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Degree and Certificate Offerings from LLC

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The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a bachelor's degree in Language and Intercultural Relations, minors in French and Spanish, and continuing education certificates.

New beginning Fall 2026, the LIR program is introducing a third stream choice: Speech Science!

Language and Intercultural Relations - Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

The ability to respond effectively to cultural and linguistic diversity is essential in today’s world.

Globalization and increased migration have brought people from a variety of backgrounds closer together and in more frequent contact. Even though this increase in international contacts has seen a heightened use of English as a lingua franca, intercultural communication problems remain and sometimes give rise to significant misunderstandings, even conflicts.

Our BA in Language and Intercultural Relations (LIR) enables students to focus on one of three streams depending on their interests and career goals: French, Spanish or Speech Science. Whether you are passionate about languages and cultures or intrigued by the science of speech and communication, the program provides a strong foundation in both theory and practice.

Through your chosen stream and optional paid co-op placements, you will develop your skills in research, analysis, leadership, and problem-solving. You will also gain valuable experience working in diverse environments, equipping you to thrive in a wide range of professional sectors and graduate studies - from education and public service to healthcare, communication, and international work.

Career Possibilities

Intercultural relations professionals are strategic relationship builders who work with individuals, corporations, government and NGOs to help all parties communicate in a way that bridges cultures and lifts barriers of language. The goal is to enable an unimpeded flow of information between parties who do not share a language and cultural code.

Your skills will enable you to approach potential employers, and your knowledge of a different language will make you a more culturally sensitive person, who in return will be more likely to engage in successful cross-cultural relations.

  • Consular officer
  • Interpreter or translator
  • Multilingual communications advisor
  • Settlement coordinator
  • Teacher

Advanced Studies

In the Language and Intercultural Relations program you will develop academic writing, research methodology and critical thinking skills that prepare you for a range of graduate studies programs. 

  • Anthropology
  • Education, including teacher education programs
  • Immigration and Settlement Studies (MA)
  • Language studies
  • Law (international law, global affairs, public policy)
  • Speech-language pathology

LIR Curriculum and Program Streams

The first two years of the program offer basic knowledge of theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of social sciences and humanities, including sociology, psychology, politics and governance. This will broaden your perspective of the field and provide you with an ideal foundation for specialized study in Language and Intercultural Relations in the upper years.

As part of your training in Language and Intercultural Relations, you will choose a stream specialization in French or Spanish or Speech Science. You will take courses in your chosen stream beginning in Year 1.

You are introduced to Language and Intercultural Relations through the first course in your stream of choice (French or Spanish or Speech Science) and through LIR 100 Global Models in Intercultural Relations. LIR 100 will expose you to the concepts of world-view as expressed via differences and similarities between systems of communication. You will also develop the necessary emotional competence and intercultural sensitivity to understand the complexities of intercultural communication.

The Bachelor of Arts in Language and Intercultural Relations shares a common one-year foundation with programs in Criminology, Environment and Urban Sustainability, English, Geographic Analysis, History, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, and Sociology. In all programs, your first year offers basic knowledge of theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of social sciences and humanities as you begin acquiring new skills in academic writing and critical thinking.

Students interested in Co-op can apply at the end of Winter semeseter.

In addition to courses in their stream (French, Spanish or Speech Science), students take LIR 200 Critical Practices in Intercultural Relations and LIR 300 Intercultural Negotiation.

French or Spanish stream students may consider starting a series of thematic language courses based on their interests, such as translations studies, teaching or organizational behaviour.

In Year 3 students may choose to do a year abroad at one of our partner universities. Currently, we have partnerships in France and Spain customized for LIR students, along with opportunies across the globe.

All students take LIR 400 Ethnographic Practices, acquiring the necessary tools to analyze and understand how groups are defined by their cultural and social practices, including ways in which they communicate differently, based on these characteristics.

In their fourth year students take LIR 800, a capstone course in which students interested in graduate studies can prepare a thesis, or an extensive intercultural relation project. Students also have an opportunity to complete a Directed Reading related to their stream or other area of interest.

LIR core courses are completed by all students in the program. Additionally, students complete courses in their chosen stream, tailored to their interests and career goals.

For a full list of LIR program courses and degree requirements, please see the Language and Intercultural Relations program page in the current Undergraduate Calendar.

All LIR students complete the following courses:

  • LIR 100 Global Models in Intercultural Relations
  • LIR 200 Critical Practices in Intercultural Relations
  • LIR 300 Intercultural Negotiations
  • LIR 400 Ethnographic Practices
  • LIR 800 Topics in Intercultural Relations
  • SSH 105 Critical Thinking
  • SSH 205 Academic Writing and Research
  • SSH 301 Research Design and Qualitative Methods
  • ACS 401 Introduction to Research and Statistics
  • SSH 104 Co-op Program Preparation will be required only for LIR students who wish to pursue Co-op

French stream students will complete 8-13 French courses.

Minimum 2 from the required FRE group:

  • FRE 402 French Conversation and Pronunciation
  • FRE 505 French Language and Culture
  • FRE 515 Introduction to Business French
  • FRE 605 Francophone Language and Culture
  • FRE 707 Introduction to French-English Translation
  • FRE 805 French Language Teaching Methodologies

Minimum 6 additional FRE courses (maximum 11):

Spanish stream students will complete 8-13 Spanish courses.

Minimum 2 from the required SPN group:

  • SPN 402 Spanish Conversation and Pronunciation
  • SPN 504 Spanish Language and Culture through Films
  • SPN 515 Introduction to Business Spanish
  • SPN 704 Latin American Culture I
  • SPN 707 Spanish-English Translation
  • SPN 805 Spanish Language Teaching Methodologies

Minimum 6 additional SPN courses (maximum 11):

Speech Science stream students will complete 13 courses from the list below.

Required for Speech Science (all 7 courses are required):

  • ACS 106 Introduction to Language
  • BLG 101 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BLG 111 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • CLD 206 Language Development
  • LIR 206 Phonetics - offered beginning 2026/2027
  • PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology I
  • PSY 308 Psychology of Thinking

Minimum of 4 language courses, with at least 3 from the same course code:

Minimum of 2 core electives:

Minors for LIR Students

As part of your program of study, you have an opportunity to earn a minor (or two) in an area that complements your professional studies and broadens your career preparation. For a complete list and description of available minors, please see the Minors Policy in the current Undergraduate Calendar. 

LIR Speech Science stream students may wish to complete a minor in French or Spanish. French stream students may complete a minor in Spanish. Spanish stream students may complete a minor in French.

How to Apply

Undergraduate Admissions

Please visit the Language and Intercultural Relations - BA (Hons) page on the Undergraduate Admissions website for detailed application information.

Transfers within the Faculty of Arts

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Arts programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology or Sociology may transfer to any one of the other nine programs or to any one of the approved double major programs for the fall term of their second year of studies. Applications are available through the Program Office and must be submitted by February 2nd. Transfer applications are considered on a competitive basis subject to program capacity, and therefore, program choice cannot be guaranteed.

In order to transfer to Language and Intercultural Relations from any of Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, or Sociology, students must have clear Academic Standing at the end of their second semester of studies and have successfully completed LIR 100. Students should also consider completing a French (FRE) or Spanish (SPN) course in first year.

LIR students enrolled by Fall 2025 have the option to choose one of three degree concentrations. This option is not available for students who enrol after Fall 2025, although students may wish to complete thematic courses.

Language and Cognition

Courses in linguistics, psychology and early childhood education, which opens up opportunities in post-graduate studies (teachers’ college, Speech and Language Therapy, linguistics, etc.)

Organizational Behaviour

Courses in group dynamics that prepare students to work as intercultural communication professionals between governments, NGOs, multinationals and those with which they want to communicate while being separated by a language and cultural barrier.

Translation Studies

Courses in linguistics and translation from and into English.

Completion of a Concentration is noted on the academic transcript, but not on the award document. More information about Concentrations may be found in the current Undergraduate Calendar.

More information about LIR Concentrations are available in the 2025-2026 Undergraduate Calendar program page.

French Minor and Spanish Minor

Open to TMU undergraduate students, these minors present an excellent opportunity to acquire the necessary language and cultural skills to be able to use French or Spanish as part of your academic and career plans.

See the Minors section of the current Undergraduate Calendar for details on each minor.

French
Spanish

Continuing Education Courses and Certificates

We offer Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, and Spanish courses for learners through The Chang School of Continuing Education. The Chang School offers university level courses in which students acquire and develop a wide range of skills in languages, which can be used for success in the marketplace or as credit toward a university degree.

The Chang School certificate programs available to undergraduate students and part-time learners include Business French and Translation, Proficiency in French, and Proficiency in Spanish.

TMU full-time undergraduate program students are able to enroll in courses at The Chang School through myServiceHub. Please remember that fees for continuing education courses will be assessed over and above those fees for your program courses. Students will be assessed the appropriate fees as per the number of billing units assigned for their full-time enrolled courses plus the applicable continuing education course fee(s). If students have any question about billing units for the full-time enrolled program courses and/or continuing education course fees, they must consult, for clarification, the Fees Office. Also, be sure to review continuing education course drop and refund dates in the Chang School calendar as they are different from those for your undergraduate program courses. If you subsequently withdraw from continuing education courses, you will be charged a course drop fee. As with all courses, students are responsible for ensuring that the course selected applies to the program in which they are enrolled.

TMU full-time undergraduate students may also register in continuing education certificates following the regulations set out by the Chang School. TMU full-time undergraduate program students who are also pursuing a continuing education certificate should note that at least half of the courses required for these certificates must bear the code CFRE or CSPN.

For information on continuing education courses, please contact The Chang School or reach out to a CE language coordinator.

Language CE Coordinator Contact
Arabic
 Rania Ibrahim, PhD rania.ibrahim@torontomu.ca
ASL Nina Winiarczyk, MA nwiniarczyk@torontomu.ca
Chinese John Edward Stowe, PhD jstowe@torontomu.ca
French
 Lara Popic, PhD lpopic@torontomu.ca
Spanish
 Mignette Garvida, PhD mgarvida@torontomu.ca