To protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values and shape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive.
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, under the administration of the U.S. Study Abroad Branch within the ECA, seeks to increase the number of Americans proficient in critical foreign languages. This initiative aligns with broader U.S. foreign policy goals, which include strengthening national security, promoting competitiveness and economic prosperity, and fostering mutual understanding with pivotal regions. The program, initiated in 2006, provides funding for approximately 522 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students for intensive language study abroad and through virtual platforms in languages deemed critical to U.S. interests. It also supports programming for all CLS alumni dating back to the program's inception.