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Hamilton Lugar School of
Global and International Studies
Indiana University Bloomington
Foreign Language Studies

Flagship Programs

Build professional-level language skills while earning your IU degree. Indiana University offers three Language Flagship programs — Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Russian. Each is designed to help undergraduates build toward professional working proficiency through intensive language study, specialized coursework and an immersive capstone experience.

Explore our Flagship programs Request more information

Flagship works alongside your major

Flagship is not a degree or major. It is an intensive language pathway you complete alongside what you are already studying. A student in business, computer science, music, international studies or another field can add Flagship and build the language skills to use that field in a professional international setting.

  •  
    3
    Flagship languages — Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Russian
  •  
    any
    major. Flagship runs alongside your degree, not instead of it
  •  
    open
    to undergraduates across Indiana University

Explore our Flagship programs

Arabic Flagship

Build advanced Arabic proficiency through intensive study, specialized instruction and immersive experiences. The programme page carries advising, entry level, application timeline and capstone detail.

Explore Arabic Flagship

Chinese Flagship

Build advanced Mandarin Chinese proficiency through intensive study, specialized instruction and immersive experiences. The programme page carries advising, entry level, application timeline and capstone detail.

Explore Chinese Flagship

Russian Flagship

Build advanced Russian proficiency through intensive study, specialized instruction and immersive experiences. The programme page carries advising, entry level, application timeline and capstone detail.

Explore Russian Flagship

How Flagship works

  1. Build your foundation — take sequenced language courses and develop the reading, listening, speaking and cultural knowledge needed to advance.
  2. Add intensive practice — tutorials, conversation practice and content courses taught in the language.
  3. Use the language in your field — connect it to the subjects and professional interests you are already studying at IU.
  4. Complete the capstone — an immersive overseas experience combining advanced study with real-world use of the language.
  5. Demonstrate professional proficiency — finish with a documented assessment that shows what you can actually do in the language.

Who should consider Flagship?

Flagship is for undergraduates who want to do more than meet a language requirement. It is built for students who want to use Arabic, Mandarin Chinese or Russian at a high level in their future work, research or international experience.

You do not need to major in a language or in Hamilton Lugar. Your starting level, application timeline and course sequence may differ by programme, so begin with the Flagship that interests you and review its requirements.

Language you can use professionally

Flagship is built around usable proficiency, not simply completing a sequence of language classes. Students work toward the ability to study, communicate and operate professionally in the language, then document that proficiency through formal assessment.

That combination can strengthen preparation for careers in government, international business, technology, research, national security, education, journalism, nonprofit work and other fields where language and regional knowledge matter.

Funding and programme costs

The Language Flagship is federally supported, and funding may be available for some of the additional instruction and immersive experiences that are part of the programme. What is covered, how much support is available and how students apply can differ by Flagship and by year — the national Language Flagship site holds the current detail.

Financial support for Flagship students

Keep exploring language study at IU