University of San Francisco, one of twenty-eight Jesuit Universities in the United States has grown to extend it’s global reach from a campus at the heart of the city, with locations throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, and through expanding international opportunities. Whether completing degrees or certificate programs, our students and graduates benefit from national and international recognition.