Undergraduate and graduate students in all fields
interested in studying critical languages may be interested in applying
for the Critical Language Scholarships for intensive summer institutes
offered by the US Department of State, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The CLS Program is part of a U.S.
government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans
studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse
disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants
are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship
period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future
professional careers in any field.
Last year, 10 UW students were selected to
participate and studied languages in Jordan, China, Indonesia, South
Korea, Tajikistan, India and Russia.
Languages offered:
·
Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian,
Korean, Punjabi, Turkish, and Urdu: Beginning, advanced beginning,
intermediate and advanced levels;
·
Arabic and Persian: Advanced beginning, intermediate and advanced levels;
·
Chinese, Japanese, and Russian: Intermediate and advanced levels.
Eligibility requirements:
·
Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
·
At the time of application, applicants must be
enrolled at an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the
undergraduate (associate’s, bachelor’s) or graduate (master’s, doctoral,
or professional degree) level.
·
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited
degree-granting institution that is physically located in the United
States or its territories. U.S. students enrolled in a degree-granting
program at a foreign college or university
are not eligible for the scholarship. Students currently on a semester
or yearlong program abroad are eligible as long as they are still
currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at their home college or
university, or if they intend to return to their
degree-granting program and institution in the U.S.
·
Undergraduate students must have completed at least
one academic year of study at the college level by the program start
date (two semesters or three quarters).
·
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the start of the summer program.
·
Applicants must be in acceptable mental and
physical health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory
Medical Information Form and Physician’s Statement.
·
Ability to participate in the CLS Program is
contingent upon an applicant’s ability to receive a visa to the CLS
institute host country. Although the CLS Program will work with awarded
students to secure a visa for the CLS institute
host country, the program cannot be held responsible for other
countries’ visa requirements and/or the denial of a student’s
application for a visa. CLS awards are contingent upon the participant
securing a host-country visa, and all awardees must meet deadlines
and host country requirements set for obtaining a visa.
The Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships &
Awards supports undergraduate students applying for this program and
will hold information sessions for interested students on:
- Tues., Oct. 15, 2013, 4:30-5:20pm, MGH 173R
- Wed., Oct. 16, 2013, 12:30-1:20pm, MGH 173R
- RSVP to attend at https://expo.uw.edu/expo/rsvp/event/142
