A&S Language Requirement

The purpose of the foreign language requirement is to ensure that students who receive degrees in the College of Arts & Sciences have had a rich experience in more than one language and familiarity with more than one culture.

The language requirement may be fulfilled in 10 to 12 credit hours, depending on placement, or by demonstrating proficiency through testing, as described below.

Students who matriculate in the College of Arts and Sciences with only one year or no previous foreign language training, or who wish to commence study in a language in which they have had no former training, must complete both terms of Basic Language instruction or all four terms of Extended Basic Language instruction in a single foreign language. 

This requirement is fulfilled by the completion with a passing grade in the final course of either of these course sequences:

• Two-semester Sequence:
  • 5 credits each, 10 total of Basic Language 1001 & 1002
• Four-semester Sequence:
  • 3 credits each, 12 total of Extended Basic Language 1011, 1012, 1013 & 1014

NB: Students must receive at least a C- in order to continue from one course to another in any language sequence.

Students who have the equivalent of two years of high school language study and wish to continue with study of that language, will be placed automatically into the second course in the Basic Language sequence (1002) by the Admissions Office.  They fulfill the language requirement with a passing grade in that course (total 5 credits). If scheduling does not permit the 5-credit course, the requirement can be met with Extended Basic Language 1013-1014 (total 6 credits).

NB: Automatic placements by the Admissions Office are subject to review, approval and reassignment by the appropriate language coordinator.