Non-Credit Programs

We offer non-credit language learning opportunities to Denver metro community members, DU students and employees. Our classes are dedicated to lifelong learners, professionals, and academics who want to practice their language skills, discover opportunities to study less commonly taught languages and develop a language skillset for their personal or professional use.

Our programs include community classes meeting online or in person, small study cohorts for specific professions, and individualized, self-directed study formats for less commonly taught languages. Please contact us at cwlc@du.edu to find the best program for your needs. 

Community Language Courses

Our instructor-led community courses run in the evenings and provide learners the chance to study various languages in an encouraging and fun group environment. Some courses meet online, and others meet in person on the University of Denver campus. Classes follow the DU academic calendar with new classes typically starting in Week 2 of the fall, winter, and spring quarters.  

Register for Community Courses

Course Offerings

  • Beginners’ Courses

    Intended for learners with little or no exposure to the language of interest, these non-credit courses cover the basics of the language of interest, with a focus on developing communication skills. To complete the course curriculum in its entirety, learners should expect to enroll in the fall, winter, and spring sessions. However, learners with some exposure can join in any quarter. In each 10-week course, learners will meet for 90 minutes weekly with a DU language instructor who will guide learners’ studies and provide opportunities for engaging in conversation during weekly meetings.  

    • These languages are normally offered online via Zoom: Arabic, French, Italian and Spanish.  
    • These languages are normally offered in person on the DU campus: American Sign Language and German.  

    The registration fee is $300 per quarter. Discounts are available for graduate students in some DU programs. To see if you qualify, please contact cwlc@du.edu  before you register.   

    Visit our registration page to see what courses are currently open. 

  • Let’s Practice Courses

    Intended for learners with an intermediate or higher level in the language of interest, these courses are designed to increase learners' fluency in the language of interest as applied to everyday situations. Learners will also identify common cultural patterns and describe various cultural viewpoints. Over the course of 10 weeks, learners will meet for 90 minutes weekly with a DU instructor who will guide their studying and provide opportunities for engaging in conversation during weekly meetings. Learners may be asked to view videos, listen to songs, or read articles to discuss in class. 

    • These languages are normally offered online via Zoom: Arabic, French, Italian, and Spanish.  
    • These languages are normally offered in person on the DU campus: American Sign Language.  

    The registration fee is $300 per quarter. Discounts are available for graduate students in some DU programs. To see if you qualify, please contact us at cwlc@du.edu before you register. 

    Visit our registration page to see what courses are currently open. 

students sitting

Languages For You!

Our For You! program provides the opportunity to study less commonly taught languages not available through traditional classroom instruction at the University of Denver. Flexibility is one of the key components of this program, responding to your language needs and language acquisition capabilities. Your study is guided with the support of a Language Partner who is a native speaker of the language you wish to study.

Our For You! program combines self-directed study, weekly meetings one-on-one with a Language Partner, and weekly small group meetings with the Language Partner and other learners to practice active conversation, ask questions, and develop cultural insights. The CWLC Associate Director and the Language Partner will provide guidance in setting goals, monitoring progress, and choosing learning materials.  

Tuition: $400 | Materials Costs: Vary

Discounts are available for graduate students in some DU programs. To see if you qualify, please contact cwlc@du.edu before you register. 

Register for Current Courses

Languages recently offered are Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Kinyarwanda, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Visit this page to see our current offerings! 

Want to learn a less commonly taught language that you don't see listed above? Complete this form to let us know! 

For questions about Languages for You!, contact CWLC Associate Director Ethel Swartley at Ethel.Swartley@du.edu.  

Languages for Professions

Languages for Professions courses aim to help learners further their language skills and cultural competencies in specific academic disciplines and professional contexts. In these courses, students will complete tasks related to a given professional domain and discuss situations relevant to their field of study or their professional setting. Learners have the opportunity to earn a DU Credly badge upon completion of these courses.

Examples of courses in development are Spanish for Health and Human Services and French for Professional Communication.

Courses are open to undergraduate, graduate students, and community members with an intermediate mid-level of language proficiency. Courses are taught in the target language. 

Please contact CWLC Director Virginie Cassidy at Virginie.Cassidy@du.edu if you are interested in the development of other courses.

Register for Current Courses
  • French for International Relations 1

    Are you ready to communicate effectively in French and to develop intercultural competencies required to pursue collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making in the context of international relations?

    Examples of tasks are: communicate professionally with your future colleagues, organize an event and design official invitations, report on current events of the Francophone world, identify a mission and convince partners to join your project, describe the humanitarian/political situation of a Francophone country. 

  • French for Professional Communication

    Would you like to communicate effectively in French in professional contexts? In this course, you will further develop language proficiency by completing professional tasks in authentic situations, and learn how to engage successfully in various steps of the job application process in French.

  • Spanish for Professions

    Would you like to acquire necessary the language skills to succeed in a variety of professional settings where Spanish is required? By focusing on both language and cultural awareness, you will be well-prepared to navigate professional interactions with Spanish speakers, whether in the U.S., online, or abroad. In this course, you will also learn how to engage successfully in various steps of the application process in Spanish.