The Critical Languages Institute

The Critical Languages Institute (CLI) at Arizona State University’s Melikian Center is a national training institute for less commonly taught languages, offering summer intensive courses and study-abroad programs around the world.

CLI Rolling Admissions Deadline:  March 29, 2024

Welcome to CLI

Although the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has impacted our study abroad offerings, it has also demonstrated that learning these languages—Ukrainian and Russian, but other languages as well—is more vital than ever. 

The Melikian Center provides study-abroad advising, grant & career mentoring, and visits by federal agency recruiters during Tempe-based CLI programs. CLI graduates have an exceptionally high success rate for competitive study-abroad awards like the Boren and Fulbright. Wherever they start their journey, CLI students travel on as multicultural, global citizens! 

Thanks to ASU institutional support, CLI does not charge tuition (in-state or out-of-state) for its credit-bearing courses. Instead, we charge a flat administrative fee of $1,750 for all of our languages. Please note that additional fees apply for our study-abroad programs.

About Critical Languages Institute Programs

Program Costs

Thanks to ASU institutional support, CLI does not charge tuition (in-state or out-of-state) for its credit-bearing courses. Instead of tuition fees, we charge a flat administrative fee of $1,750* for all domestic programs in Tempe. Please note that this fee covers academics only; it does not cover room and board, travel, study abroad program fees, books, or insurance.

This fee is the same regardless of language and number of credits taken. In-country extension programs may have additional fees.

*All prices and descriptions on this page subject to change. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts. For information about our reduced program fees for low income/Pell Grant eligible students, please see the Funding Options tab.

2023 Program

Domestic

Tuition and Fees 

Domestic Tuition and Fees 

+ 4 Week Study Abroad

8 Week

Study Abroad

Housing 

All Domestic Language Programs

$1,7501*

ASU Housing Available

OR Self-arranged off-campus

All ONLINE Domestic

Language Programs

$1,7501*

Albanian in Tirana, Albania

$4,1002*

$9,0003*

Homestays

Armenian in Yerevan, Armenia

$2,1002*

$4,6003*

Campus Housing

BCS in Sarajevo, Bosnia

$2,7002*

$6,5003*

Apartments

Indonesian in Denpasar, Indonesia 

$7,1003*

Homestay

Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

$4,1002*

$8,0003*

Homestay

Ukrainian in Warsaw, Poland

$8,1004*

Hotel

Polish in Warsaw, Poland $8,1004* Hotel
Uzbek in Tashkent $5,1502* $6,6003*

Hotel

Kazakh ONLINE (taught from

Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan)

$3,000* (international fee)

1:Price does not include books, room, board, ASU student registration, or other incidentals.

2: Price does not include books, room, board, ASU student registration, or other incidentals for the domestic portion. Price does include housing while abroad. Check individual language pages for more information on meals, excursions, and other covered costs. Visa fees and airfare are not included.

3: Check individual language pages for more information on meals, excursions, and other covered costs. Visa fees and airfare are not included. Price does include housing while abroad.

4:Check individual language pages for more information on meals, excursions, and other covered costs. Visa fees and airfare are not included. Price does not include housing while abroad.

* All prices are subject to change.

Dates and Times

Russian in Tempe, Arizona:
May 20th - July 12th, 2024
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 12:40PM

Language programs in Tempe, Arizona (excluding Russian)
May 27th - July 12th, 2024
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 12:40PM

8-week Language programs abroad (most):
June 17th - August 9th, 2024
Monday - Friday

4-week extension programs abroad:
July 15th - August 9th, 2024
Monday - Friday

Kazakh Online program (taught from Kazakhstan): June 03 - July 26**

**Dates subject to change!

Credit and Syllabi

Most CLI programs offer 8-10 undergraduate credits, though there are exceptions. All 4-week extension programs offer an additional 3 credits under the SLC 494 course designation.

Please view your program's course syllabus for detailed information.

Learn More

Housing and Meals

CLI offers language-oriented on-campus housing at one of Arizona State University's Tempe campus dormitories.

Students typically stay in double-occupancy rooms for $40* per day, with bathrooms shared between two double-occupancy rooms. This year ASU has instituted conference pricing at $115* per night which overlaps the beginning of our CLI programs.  With this new 2023 pricing structure, housing costs for our 7-week and 8-week programs are as follows:

7 weeks: May 26 - July 13  -  $2105

8 weeks: May 19 - July 13  -  $3025

ASU has a very limited supply of single-occupancy rooms. Participants who wish to live in an ASU dormitory and require rooms with ADA accommodations should email cli@asu.edu as soon as possible.

Typical amenities include laundry facilities, kitchen facilities, vending machines, air conditioning, and basic cable.  Kitchens are usually shared among residents of the hall and the CLI language clubs. CLI does not provide supplies for kitchen areas.  Bed linens are available to rent for an additional one-time $50* charge.

CLI students are not required to live in the ASU dorm or to eat on campus. Private summer sublets are available near campus; price and quality vary. CLI does not assist with off campus housing arrangements. 

CLI participants may eat on campus or may make their own meal arrangements. ASU offers a food court in the student union. CLI does not offer a meal plan for any of its on-campus programs. 

*All housing prices and descriptions on this page have been updated to 2023 pricing. Participants are responsible for checking current prices and details before signing billing, housing, or meal contracts.

Housing options for study abroad programs may vary.

Depending on program selection, students will live in dormitories, apartment-style housing, or with family home stays for the duration of their program. Further details will be provided to applicants via their application portal.

Placement Testing

If you are applying for a 2nd-year course or higher, you must take a placement test before the start of your program. Each language test will consists of a short test or writing sample. Placement tests will be calibrated to account for mid-semester progress at the time of testing.

Pre-departure Orientations

Pre-departure orientations are scheduled for May.  Please check our CLI Events calendar for your Zoom orientation date and time.  All orientations will be recorded. 

Note: Hybrid participants need only attend the Tempe Orientation.  Pre-departure orientations for 4-week programs will be offered in Tempe. 

CLI FAQ

MMR Vaccine Requirement

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

Study Abroad

If I travel abroad with CLI, who buys my ticket?........YOU DO
With the exception of ROTC cadets traveling abroad with Project GO, 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 group travel for ROTC students. Non-ROTC participants are welcome (but not required) to follow the ROTC itinerary. Airport pick up and drop off abroad is arraigned with our study abroad partners. Participants in ROTC groups are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item only; no checked luggage

Academic Matters

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?..........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?..........4 HOURS
Classes in the U.S. meet 4 hours a day. 
(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.

Eligibility

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
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
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
You may travel abroad with CLI if you are 16 or 17 and have written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Tuition/Funding

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, lab fees, application fees, recreation fees, etc. which add up to $1,750 for courses in Tempe. 

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


Will program fees change if CLI goes online? 
The $1,750 program fee will not change if CLI goes online (with the exception of Kazakh, which costs $3,000). CLI classes will still 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. 

Some of our overseas-based courses will be available online. Since the study-abroad fee also covers housing, excursions, and other in-country costs, the fees will be lowered accordingly if the classes are offered online.


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 more information. 
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
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 Add/Drop Deadline is at 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.

Applications

When should I apply to CLI?
As soon as possible. Our applications for Summer 2024 open on October 1st, 2023 and our priority admission deadline and application for funding opportunities is February 5, 2024.


What is the final application deadline?
Most classes that are not filled after the deadline will go into rolling admissions until April 1, 2024.


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?..........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 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.

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