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Language Degrees for Military Members and Veterans

Language Degrees for Military Members and Veterans

Getting a degree in another language opens doors to a wide range of occupations. For students who are already bi- or multilingual, finishing an accredited program adds real credentials to what you already know how to do. And for those who are just starting out, a structured academic program helps you build up language proficiency from the ground up.

Many vets already have experience working in multicultural environments; learning a foreign language enhances their ability to navigate various roles.

Is a Language Degree Hard?

A Language Degree can be a challenge, but it depends on your ability to learn languages. Some languages can be harder to learn than others due to differences in grammar, alphabet, or writing systems. Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese are different beasts from the Romance languages (though don't let the familiarity fool you, real fluency in any of them is still years of work).

Military members tend to have a leg up here. When you've already spent time living and working across cultural and language barriers, a lot of what these programs teach starts to click faster than it would for people discovering a language for the first time.

Earn a Language Degree

To take on a career in a foreign language, you'll need a strong foundation in English and the language you’re studying. A deep understanding of the country's culture and history, where the language is spoken, is also important.

At both the bachelor's and master's levels, coursework can draw on a mix of disciplines, including:
  • Culturally specific behaviors, customs, and values
  • History, literature, music, and folklore of target cultures
  • Appreciation of and sensitivity to cultural diversity
  • Awareness of differences across cultural perspectives
  • Advanced communicative competence across speaking, writing, reading, and listening

Language Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's students learn linguistics, literature, cultural history, and fluency across reading, writing, and spoken communication. By the time they finish, they have built a practical command of their new language.

Jobs with a Language Bachelor's Degree

Language Master’s Degree

Master’s students dive deeper into language studies with courses in literature, culture, linguistics, second-language acquisition and teaching.

Jobs with a Language Master’s Degree

Earning a Graduate Certificate in a Foreign Language

Students who already have a bachelor's and want to keep going without committing to a full master's program may consider earning a master's certificate. Most people who pursue one are already working. This certificate can also stand on its own as a recognized credential.

GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program Options to Earn a Language Degree

Our list of GI Bill- and Yellow Ribbon-participating schools is below. Don't forget to explore your other military financial aid and veteran student financial aid opportunities. There is also help for military spouses who need scholarships and other financial aid.

Is a language degree worth it?

It really comes down to how you plan to use it, but for many people, the answer is yes because of its versatility. Unlike some degrees that lock you into one specific career path, being fluent at a professional level lets you jump into industries like tech, international business, or government work.

Active-duty service members, veterans, and their families can use educational entitlements to pursue low- to no-cost degree-seeking opportunities. Programs such as MyCAA (for eligible spouses), the GI Bill, and the Yellow Ribbon program are opportunities to maximize your learning and earning potential.

GI Bill-approved Schools and Yellow Ribbon Schools with a Language Degree

Ready to start your Language Degree? Check out these programs available at our partner schools:

University of Kansas

Offers Master's Degrees in Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, French Language and Literature, Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Spanish Language and Literature, and is approved for tuition assistance and the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Rutgers University

Offers Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Chinese Language and Literature, Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, French Language and Literature, German Language and Literature, Italian Language and Literature, Portuguese Language and Literature, Russian Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, and is approved for tuition assistance and the Yellow Ribbon Program.

College of Charleston

Offers Bachelor's Degrees in Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, French Language and Literature, German Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, and is approved for tuition assistance and the Yellow Ribbon Program.