A Strategic and Critical Language
Persian is spoken by over 100 million people in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan as well as neighboring countries. It's one of the world's ancient languages and once the lingua franca of central Asia, so Persian is a gateway to this fascinating part of the world. The region's strategic importance and U.S.-Iranian relations give our students an advantage when seeking jobs in government, journalism, and political or strategic analysis.
Degree Programs
We offer a Minor in Persian. We also offer a Certificate in Intercultural Competence for the Workplace, a Certificate in Pedagogy in World Languages, and a Certificate in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies.
Upcoming Persian Courses
Use the Schedule of Classes to help you plan your course schedule.
Advising and Placement
Visit the Persian Advising and Placement page for instructions on how to:
- Take a placement test, if you have previously taken Persian and have questions about which course is appropriate for you
- Request a faculty advisor for minors, if you plan to minor in Persian
- Access the Persian minor advising worksheet
Persian Tutoring Services
The Department of World Languages and Literatures offers drop-in tutoring services for 100- and 200-level language students. See the schedule here. Non-PSU students, please see our list of community tutors and translators here.
Middle East Studies Scholarships
The Department of World Languages and Literatures has 20 scholarships available to students, including ones for specific languages and study abroad.
Second Language Requirement
Persian meets the Second Language Admission Requirement and the Second Language Bachelor of Arts (BA)/Master of Arts (MA) Requirement.
Study Abroad
PSU's Education Abroad offers more than 200 programs in 80 countries.