Degree and Certificate Offerings from LLC
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.
Discover our new Speech Science stream, designed for students interested in how speech works, from sound production to perception and communication. Explore an exciting pathway that bridges linguistics, science, and real-world applications!
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 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.
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.
Note: Stream course options changed with the 2026/2027 Undergraduate Calendar.
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
For LIR students who wish to pursue Co-op, SSH 104 Co-op Program Preparation is required.
French stream students will complete 8-13 French courses. LIR students complete a minimum of 13 courses from LIR Table II. French stream students who choose to complete less than 13 FRE courses can choose courses from any other stream to complete their Table II requirements.
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):
- FRE 101 Introductory French I
- FRE 201 Introductory French II
- FRE 301 Intermediate French I
- FRE 302 French Food, Wine and Hospitality
- FRE 303 French and Fashion
- FRE 401 Intermediate French II
- FRE 402 French Conversation and Pronunciation
- FRE 501 Speaking and Writing French I
- FRE 502 Communication and Business French
- FRE 503 Middle Ages to Classicism
- FRE 504 French Audiovisual Translation
- FRE 505 French Language and Culture
- FRE 507 English-French Translation I
- FRE 510 Effective Writing
- FRE 515 Introduction to Business French
- FRE 601 Speaking and Writing French II
- FRE 602 Business French in Practice
- FRE 603 Enlightenment to La Belle Époque
- FRE 604 French for Healthcare
- FRE 605 Francophone Language and Culture
- FRE 607 English-French Translation II
- FRE 608 Contemporary French Literature
- FRE 609 Franco-Canadian Literature
- FRE 610 Cultural Context of Writing
- FRE 701 French for Today
- FRE 702 French Gastronomy and Culture
- FRE 704 Franco-Canadian Culture
- FRE 706 The Life and Times of the French Language
- FRE 707 Introduction to French-English Translation
- FRE 709 Children's Literature in French
- FRE 801 French and New Media
- FRE 805 French Language Teaching Methodologies
- FRE 900 Senior French Seminar
- FRE 901 Francophone Women Writer
- FRE 903 The Francophone Short Story
Spanish stream students will complete 8-13 Spanish courses. LIR students complete a minimum of 13 courses from LIR Table II. Spanish stream students who choose to complete less than 13 SPN courses can choose courses from any other stream to complete their Table II requirements.
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 Arts and Culture
- SPN 707 Spanish-English Translation
- SPN 805 Spanish Language Teaching Methodologies
Minimum 6 additional SPN courses (maximum 11):
- SPN 101 Introductory Spanish I
- SPN 201 Introductory Spanish II
- SPN 301 Intermediate Spanish I
- SPN 302 Spanish for the Tourism Industry
- SPN 303 Spanish and Fashion
- SPN 401 Intermediate Spanish II
- SPN 402 Spanish Conversation and Pronunciation
- SPN 501 Advanced Spanish I
- SPN 504 Spanish Language and Culture through Films
- SPN 506 Spanish Audiovisual Translation
- SPN 507 English-Spanish Translation I
- SPN 510 Effective Writing
- SPN 515 Introduction to Business Spanish
- SPN 601 Advanced Spanish II
- SPN 607 English-Spanish Translation II
- SPN 610 Spanish Writing Composition
- SPN 702 Communication in Business Spanish
- SPN 704 Latin American Arts and Culture
- SPN 705 The Boom in Latin American Culture
- SPN 706 Spanish Graphic Novels
- SPN 707 Spanish-English Translation
- SPN 708 Contemporary Spanish Fiction
- SPN 710 History of the Spanish Language
- SPN 802 Spanish for Business Strategies
- SPN 803 Latin American Short Story
- SPN 804 Culture and Resistance in the Americas
- SPN 805 Spanish Language Teaching Methodologies
- SPN 810 Cultural Context of Writing
- SPN 900 Senior Spanish Seminar
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 Introduction to Phonetics - offered beginning Winter 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:
- ARB Arabic course (ex. ARB 101, ARB 300)
- ASL American Sign Language course (ex. ASL 101, ASL 306)
- CHN Chinese course (ex. CHN 101, CHN 201)
- FRE French course (ex. FRE 101, FRE 303)
- MHK Introductory Kanyen'kéha MHK 101, MHK 201
- SPN Spanish course (ex. SPN 101, SPN 507)
Example: SPN 501, SPN 601, SPN 805 and MHK 101.
Minimum of 2 core electives:
- ANT 100 Introduction to Anthropology
- ANT 200 Decoding Culture
- ANT 306 Language, Culture and Power
- ANT 900 Anthropology Capstone
- BLG 143 Biology I
- BLG 311 Cell Biology
- BMS 600 Physiology
- CLD 307 Children's Thinking and Learning
- HAU 100 Haudenosaunee Cultural Perspective
- HAU 400 Haudenosaunee Leaders and Writers
- LIR 203 Indigenous Oral Tradition - offered beginning Winter 2027
- LIR 207 Translation as a Cultural Bridge
- LIR 302 Food Language and Culture - offered beginning Fall 2026
- PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology II
- PSY 402 Adult Development
- PSY 654 Cognitive Psychology
- SOC 504 Children and Society
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 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 your Arts program advisor 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, 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 language 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 or who elect to complete the stream pathways introduced in Fall 2026. Students may wish to complete thematic courses for their area of interest.
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.)
Thematic Courses: ACS 106, CLD 206, CLD 307, FRE 402, FRE 505, FRE 605, FRE 709, FRE 805, PSY 102, PSY 202, PSY 308, SPN 402, SPN 704, SPN 804, SPN 805.
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.
Thematic Courses: FRE 402, FRE 502, FRE 515, FRE 602, MHR 405, MHR 523, MHR 700, MHR 721, MHR 741, SPN 504, SPN 515, SPN 702, SPN 802.
Translation Studies
Courses in linguistics and translation from and into English.
Thematic Courses: ACS 106, FRE 402, FRE 507, FRE 607, FRE 706, FRE 707, LIR 207, SPN 402, SPN 507, SPN 607, SPN 707, SPN 710.
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.
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 |