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The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by American Councils for International Education.

The CLS Program provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity. Participants receive the equivalent of one year of language study in eight weeks, through intensive language instruction and cultural activities that reinforce both language learning and intercultural competence. Since 2006, the CLS Program has supported over 10,000 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. CLS alumni represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

What Alumni Say About the CLS Program

Key Benefits

Develop Key Expertise

The CLS Program provides its scholars intensive language and cultural instruction in an environment designed to maximize their language gains at every level.

Career Ready Skills

Alumni apply their critical language skills in a variety of professional fields in public and private sectors as well as government, helping to support America’s competitiveness across the board.

Citizen Diplomacy

CLS scholars represent the breadth of the United States. Through personal engagement they help to spread American values and develop mutual understanding with the people of other countries.

Languages Offered

Arabic

Chinese

Hindi

Japanese

Korean

Persian

Portuguese

Russian

Swahili

See the full list of languages offered by the CLS Program

CLS News and Stories

AI in Action International Alumni Seminar

The U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program invites alumni to apply for the AI in Action International Alumni Seminar, taking place in Riga, Latvia, from October 17–24, 2026. This weeklong seminar will convene up to 25 CLS alumni for hands-on sessions with topic expe…

June 03, 2026

2026 CLS Alumni Ambassador Forum

In April, the CLS Program hosted the 2026 CLS Alumni Ambassador Forum in Washington, D.C. – a multi-day training focused on outreach, leadership development, and expanding the program’s impact. These ambassadors will represent CLS, engage prospective applicants, and build institutional partnerships…

May 29, 2026

Announcing the 2026 CLS Program Awards

Congratulations to the approximately 315 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students selected for the 2026 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program! We commend all applicants for their commitment to critical language study and congratulate the finalists and alternates selected from an exceptionally…

February 25, 2026

CLS Alumni Highlight: Addison Miller

Addison Miller, a 2024 CLS Chinese Program participant in New Taipei City, Taiwan, leveraged her experience to shape her path toward a career in international and comparative education. Her CLS experience played a pivotal role in connecting her academic interests with real-world experience. In 2026…

February 17, 2026

CLS in the Press

Dairen Castro ’28 selected for Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco

Dairen Castro ’28 has been selected for the 2026 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program. Castro was one of 315 students selected from a competitive pool of more than 4,500 applicants and will continue the longstanding tradition of Carls participating in the program. She will spend the summer studying Arabic at the Arab American Language Institute in Meknes, Morocco.

Shared from Carleton College, June 01, 2026

Five Students Awarded Scholarships to Study Abroad

Five Dartmouth students have received federal awards for foreign language and cultural study abroad.

Shared from Dartmouth College, May 29, 2026

Whitworth University’s Jordyn Bennett ’27 Named Finalist for Prestigious Critical Language Scholarship in Swahili

Whitworth University student Jordyn Bennett ’27 has been selected as a finalist for the highly competitive U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program in Swahili. Bennett is headed to Tanzania on June 9, 2026, where she will participate in an intensive, two-month language and cultural immersion experience.

Shared from Whitworth University News, May 28, 2026