Minor Programmes
CLS offers two minor programmes: the Minor in Language Studies and the Minor in Multilingual Communication.
Please click on the relevant tab to find out more about the minor programme you are interested in.
Students are allowed to declare both minors, subject to NUS double-counting policy.
The Minor in Language Studies is an open minor offered to all NUS undergraduates who are interested in studying one of the languages offered by the Centre for Language Studies (CLS).
How to declare:
Students must declare to the Home Faculty/School no later than the end of the fifth semester of study.
| 2019 Cohort and onwards | |
| Overview Requirements | To earn a Minor in Language Studies, students must accumulate 20 units, made up of:
· either 20 units (i.e. 5 courses) from the same language, or · 16 units (i.e. 4 courses) from the same language plus 4 units from recognised courses from that language track. The accumulated units must include a Level 6 or higher-level course (to ensure that all students graduating with a Language Studies Minor attain at least an advanced level of competency). Please note that the offering of a Level 6 or higher-level language course is subject to the discretion of CLS. Standard course prerequisites and preclusions apply. The minor is available in 12 languages: 1. Arabic 2. Bahasa Indonesia 3. Chinese 4. French 5. German 6. Hindi 7. Japanese 8. Korean 9. Malay 10. Spanish 11. Thai 12. Vietnamese Please refer to the individual language descriptions for details. |
| Important Notes | 1. In order to take Level 1000 CLS language courses, students must not have prior knowledge of the language (written or oral). If they have prior knowledge, they may take a placement test to determine the appropriate level (if any). Placement tests exempt prerequisites, but do not waive units.
2. Students with prior knowledge of one language may not be able to fulfill the requirements of the minor in that language, depending on the placement outcome. Nonetheless, they may consider pursuing the minor in that language if feasible, or the minor in another language, or the Minor in Multilingual Communication. 3. Up to 8 units from approved exchange courses that are mapped to CLS course equivalents (same course codes) may be counted towards the minor. Double-counting of courses follows NUS policy of up to 8 units. |
| Contact us | Please contact our language programme convenors if you have any questions. |
| Arabic | Minor in Arabic Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAR4202 Arabic 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAR4202 Arabic 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAR1201 Arabic 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· HY2261 Modern Middle East History: 1699 to the Present · HY3246 History of Islam in Southeast Asia · HY2255 Islam in World History · MS3218 The Religious Life of the Malays · MS2221 Sufism in Southeast Asia · MS3217 Political Economy, Ethnicity, Religion · MS3216 Gender and Islam · GES1014/GESS1012 Islam and Contemporary Malay Society · PH2242 Philosophy of Language · SE3211 Religion, Society & Politics in SE Asia · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Bahasa Indonesia | Minor in Indonesian Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAB4202 Bahasa Indonesia 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAB4202 Bahasa Indonesia 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAB1201 Bahasa Indonesia 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
·PH2242 Philosophy of Language · SE2213 Democratisation in Southeast Asia · SE2217 War and Southeast Asia · SE2223 Doing Research in Southeast Asia · SE2224 Unmasked! An Introduction to Traditional Dance in SEA · SE2225 Forbidden Pleasures: Vice in Southeast Asia · SE3214 Heritage and Heritagescapes in Southeast Asia · SE3233 Martial Arts in Southeast Asia · SE1101E The Lands Below the Winds: Southeast Asia in the World · SE2218 Changing Economic Landscape of Southeast Asia · SE33222 Gender in Southeast Asia · SE3219 Country Studies: Islands Southeast Asia · PS2245 Southeast Asian Politics · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Chinese | Minor in Chinese Language Studies for Non Natives
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAC4202 Chinese 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAC4202 Chinese 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAC1201 Chinese 1 |
| The recognised courses are:
·PH2242 Philosophy of Language · CH2293 Introduction to Chinese Art (In English) · CH2299 Art of Modern and Contemporary China (In English) · CH3298 Chinese in Southeast Asia (In English) · GEH1006/GEC1001 Chinese Music, Language, and Literature · GEC1042 Fashion: East and West · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings · HY1101E Engaging Asia: A Global History |
|
| French | Minor in French Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAF4202 French 6 or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAF4202 French 6 or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAF1201 French 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
·PH2242 Philosophy of Language · EU1101E Making of Modern Europe · EU2213 Upheaval in Europe: 1848-1918 · EU2221 Empires, Colonies and Imperialism · EU3224 Social Thought & Social Theory · HY2210 State and Society in Early-Modern Europe · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings · EN3227 Romanticism · PH3207 Continental European Philosophy · GEC1042 Fashion: East and West · PS4218 European Foreign Policy · PS2236/EU2217 European Politics · PS3880H The Politics of European Integration · EU3228 The EU and ASEAN in the World · HY2253 Christianity in World History · HY2264 Making of Modern Europe · HY4205 Early Modern Europe and its World · HY2245 / EU2221 Empires, Colonies and Imperialism · AH2101 Introduction to Art History · EU3224/SC3101 Social Thought & Social Theory |
|
| German | Minor in German Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAG4202 German 6 or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAG4202 German 6 or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAG1201 German 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · EU1101E Making of Modern Europe · EU2213 Upheaval in Europe: 1848-1918 · EU2221 Empires, Colonies and Imperialism · EU3224 Social Thought & Social Theory · HY2210 State and Society in Early-Modern Europe · HY2264 Making of Modern Europe · HY2245 Empires, Colonies and Imperialism · SC3101 Social Thought & Social Theory · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings · PH2212/GEK2030/EU2214 Introduction to Continental Philosophy · PH3207/EU3227 Continental European Philosophy · PS2236/EU2217 European Politics · PS3880H The Politics of European Integration · EU3228 The EU and ASEAN in the World · PS3267 German Political Thought · HY3209/EU3230 Cold War in Europe, 1945-1991 · HY3227/EU3212 Europe of the Dictators |
|
| Hindi | Minor in Hindi Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAH4202 Hindi 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAH4202 Hindi 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAH1201 Hindi 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · SN1101E Discover South Asia: People, Culture, Development · SN2213 South Asian Democracies – Violence, Conflict and Hope · SN2234 Gender and Society in South Asia · SN2274 South Asian Cultures: An Introduction · SN2277 Indian Communities in SouthEast Asia · SN2280 Marriage, Sex and Love in South Asia · SN3274 South Asian Cinema · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings · GEH1009 Framing Bollywood: Unpacking The Magic · GEX1000 Framing Bollywood: Unpacking The Magic · SN2285 What’s Cooking: Food and Drink in South Asian Cultures · GEN2000 Living Culture: Engaging Indian Communities in Singapore · AN2203 Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia · AH2204 Art in Southeast Asia, 4th-14th centuries CE |
|
| Japanese | Minor in Japanese Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including a Level 6 Japanese language course or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including a Level 6 Japanese language course or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAJ1201 Japanese 1 *These two courses, LAJ3202 Japanese 6 and LAJ3204 Business Japanese 2, are at the same Level 6, but not mutually exclusive. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · JS2203 Sound, Grammar and Meaning · JS2213 Visual Analysis of Japanese Popular Culture · JS2216 Postwar Japanese Film and Anime · JS2225 Marketing and Consumer Culture in Japan · JS2230 Itadakimasu – Food in Japan · JS3213 Alternative Lives in Contemporary Japan · JS3214 Japanese Philosophy and Thought · JS3223 Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region · JS3227 Entrepreneurship: Self-made in Japan · JS3230 Men and Women in Modern Japanese Literature · JS4229/JS4229 Japanese Translation - Theory & Practice · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Korean | Minor in Korean Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAK4202 Korean 6 or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAK4202 Korean 6 or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAK1201 Korean 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
·PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · HY3206 East Asian International Relations · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Malay | Minor in Malay Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAM4202 Malay 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAM4202 Malay 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAM1201 Malay 1 |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · SE2224 Unmasked! An Introduction to Traditional Dance in SEA · SE2225 Forbidden Pleasures: Vice in Southeast Asia · SE3214 Heritage and Heritagescapes in Southeast Asia · SE3233 Martial Arts in Southeast Asia · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Spanish | Minor in Spanish Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAS4202 Spanish 6 or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAS4202 Spanish 6 or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAS1201 Spanish 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · EU1101E Making of Modern Europe · EU2213/HY2231 Upheaval in Europe: 1848-1918 · HY2210 State and Society in Early-Modern Europe · HY2264 The Making of Modern Europe · HY2253 Christianity in World History · HY3257 The Philippines: A Social and Cultural History · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings · PS3880H The Politics of European Integration |
|
| Thai | Minor in Thai Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAT4202 Thai 6 or higher), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAT4202 Thai 6 or higher) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAT1201 Thai 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · SE2210 Popular Culture in Southeast Asia · SE2212 Cities and Urban Life in Southeast Asia · SE2213 Politics in Southeast Asia · SE2214 Arts of Southeast Asia · SE2217 War and Southeast Asia · SE2221 Old and New Music in Southeast Asia · SE2223 Doing Research in Southeast Asia · SE2224 Unmasked! An Introduction to Traditional Dance in SEA · SE2225 Forbidden Pleasures: Vice in Southeast Asia · SE2229 Southeast Asia as a Field of Study · SE3214 Heritage and Heritagescapes in Southeast Asia · SE3224 Thai Drawing and Painting · SE3233 Martial Arts in Southeast Asia · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
|
| Vietnamese | Minor in Vietnamese Language Studies
Students may read and pass: 1. 5 eligible language courses (including LAV4202 Vietnamese 6), or 2. 4 eligible language courses (including LAV4202 Vietnamese 6) and one of the recognised courses from the language track. The eligible language courses are: · Level 1: LAV1201 Vietnamese 1 *Offered only until the end of AY2027/2028 to students who declared the minor by January 2026, subject to approval. |
| The recognised courses are:
· PH2242 Philosophy of Language · HY1101E Asia and the Modern World: Engaged Histories · SE2210 Popular Culture in Southeast Asia · SE2217 War and Southeast Asia · HY1101E Engaging Asia: A Global History · SE1101E The Lands Below the Winds: Southeast Asia in the World · EL1101E The Nature of Language · EL2101 Structure of Sentences and Meanings |
