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Language Requirement

Because students in the College of Arts & Sciences are required to satisfy the language requirement, it is necessary to clarify some policies in the Department of Modern Languages and Literature regarding language and literature courses.

Course sequence

Language courses, namely, 1111-1112, 1121-1122, 1131-1132 have to be taken in a sequence. Once a sequence has begun students may not revert to a lower course. This sequence limitation does not affect upper-level courses. In the Department any course above 1132 is an upper-level course and as such, it counts for a language major or minor. (1131-32 do as well.) 1132 is a prerequisite for all upper-level courses in the language (if the student is a heritage speaker, see that section below). 1132 may be taken concurrently with an upper-level course with permission of the coordinator of the Program.

Placement

Language learning disability
Some students have a learning disability that interferes with their ability to learn a language. They must have documented evidence by a professional to support their claim. If this occurs, students will be referred to Nancy Mott at Learning Support Services.

Those who have such disabilities will satisfy the language requirement by taking 2 upper level culture or literature courses offered in English at the department.

Students who have previous (high school or other) experience with a language should be encouraged to take the placement test for proper placement which is free and available on-line. Placement tests are available in French, Italian and Spanish.

If a student has 2 or more years of the language in high school, taking the placement test is mandatory. It is in the student’s interest to place as high as possible. It is not necessarily true that the student will get an A just because s/he is taking a lower level course. There is a qualitative difference between intermediate: 1121-22, and conversation/composition 1131/32. If a student should be completely fluent in a language other than English, s/he may satisfy the language requirement by taking two upper level courses offered in that language.

  • Advanced placement (AP) credit
    Students who have advanced placement credits with a score of 4 or 5 in French (48 or 51); Spanish (87 or 89); will have satisfied the language requirement and they will get transfer credits for the courses at the intermediate level. More information on AP credit policies can be found on the College Board website.
     
  • Credit by examination
    Students who have a higher level then intermediate in a language taught at the Department may obtain credit by examination and will be able to satisfy the language requirement by taking a test at the 1122 level. There is a fee for this examination. It is offered 3 times per year (October, April and June). Students who are interested in pursuing this option should talk to Assistant Dean, Mario D'Ignazio, Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences (610.510.4600).

Heritage speakers

Students who are native or heritage speakers and have done several years of schooling in a country other than the U.S. may be able the SKIP the language courses altogether and take upper-level courses to satisfy their language requirement. They must meet with the coordinator of the specific language program, or the chair of the department. In Spanish, a new course has been developed (SPA 1135) specifically designed for heritage speakers.

Advanced literature requirement courses

An upper-level literature course offered in any language, or in English at the department will satisfy the advanced literature requirement. Any literature course in the language of the major, namely French, Italian, or Spanish will count EITHER for the major, or it will satisfy the advanced literature requirement. However, minors or double-majors may ‘double-count’ these courses. This is the current policy of the College.

Credit hours

There are two different types of languages that satisfy the language requirement of the College:

  • So-called “critical languages” (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian) are offered as 6 credit courses at the beginning level and 5 credits at the intermediate level. Because of the hours, the policy is that ONE YEAR of study of any of these languages above satisfies the requirement.
     
  • So-called “traditional Languages” (French, Italian,  Spanish, and Latin) require that students take the language for 4 semesters if they start at the beginning level (1111), because the beginning language courses are 4 credits, and the intermediate 3. Students placed at the intermediate level or higher, need only two semesters of the chosen language to fulfill the language requirement.