The Critical Languages Institute

"What is the MMR? Why do I need it?"

MMR is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. Before any student can register at ASU, they must document that they've had two measles vaccinations (one of which must be dated after 1979), or a lab test showing proof of immunity to the measles (rubella). The ASU computer system will not allow you to register until ASU has verification that you have your MMR vaccination. CLI cannot waive this requirement. For details, see ASU Student Immunization Requirements.

"Will I still need MMR documentation if I am attending CLI online?"

If you are attending CLI online, students can request a waiver from ASU's immunizations department.

"If I travel abroad with CLI, who buys my ticket?"

CLI participants make their own international travel arrangements. Participants are not required to fly on any particular itinerary, although they may not leave Phoenix before the end of the CLI program in Arizona and must arrive at their host country before the start of classes there.

"Who meets me at the airport in my host country?"

A representative of your CLI program overseas.

CLI will collect travel information from all participants before departure and will meet them individually at the airport, provided they arrive within 1 day of the published arrival time.

"I am told CLI organizes group travel to some locations. Is it true?"

Yes.

CLI organizes several excursions throughout your in-country stay.  Airport pick up and drop off abroad is arraigned with our study abroad partners. Participants are advised to travel LIGHT.  Suggestion: one carry-on bag and one personal item only; no checked luggage because checked luggage can sometimes be lost.

"Is there a Placement Test?"

Yes, above 1st year.

All students admitted at the 2nd-year level or higher must take a placement test. CLI will inform you of the results before you register and before you pay your deposit. You will have the option of withdrawing from CLI free of penalty if you are unhappy with the results of the placement test.

(NOTE: CLI cannot refund ASU application fees. Please do not apply for ASU summer session admission until you have been accepted to CLI and been placed in a CLI course.)

Can I transfer ASU credits to my home school?

Probably.

CLI awards regular ASU language credits for all its courses, including overseas courses. Most U.S. schools accept these, provided students are eligible to transfer credits (e.g. provided you have not already exceeded your transfer credit maximum.) Check with your school's transfer office or registrar first if you have concerns. Be aware that ASU charges a fee ($15 as of this writing) to issue an official transcript. (Unofficial transcripts are free.) Your home university may also charge transfer-of-credit fees. Check with your school in advance.

"How do I access my transcript? How do I view my grades?"

To view your grades, please login to My ASU at https://my.asu.edu. For more detailed instructions on how to view your grades, download an unofficial transcript, or request an official transcript, please visit this webpage.

Is there an official certificate of completion?

We make pdf certificates of course completion upon request. Please email us at cli@asu.edu along with your course title and the year you completed your course to request one.

Can I use my ASU credits toward my major at my home school?

Maybe.

It depends on your major and your school and department's policy on transfer credits. Check with your school. CLI courses award regular ASU credit. The course number and full, official title for each course is included in the course syllabus and on your ASU transcript. You may need this information when you talk to your transfer credit coordinator. (To find the syllabus, go to the web page of the course you are interested in and click the "syllabus" link.)

"Can I audit a CLI class?"

No.

CLI classes must be taken for a grade. This includes CLI classes overseas.

"Can I take a CLI class pass/fail?"

No.

CLI classes must be taken for a grade. This includes CLI classes overseas.

"What is the add/drop deadline?"

On Day 1.

An unfortunate side effect of the accelerated schedule of CLI courses is that the add/drop deadline for most CLI courses is the first day of class.

"How many hours a day do classes meet?"

Classes in the U.S. meet 4 hours a day (and Russian slightly more). 
(Overseas classes meet either 3 or 4 hours a day. See individual course pages for details.

"How much homework is there?"

4 hours.

Successful students report an average load of 3-4 hours of homework a day.

"I have a part-time job. Will I be able to continue working during my CLI program?"

Maybe.

Between class time and homework, most CLI students spend up to 8 hours a day in class or preparing for class. This makes it quite challenging for students who are also working, even part time. While many students working part-time jobs during CLI have found it difficult to achieve the results they want, others have been quite successful. Through good time management and with the support of CLI faculty and staff, students can make it work. 

"What is my proficiency level?"

At the end of the course, your language teacher will conduct an informal spoken proficiency interview. This interview will not impact your final grade. If you would like the results of this interview, please request them by email from cli@asu.edu.

"I am not an ASU student. Am I eligible for CLI?"

Yes. In fact, the majority of CLI participants are not ASU students.

"I am not a student. Am I eligible for CLI?"

Yes, provided you are at least 16 years old and are a U.S. citizen, or have a visa that allows you to study in the U.S.

"I am a high-school student. Am I eligible for CLI?"

Maybe.

High-school juniors and seniors from metropolitan Phoenix who have already studied at least one foreign language are eligible to study in CLI. Students under 18 will need permission from parents or guardians before enrolling in ASU summer classes. There are restrictions on overseas travel as well. Please consult CLI staff if this applies to you.

When our program is online, high-school students from across the country are also able to participate.

For the ASU nondegree application (not the CLI application), please note:

Students currently enrolled in high school and persons under the age of 18 may be admitted as nondegree students by submitting an official high school transcript and a letter of approval from a high school counselor or principal. Applicants must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA in Arizona Board of Regents competency courses to be considered for admission. Please have your high school counselor submit the letter and transcript together for faster processing of your application to admissions@asu.edu.

"I am not a U.S. citizen. Am I eligible for CLI?"

Maybe.

For courses held in Arizona, you must hold a student visa or be otherwise authorized to study in the United States. CLI cannot provide student visa support. For courses held outside the United States, no U.S. visa is required.

"I am employed by the U.S. government. Am I eligible for CLI?"

Yes, provided you are otherwise eligible for the program and authorized to travel to the program location.

"I am under 18. Can I go abroad with CLI?"

Yes!

If you are at least 16 years old, you may travel abroad with CLI if you have written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

"Are CLI classes really tuition free?"

Yes, but courses have fees.

ASU waives tuition on all CLI classes, including overseas classes. Courses are not free, however.   ASU collects a CLI program fee of $2,000 for online courses. 

For overseas courses, all ASU fees are included in the study-abroad fee. There are no additional ASU expenses.

"Can I really learn a language online?"

CLI classes will be synchronous (live, real-time interactions as opposed to recorded lessons) and run for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. We know from our experience in 2020 that our faculty works even harder to prepare for online programming. Creating engaging and interactive lesson plans, assessing and providing feedback on student work, providing support and assistance during office hours--all of this requires additional training, time, and effort in an online program. Most importantly, we found that students achieved similarly impressive proficiency results in our online program as they have with our in-person programs in previous years. 

"Does CLI offer funding?"

Yes, see the Funding tab for the program you are interested in.

"Does CLI offer FLAS funding?"

Yes, see the Funding tab for the program you are interested in.

If you have FLAS funding from another university, you may apply it to CLI.

"I have financial aid. Can I use it for CLI?"

That depends on the type of aid you have, on where you are enrolled, etc.

Please consult your local financial aid office. CLI would be happy to provide them any information they require. 

"What is the deadline to withdraw from CLI?"

The end of the first day of class. 

You cannot change classes after that. You can withdraw from class for the first half of the class. You will get a "W" on your transcript and no grade. No fees will be refunded.

"If I withdraw from CLI after the deadline, do I get a refund?"

No, all CLI fees are non-refundable.

"When should I apply to CLI?"

As soon as possible! 

Our applications for Summer 2025 open on or before October 15, 2024 and our priority admission deadline and application for funding opportunities is January 31, 2025.

"What is the final application deadline?"

Most classes that are not filled after the deadline will go into rolling admissions until April 1, 2025.

"How much is the CLI application fee?"

$0.

There is no fee to apply for CLI, but students who are accepted will need to become ASU summer students. There is a $65 -- $90 fee for that.

"Why do I have to apply twice? Why do I have to send my transcript twice?"

In order to save applicants (you) money, CLI admissions is a two-stage process.

1. Students apply to the CLI department at ASU. There is no fee for applying to CLI. A transcript is required, but it can be unofficial, which is usually free.

2. If a student is accepted by CLI, they must then officially apply to ASU as a nondegree student. This involves an application fee and requires official transcripts. 

This two-stage process is inconvenient, but it protects students from being charged an application fee before they know whether or not they are accepted into CLI.

For high school students under the age of 18, please note:

Students currently enrolled in high school and persons under the age of 18 may be admitted as non-degree students by submitting an official high school transcript and a letter of approval from a high school counselor or principal. Applicants must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA in Arizona Board of Regents competency courses to be considered for admission. Please have your high school counselor submit the letter and transcript together for faster processing of your application to admissions@asu.edu.