
Creating Global Professionals
Our students have the unique opportunity to participate in intensive Chinese language study concurrent with any major of study, including one year of immersive language and internship study in China.
Chinese Flagship Program 中文领航
Our Program
The Chinese Language Flagship Program at WKU became the 9th such program in the nation, and the only program in Kentucky, in 2009. Our program is sponsored by The Language Flagship, an initiative of the National Security Education Program within the Defense Language and National Security Education Office.
How Flagship Works
Flagship focuses on supporting students in reaching a Superior, or professional, level of Chinese proficiency, as determined by the ACTFL scale, during their undergraduate career. Students take Flagship courses every semester in addition to their major or minor coursework, and participate in many intensive Chinese language opportunities in the U.S. and China during the Winter or Summer terms.
Upon reaching the Advanced-Mid level of proficiency, students apply for participation in a Capstone Year in Nanjing, China or Taipei, Taiwan. The Capstone Year includes advanced level Chinese coursework and direct enrollment at either Nanjing University or National Taiwan University, and a professional internship related to the student’s field of study. Students who complete this requirement and test at the Superior level will receive certification through the National Security Education Program.
Flagship Certified Professionals are highly motivated graduates equipped with the language proficiency and intercultural insights for careers in federal government, global business, nongovernmental organizations, natural sciences, performing arts, and other fields.
Our Students…
- Are all students in the Honors College at WKU,
- Represent majors across all of WKU’s academic colleges,
- With few exceptions, start the program with no prior knowledge of Chinese,
- Include current and former students of The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky,
- Have multiple opportunities to travel abroad,
- Engage in Chinese class five days a week,
- Receive weekly one-on-one tutoring with native speakers, and
- Are successfully applying for nationally competitive scholarships


Chinese Flagship in the News
Jan 20th, 2021
Five WKU students have been awarded $20,000 David L. Boren Scholarships to fund intensive language study in the US and abroad during the 2020-2021 academic year. All five are students in the Chinese Flagship Program....
View ArticleJul 30th, 2020
The Chinese Flagship Program in the Department of Modern Languages at Western Kentucky University is pleased to announce the renewal of its federal funding for 2020-2024. WKU is one of 13 institutions in the United States to host a Chinese Flagship...
View ArticleFeb 13th, 2020
Bowling Green, KY-Five WKU Chinese Flagship students have recently returned from their Capstone Year in China, receiving certification of their language proficiency...
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