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Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS)

The Center for African Studies is seeking applicants for fellowships to enhance students' language skills in Swahili, Somali, Zulu, and Yoruba during academic year 2014/15.  CAS is applying for funds from the U.S. Department of Education's Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) program. If successful, academic year fellowships will be available for graduate and undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree and need advanced training in language and area studies.

The fellowship seeks to enhance students' language skills and knowledge of a foreign country or region through coursework. These fellowships carry an authorization for tuition and partial fees, and a stipend for living and other expenses. They may be used at Ohio State, or, pending approval, at other US or African institutions. FLAS Fellowships are intended to produce experts in less commonly taught languages and related area studies who enter priority careers that meet national needs: government service, the military, the professions, and academia.

Graduate and Professional Students:

Academic year fellowships are for students wishing to study an eligible language and take area studies coursework for two academic semesters. Applicants can be at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced language level. Applicants at the beginner level for their applied language must study domestically. Intermediate and advanced language applicants can study both domestically or at an overseas institution but must still take both an area studies and language course. Beyond the language and area-studies courses, students can enroll in other courses related to their degree as long as they are enrolled full-time.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

  • Full-time graduate or professional student
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Good academic standing

Course Requirements:

  • 1 language course per semester
  • 1 area-studies course per semester
  • Can then enroll in other courses as needed for degree
  • All courses (including non-FLAS coursework) must be graded and in classroom
  • Independent study and individualized instruction are not allowed
  • Audit and pass/fail designations are not permissible

Fellowship Benefits:

  • Up to $18,000 of tuition and fee support
  • $15,000 stipend

To apply for FLAS, read the attached graduate flas description.pdf and and FLAS_App_procedures.pdf.    Fill out the CAS_FLAS_App_ AY14-18 .pdf  and budget forms.pdf , and obtain two recommendations.pdf.

Please contact Laura Joseph, the FLAS coordinator, joseph.184@osu.edu if you have any questions about fellowship requirements.

Undergraduate Students:

Undergraduate students undertaking a course of study requiring both language and area-studies can apply for a fellowship to study at a domestic or overseas institution. Applicants can be at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced language level. Applicants at the beginner level for their applied language must study domestically. Intermediate and advanced language applicants can study both domestically or at an overseas institution but must still take both an area studies and language course. Beyond the language and area-studies courses, students can enroll in other courses related to their degree as long as they are enrolled full-time.

Applicant Eligibility Requirements:

  • Full-time undergraduate student
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Good academic standing

Course Requirements:

  • 1 language course per semester
  • 1 area-studies course per semester
  • Can then enroll in other courses as needed for degree
  • All courses (including non-FLAS coursework) must be graded and in classroom
  • Independent study and individualized instruction are not allowed
  • Audit and pass/fail designations are not permissible

Fellowship Benefits:

  • Up to $10,000 of tuition and fee support
  • $5,000 stipend

To apply for FLAS, read the attached undergraduate flas description.pdf and FLAS_App_procedures.pdf.   Fill out the CAS_FLAS_App_ AY14-18 .pdf and budget forms.pdf , and obtain two recommendations.pdf.

Please contact Laura Joseph, the FLAS coordinator, at joseph.184@osu.edu if you have any questions about fellowship requirements or eligible language programs.