Syracuse University students interested in studying a less-commonly-taught language can now apply for the 2018 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) offered by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) invites both undergraduate and graduate students from all fields of study to attend an information session on Friday, Oct. 6, in room 010, Eggers Hall.

Students in the CLS program spend eight to 10 weeks abroad, over the summer, studying one of 14 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language comprehension. The scholarship offers fully funded summer language institutes for students who are at the beginner level in their study of Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu; those who have studied Arabic and Persian for at least one year; and those who have studied Chinese, Japanese and Russian for at least two years.

CLS is designed to prepare U.S. students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.

CFSA will host two writing workshops to help students complete the required essays for the application. Workshops will be held on:

Friday, Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 116 Bowne Hall

Thursday, Nov. 9, 1-2:30 p.m., 437 Sims Hall

The application deadline is Nov. 15. Complete program information can be found at http://www.clscholarship.org/.

The mission of the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising is to make students, alumni and faculty aware of nationally competitive fellowship and scholarship opportunities; to help students and alumni identify scholarship opportunities that line up with their interests and backgrounds; and to assist them through all stages of the application process, from planning and submission, to the interviews.

For more information about CLS or other scholarship opportunities, contact Jolynn Parker (jmpark02@syr.edu) or Naomi Shanguhyia (nyshangu@syr.edu) at the Center for Fellowship & Scholarship Advising, or call 315.443.2759.