Online Foreign Language Degree - Best of 2025

What Can You Do with an Online Foreign Language Degree

Available career options for those holding a linguistics degree are tourism, finance, banking, public relations, media, and consulting, which can be done locally or internationally. Communication skills in certain languages are in high demand by many employers, as these skills can be applied to different sectors. Particularly Spanish and Arabic speakers are needed in national security, international relations, and other areas of government.

Foreign language requirements can differ greatly between schools. Students majoring in foreign language programs may be required to study abroad for a full academic year or more to learn first-hand not only how to communicate both by spoken and written forms, but also to learn about the culture, politics, history, art, and literature of the chosen language.

Online Foreign Language Certifications Needed

If you are planning to teach a foreign language, you will have to be certified no matter which state you're in. Teaching certifications are required to prove that you are ready to meet the educational demands and teaching standards. To receive certification your foreign language skills will be tested for fluency and understanding among other things.

Although qualifications differ slightly from state to state they are all similar:

At least a bachelor’s program must be completed, such as a Bachelor of Arts
A Master of Arts may be required (in some states)
An internship where you will work with a mentor to observe their teaching process
A competency exam is required to earn your teaching certificate

Academic Standards

The need for a mandated set of academic standards was noted years ago by the US Department of Education, and in response; “The National Standards for Foreign Language Education” was born in 1996. Since then, a more modernized version was developed for the 21st century that consists of 11 national standards– grouped in 5 different categories that among educators of foreign languages, are referred to as, “the 5 C’s”…

Communications
To communicate in more than one language effectively, for multiple purposes, and to function in various situations

Connections
To connect with others and acquire diverse perspectives and information in order to utilize the language in academic and career-related circumstances

Cultures
To gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures within context

Communities
To interact, communicate, and participate competently, internationally and at home, with multilingual communities

Comparisons
To develop insight into the cultures surrounding and the nature of the language to be able to interact with cultural competence

Exam and Experience Needed

Associate and bachelor’s foreign language programs are usually available online or in a hybrid format, but online master’s degree programs in liberal arts or a foreign language major are more rarely found online. Most programs require that students attend campus for some curriculum, testing, or other specific components. If you are seeking language skills for a career as a foreign language teacher, additional requirements are needed that include an internship and state certification exams.

Important Questions to Ask

The college you attend should be a reflection of the kind of person you are, and who you hope to become in the future. Thus, the more important factors should be based on your interests, goals, beliefs, values, strengths, and weaknesses combined. Moreover, knowing about a school's reputation, classroom sizes, professors, graduation rate, courses, diversity, extracurricular activities, and more, will help you choose the best fit for you. Here are some important questions to ask:

How much does tuition cost?
What are other costs outside of tuition?
What kind of financial assistance is offered to most students?
Are there any scholarships available for me?
After getting their online degree, are students usually employed right away?
Do they have a career center to benefit students?
What is your graduation rate?
What is the ranking and reputation of this school?

How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Foreign Language Bachelor's Degree Online?

It typically takes four years to earn your online Bachelor of Arts in a foreign language major. However, some schools will offer testing for which you can earn college credits and thereby cut that time down by about 30%.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor’s Degree Cost?

To get a Bachelor of Arts in a foreign language major, it usually costs about $45,348 per year with an estimated average cost of $181,492 for a complete four-year language program.

Foreign Language Coursework

The following is a sample plan of study for a Bachelor of Arts, which can include a variety of foreign languages:

Freshman

Fall Semester	Spring/Summer Semester
C&T 100: Education Profession Introduction	ANTH 160: Human Experience Varieties
COMS 130: Communication Speaker-Audience	BIOL 100/102: Biology & Lab Principles
ENGL 101: Composition (10”-16”)	MATH 105: Mathematics Introduction
MATH 101: College Algebra	ENGL 102: Critical Reading & Writing
SPAN 212: Intermediate Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and a variety of other languages available at student's university of choice I	SPAN 216: Intermediate Spanish II (or French, German, Japanese, and a variety of other languages available at student's university of choice)

Sophomore

Fall Semester	Spring/Summer Semester
SPAN 324: Composition & Grammar	C&T 324: Middle/Secondary School Curriculum
SPAN 328: Intermediate Spanish (French, Japanese, etc.) Conversation I	SPAN 340: Critical Reading & Textual Analysis
C&T 235: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion K-12	ELPS 302: Educational Technology
ELPS 250: Society & Education	SPED 326: Teaching Exceptional youth
Physical Lab Requirement & Science Lecture	HSES 260: Community & Personal Health

Junior

Fall Semester	Spring/Summer Semester
EPSY 456: Motivating & Managing Learners	C&T 331: ESOL Learners Instructional Approaches
SPAN 424: Advanced Composition & Grammar	C&T 530: Foreign Language Classes
SPAN 428: Advanced Spanish, French, Japanese Conversation	SPAN 429: Spanish, French, Japanese Phonetics
EPSY 306: Learning & Development of the Adolescent	SPAN 463: Spanish America National Traditions
SPAN 453: Spanish Studies of the 20th Century	Latin/Spanish American Elective Cultures

Senior

Fall Semester	Spring/Summer Semester
C&T 544: Situating Foreign Language Classes	C&T 490: Student Teaching
C&T 448: Reading & Writing Across Curriculums	C&t 495: Seminar: Developing a Portfolio
C&T 489: Advanced Practicum Teaching	EPSY 520: Classroom Assessment
ELPS 537: Organization & Governance
SPED 507: Practices for Disabled Children

Does the School Have the Major(s) You’re Considering?

school-considering Just because you have decided on a major doesn’t mean that every school will have it. For this reason, it's important to find out beforehand if you will be able to major in what you have chosen at any particular schools you are considering. Odds are, they probably will have what you are looking for since most schools have the same main majors, but it’s always good to make sure. Some less common languages can actually be particularly difficult to find, such as Japanese, though the Spanish language and French are available at most schools. Also, many schools have study abroad programs, but not all. If you are particularly interested in having the opportunity to study abroad, be sure that the second language you choose is offered in thie format. Your local state university may be cheaper, but if they don't provide you with the Bachelor of Arts, foreign language major or program you want, it's best to look elsewhere.

How many students graduate on time, in four years?

There are some colleges and universities with high rates of graduates. However, a rate of 30% of students graduating isn’t unusual, especially when it comes to a public or state university.

When you apply to a university, of course, it’s your plan to graduate, and the same goes for others. Therefore, if most students have never earned their online degree, the problem could be the college or university they chose to attend.

The sad part of attending a college and never earning your online degree is all the money that was wasted. You should always check the graduation rates of students and if you notice a substantial amount of students attend without graduating, or taking more than four years to obtain their online degree, you might want to keep looking.

What kind of accreditation does the program hold? How is it regarded in the field?

Accreditation is an extremely important facet of your education, yet many individuals still don’t understand why it’s so important. Incidentally, if you attend an unaccredited school you will be left with a degree that employers do not respect.

An accredited school is one that maintains all the high standards set by a respectable accrediting association. Every school must have a defined mission aimed at an education plan that serves the students, along with evidence that shows they have the resources to accomplish this.

You should always look for an accredited school and never consider anything less. Remember, when it comes to your education it is up to you to choose the best.

Online Associates in Foreign Language

Cost online $25,000 to $30,000 – on-campus $25,000 to $40,000

An online associate's foreign language degree program will focus on a specific language of your choosing like French, German, Korean, Chinese, or Spanish. Also offered with these programs is foundational coursework to pursue a bachelor’s or a teaching degree online.

The online associate degree program will require 60 to 70 credit hours, which is usually completed in two years.

Common general coursework includes:

History
English
Math
Humanities
The arts

Foreign language courses include (Ex. Spanish):

Beginning Spanish
Intermediate Spanish
Latin American Civilization
English to Spanish Translation
Spanish Study Abroad Program
Spanish Literature
Cultural Insights

Online Bachelors in Foreign Language

Average cost for an online four-year degree program from $38,000 to $181,000 in the U.S. and $14,000 to $44,000 to study abroad.

Like the online associate degree program in foreign language, the online Bachelor’s degree program focuses on the study of a particular foreign language, as well as general education courses, including math, arts, and more in addition to other electives such as writing and speaking skills.

You may participate in online classes and discussions through online portals as well as turn in assignments and take some exams online. However, certain tests require that you take them in person, for which you will need to find a nearby testing location.

120 to 130 credits are typically needed, which on average could take 52 months, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Some of the coursework includes:

Practical & Intellectual Skills
Global & Civic Learning
Knowledge of Human Cultures
Understanding the Natural & Physical world
General Education Electives
History of Civilization
Liberal Arts Capstone

Concentrations: Most concentrations with an online foreign language degree are the language you are pursuing (French, Germa, Spanish, etc). However, some other available concentrations include:

Latin American Studies
World Cinema
European Studies
Asian Literature
African Literature

Masters in Foreign Language

If you seek a career that is both challenging and exciting, an online master’s degree in a foreign language may be right for you. With a master’s in a foreign language, you will have two options; you can complete your coursework from your home country or abroad, where you will learn your chosen language hands on.

Studying in your country will allow you to enhance your international awareness and meet new people.

Studying abroad will raise your self-confidence and increase your independence as you gain knowledge of the cultures and traditions of a foreign land as part of your memorable experience and soon you will learn how to communicate effectively with the inhabitants.

Typically, a full-time student can earn a master’s in two years, where those attending part-time can take 4 years. However, they do have fast-track programs where you can graduate in as little as 12 -18 months.

Courses may include:

Teaching Methods
Linguistics
Spanish (Example)
Second Language Acquisition Research
Intercultural and Multicultural Perspectives in Education
Special Needs Students
Adolescent Learners in Urban Contexts
Language Assessment and Evaluation

Concentrations: Again, most concentrations refer to the specific language you are studying (Spanish, Japanese, Russian), but you also have the option to specialize in Teaching, Literature, Multi-cultural Education, and more.

Degree Type	Public (In-State)	Private
Associates in Foreign Language	$25,000	$40,000
Bachelors in Foreign Language	$38,000	$18,100
Masters in Foreign Language	$40,000	$20,0000

Careers & Salaries

Earning Potential for Foreign Language Degree Fields and Occupations

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that from 2014 to 2024, the demand for translators and interpreters will grow by 29% and there will be a 6% increase in high school teachers employed. Moreover, according to BLS data from 2015, 49,650 employed interpreters and translators earned an average wage of $48,360 annually, while the 962,820 secondary teachers employed in the U.S., earned an average yearly wage of $60,440.

The Difference in Pay for an AA, BA, and MA, and How Experience Increases your Salary

Just as gaining more experience increases your salary, attaining higher-level degrees can also boost your pay. According to the BLS, High school graduates who have a diploma will earn $9,000 more per year than those without one, for an average annual income of $32,600.

Associate degree holders earn $39,500, 6,900 more than high school diploma owners. Next up, those with a Bachelor’s degree make an annual average salary of $53,300, the Master’s degree holders earn $65,400 annually, and those with Doctorate average $79,650.

Foreign Language Fields of Study with Entry Level, Median Annual Salary and Mid-Career Median Annual Salary

Public Relations

Between 2014 and 2024, the job openings for Public relations (PR) are expected to grow by 6-7%, according to the BLS. Most of the projected growth will be driven by social media consumers and businesses. PR experts are generally hired to give a business a positive image so that consumers will think highly of the company and have a positive outlook on them.

This field also involves navigating public discourse that includes understanding the concerns and attitudes of a mass number of individuals like public interest groups, consumers, communities, and employee’s, allowing PR experts to establish and maintain beneficial and effective working relationships. To qualify as a PR professional, you need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in the field. If you add to this qualifications in an in-demand language, such as Spanish, you can earn even more.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $40,700
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $58,500

National Defense

A career in National Defense entails collecting, gathering, translating, and analyzing information for national defense intelligence and military missions. National defense intelligence personnel are required to handle classified information in the elite community and responsible for tracking inbound threats and radar signals as well as coding and decoding information deemed as classified. Understanding foreign languages is crucial in National defense as information can come from many sources such as radio, television, magazines, newspapers, transmissions, and online broadcasts.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $58,529
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $66,844

Immigration Services

Immigration services involve assisting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and other federal personnel to identify those who may pose a threat to public safety and national security.

Employment in this field may include researching and interpreting sources, operating under legislative instruction, knowing immigration laws and regulations, and more. This role may also include using special electronic systems available to verify established data and process applications after interviewing immigration applicants and elicit statement petitioners to determine credibility and eligibility of applicants. Being qualified to communicate effectively across cultural and lingual barriers will make you an attractive hire for this type of position.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $48,000
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $73,000

Foreign Language Salaries by Occupation with Entry Level, Median Annual Salary, Mid-Career Median Annual Salary, and Late Career Median Annual Salary

High School Teacher

Also known as secondary school teachers, high school teachers provide instruction in various areas to students in a private or public high schools. Most high schools in the U.S. provide some form of foreign language instruction. These teachers may also conduct exams and state tests, provide feedback to parents about their child’s educational strengths and weaknesses, and assist students in preparing for college by writing recommendation letters.

To be a high school teacher, you will be required to have at minimum a bachelor’s degree in your instruction choice. Check with your state for more requirements as state education plans vary. In some states, you may need a master’s degree and/or state licensing.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $41,300
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $49,300
Late-Career Median Annual Salary is $62,700

Interpreter

An interpreter can best be described as a middleman who can speak multiple languages and be the go-between for two groups who wish to communicate, but speak different languages. Some may think this sounds easy, but interpreting cannot be done by submitting a translation word for word, rather it often requires paraphrasing to get the right message across.

Today the interpreter’s role has expanded beyond mere translation, as now they also help bridge the gap between development teams by translating technical material. Furthermore, interpreter’s help clients fill out forms in another language, educate them on target markets, and more.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $31,500
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $49,000
Late-Career Median Annual Salary is $49,900

Translator

Where interpreters deal in face-to-face interactions, translators usually work with written content. A translator may work on books, advertisements, brochures, and other documents. They translate it into a different language in order to reach new businesses, markets, and consumers.

However, they are not limited to translating documents. They may also help educate clients about the culture, customs, and history of those they seek to engage, as well as ensure the understanding of laws and customs they need to be familiarized with. Translators may also translate things like presentations, drawings, operation procedures, terminology lists, memos, manuals, sensitive material, and other various data points.

Educational requirements vary substantially between employers.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $40,000
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $53,100
Late-Career Median Annual Salary is $59,000

Linguist

A linguist works with languages in various industries. In many cases, they can do the same work as an interpreter or translator. However, they could also be employed in translating ancient manuscripts, creating new faux “languages” for movies or TV, or even work with the FBI or CIA on national security issues that need expertise in their focus language(s).

Linguists are required to have a bachelor’s degree or better, while also being fluent in at least two languages. Contingency to employment, they may also have to pass various language proficiency tests among other minor checks.

Entry Level Median Annual Salary is $56,700
Mid-Career Median Annual Salary is $77,900
Late-Career Median Annual Salary is $117,900

Foreign Language Scholarships

Boren Scholarships
Amount: ($20,000)
Boren Scholarships are an initiative of the National Security Education Program. They offer funds for undergraduate students in the U.S. interested in learning critical, less studied languages in certain world regions such as Asia, Eurasia, Middle East, Central, and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Scholars must commit to working at least one year for the federal government upon graduating.

Contact: The Scholarship Committee
Address: 1400 K St NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005
Email: boren@iie.org
DAAD German Studies Research Grant
Amount: ($3,000)
This program offers research grants to undergraduates studying German who are highly qualified with a minimum of junior standing that must have completed two years of college and at least three courses in German studies. They may use the grant for one to two months research in Germany. The program was created to promote cultural, historical, and political studies while encouraging research in German affairs and other modern aspects.

Contact: Scholarship Committee
Address: 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017-1814
Email: thomanek@daad.org
Phone: 212-758-3223
Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund
Amount: ($2,000)
This scholarship is available to public high school senior graduates in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties in the state of Washington. Candidates are nominated each year by their school and scholarships can be renewed in Washington state for four years of college. Major courses that are not accepted are interior decorating, music, domestic science, sculpture, and drawing.

Contact: Sheri Ashleman
Address: P.O. Box 60052, Shoreline, WA 98160-0052
Email: nmcarman@aol.com
Phone: 206-542-9357
TEACH Grant
Amount: ($4,000)($2,000)
This grant is offered to those planning to have a career in teaching. For the TEACH grant, you must be enrolled as a post-baccalaureate, graduate student, or undergraduate, at a participating school, complete the free application, meet noted academic requirements, receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms, and sign a TEACH Grant agreement saying you will teach at an elementary school in a high-need field.

Contact: The U.S. Department of Education

Professional Foreign Language Organizations

ACTFL
ASA
NABE

ACTFL

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)

The ACTFL is dedicated to expanding and improving teaching and learning of all levels of language instruction. In addition, ACTFL is an individual organization with over 12,500 members that include administrators, students, and educators.

ASA

African Studies Association (ASA)

Established in 1957, and based in the U.S., the ASA is a flagship member organization dedicated to increasing the information exchanged about Africa. With nearly 2,000 institutional and individual members all over the world, the ASA encourages the dissemination and production of knowledge about Africa both present and past. The ASA supports the understanding of each facet of an entire continent; economics, culture, politics, scientific, artistic, and environmental landscape. Members include activists, development professionals, teachers, scholars, policymakers, students, and donors.

NABE

National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)

The NABE is a non-profit organization that has been working to advocate for excellence and educational equity for multilingual students in the global society since 1975. They work to improve instructional practices for culturally and linguistically diverse children and offer multilingual educators with professional, high-quality development opportunities. Moreover, they secure adequate funding for those who serve limited-English proficient students and while communities and states move forward with educational reforms, keep a focus on the rights of the American language minorities.

Choosing an Accredited College

Fortunately most all community colleges are accredited. Therefore, your credits can be transferred from one institution to another, including graduate programs and four-year colleges if you decide to attend an accredited community college.

Online vs On-Campus vs Hybrid

Students going to college now have three basic choices on how to attend and complete their coursework. Students attending college traditionally can choose to attend daily from home or can stay on campus.

The 21st century of technology has brought us more options. Students can now attend college classes — full-time — from the comfort of home, online. While attending an online school, students can access tools, watch videos, chat with professors, obtain assignments and hand them in, and more. However, to take tests and particular foreign language exams, students have to visit a school or learning center.

The third and final option is to attend college in a hybrid format. Students can do most of their assignments online, but also spend some time at the college to meet with teachers and take tests.

Additional Questions

Does the College Have Post Graduate Job Placement Help & Assistance?

From helping to prepare you for interviews to connecting you with potential employers a job placement assistance program is very important. Although there is never a real guarantee that you will get the dream job you are seeking as soon as you graduate, a good placement team will at least focus on assisting you to make sure you gain some form of employment. Therefore, be sure to find out if the college you are thinking about attending has the right team who are experienced and ready to assist your employment needs

Why You Need to Consider that Rating/accreditation Can Affect Your Salary

Many colleges are highly recognizable just by the mention of their name. For instance, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford University are well-known learning institutions. Because they are so popular these colleges are ranked high by employers. When you get your degree from such a school, employers are eager to hire you. The same goes for colleges that are accredited by reputable associations. The better the organization that accredits the school, the more employers will respect your degree and they may even pay you more. This is why you must choose the school you will get your degree from, wisely.

Best Online Foreign Language Degrees for 2025