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Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian

 

Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian (BCMS) are all languages taught at UT Austin. Note on language courses: while we offer most languages each semester, we might not always have the one you need on our schedule. If that is the case, please visit CREEES in BUR 452 and ask about conference course options.

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION: University Extension online courses in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian are open to all (not just UT students)! If you're working toward a degree, catch up or get ahead on your degree requirements with a variety of flexible course options. All University Extension courses award UT Austin college credit, are transferable and appear on an official college transcript. 

A free online textbook series in Beginning and Intermediate Croatian is available at Tako Lako!

 

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Visit the Undergraduate Course List page to access links to the University Course Catalog or the Course Spotlight page for current featured course flyers.

Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian

• Free, online textbooks
• Small class size
• Open to all via The University Exension
• Balkan Circle

Why BCMS?
• The Balkan countries are known for their beautiful landscapes, iconic art, and delicious cuisine.
• Four languages in one!
• Study abroad in the land of of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Mamma Mia!

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Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian (BCMS) are taught together at UT Austin, giving students access to the languages and cultures of Southeast Europe through a single program. Whether you are starting from scratch, reconnecting with a heritage language, or building on previous experience, you can study BCMS from beginning through advanced levels.

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BCMS Program at a Glance

Why Study BCMS at UT?

Speak from day one. BCMS classes are small, giving you frequent opportunities to use the language and receive individual attention from your instructor. From the beginning, the focus is on learning to communicate in real situations rather than only learning about the language.

Learn with materials developed at UT. Core BCMS courses use free, open-access digital resources developed at UT: Tako lako for beginning and Navrh jezika for intermediate levels. Interactive activities, audio, video, and real-world situations give you opportunities to practice and use the language throughout the program.

Learn language through culture. Language and culture are taught together throughout the BCMS program. You will encounter contemporary life, cultural practices, media, history, and perspectives from across the region while developing your ability to communicate.

Develop distinctive regional expertise. As a less commonly taught language, BCMS can complement study in international affairs, public policy, law, journalism, human rights, migration studies, business, history, and other fields, helping you develop specialized knowledge of Southeast Europe.

Go where translation can't. Knowing the language gives you direct access to literature, film, music, archives, humor, media, and everyday conversation that subtitles and translations only partly capture.

Connect with people and communities. Whether you are reconnecting with family history, joining a heritage community, traveling in the region, or making new connections, BCMS allows you to communicate with people across Southeast Europe and its global diaspora. Heritage speakers are welcome at every level.

 

Explore BCMS Courses

The Department of European and Eurasian Studies offers BCMS courses from beginning through advanced levels. Visit the Undergraduate Course List page to access links to the University Course Catalog or the Course Spotlight page for current featured course flyers.

  • First-Year Program

    BCM 506 (Fall) and BCM 507 (Spring)

    Begin learning BCMS through everyday situations and meaningful communication. From the first semester, you will develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while exploring contemporary life and culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

    Rather than preparing for traditional pen-and-paper tests, you will use what you learn to complete communicative tasks based on real-life situations. You will also work with classmates on conversations, projects, and other interactive activities while developing the skills to communicate independently. Both courses are taught online and combine live class meetings with independent work. Real-time participation is required during scheduled class meetings.

    Course materials: No textbook purchase is required. Courses use Tako lako, a free, open-access digital textbook developed at UT Austin with interactive activities, audio, video, and culturally rich materials.

  • Second-Year Program

    BCM 312K (Fall) and BCM 312L (Spring)

    Build on your first-year foundation and expand your ability to communicate in everyday situations. You will develop greater confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing while expanding your vocabulary, strengthening your control of grammar, and exploring cultural perspectives from across the BCMS region.

    Coursework combines independent learning with conversation, collaborative activities, projects, and other opportunities to use BCMS with your classmates. The goal is to move beyond basic communication and develop the language and cultural knowledge needed to interact more effectively in a wider range of situations. Both courses are taught online and include live class meetings. Real-time participation is required during scheduled meeting times.

    Course materials: No textbook purchase is required. Courses use Navrh jezika, a free, open-access digital resource developed at UT Austin with interactive activities, audio, video, and culturally focused materials.

  • Third-Year Program

    BCM 325 (Fall) and BCM 326 (Spring)

    Take your BCMS skills to a more advanced level through conversation, reading, writing, grammar, and engagement with a wider range of authentic texts and topics.

    You will develop the ability to communicate about increasingly complex subjects, participate more independently in social and transactional situations, and read and discuss materials dealing with contemporary culture, history, society, and other topics related to Southeast Europe.

    At this level, you will also deepen your understanding of cultural perspectives across the BCMS region while developing greater accuracy, flexibility, and independence in using the language.

  • Advanced-Level Program

    Offered based on demand

    BCM 324: Topics in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian Studies

    BCM 379: Conference Courses in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian

    Continue developing advanced language skills through individualized study of topics related to the languages, cultures, literature, and societies of Southeast Europe. Depending on the course and topic, you may work with contemporary scholarship, criticism, literature, media, and other authentic materials while strengthening advanced reading, writing, speaking, and grammatical skills. Advanced courses can also support interdisciplinary research by allowing you to work with BCMS-language materials related to your academic interests. Topics and availability vary.

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Earn a Minor

Turn your interest in BCMS into an academic credential. At UT Austin, you can earn the Slavic and Eurasian Languages Minor by completing the BCMS course sequence. The minor requires 19 credit hours, including beginning and intermediate language courses and upper-division BCMS coursework.

Whether your major is in the humanities, social sciences, business, or another field, the minor offers an opportunity to complement your degree with language skills and knowledge of Southeast Europe. Explore the minor requirements or consult the official Undergraduate Catalog for detailed course requirements.

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Studying BCMS at UT Austin extends beyond your courses. Join the Balkan Circle to connect with other students interested in the region, participate in cultural and community activities, and explore opportunities to study abroad in Southeast Europe through CREEES. Funding opportunities may also be available to support language study, study abroad, and other academic experiences related to the region.

Take Courses Through University Extension

Not a UT student? BCMS courses are also offered online through University Extension. They are open to everyone and award UT Austin credit.

Questions?

Interested in studying BCMS at UT or unsure which course is right for you? Contact Dr. Frane Karabatic at frane.karabatic@austin.utexas.edu.