Language Placement Guidelines

Placement Information

See below for language placement information for each language.

Spanish

Education/ Experience Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215

AP credit

AP Spanish Language

  • A score of 3: start at SPAN 215 (you will receive credit for SPAN 211)
  • A score of 4: start at SPAN 250 (you will receive credit for SPAN 215)
  • A score of 5: start at SPAN 251 (you will receive credit for SPAN 250)

AP Spanish Literature

  • A score of 3: start at SPAN 251 (you will receive credit for SPAN 250)
  • A score of 4 or 5: start at SPAN 344 (you will receive credit for SPAN 251)

IB credit

IB Spanish (Standard Level):

  •  A score of 4:  start at SPAN 215 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 5: start at SPAN 250 (you do not receive credit hours)
  • A score of 6 or 7: start at SPAN 251 (you do not receive credit hours)*

IB Spanish (Higher Level)

  • A score of 4 or 5 on IB (HL):  start at 251 (for scores of 4 or 5, you receive 4 college credits, which will count as SPAN 250)
  •  A score of 6 or 7 on IB (HL): start at Spanish 344 (for scores of 6 or 7, you receive 8 college credits, which will count as SPAN 250 and SPAN 251)

*The General Education requirement for foreign language is satisfied by a score of 4-7 on either the Standard Level or Higher Level exams.

CLEP

CLEP exams transfer as generic electives. Please speak with an advisor if you have taken a CLEP exam.

If you received a passing score for:

  • Level 1: start at SPAN 211 (no credit awarded toward minor or major for Level 1 passing exams)
  • Level 2: start at SPAN 215 (you may be able to receive credit for SPAN 211; please contact an advisor)  
Spanish native and heritage speakers (Bilingual speakers/Hispanic background)

Cannot take SPAN 111, 115, 211, 215 or 250. Can take SPAN 212,213, 251 and often 344.*

 **Note: Students who successfully complete SPAN 212 fulfill the university's language requirement for entrance.

Italian

Education/Experience

Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year of high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215
AP credit, IB credit or prior college credit
  • A score of 3 on AP or 4 on IB - start at ITAL 215
  • A score of 4 on AP or 5 on IB - start at ITAL 241
  • A score of 5 on AP or 6-7 on IB - start at ITAL 241

Italian native speakers

 Cannot take ITAL 111, 115, 211, 215 or 251. Can take most 300- and often 400-level courses.*

Italian Heritage Speakers 

 See an advisor in the department about placement.

French

Education/ Experience

Level for Course Registration
No experience or 1 year high school 111
2 years of high school 115
3 years of high school 211
More than 3 years of high school 215
AP credit

  • A score of 3: start at FREN 215 (you receive credit for FREN 211)

  • A score of 4: start at FREN 241 (you receive credit for FREN 215)

  • A score of 5: start at 341 (you receive credit for FREN 241)
IB credit

IB French (Standard Level):

  • A score of 4:  start at FREN 215 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 5: start at FREN 241 (you do not receive credit hours)*
  • A score of 6 or 7: start at FREN 341 (you do not receive credit hours)*

 IB French (Higher Level)

  • A score of 4 on IB-HL: start at FREN 215 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as FREN 211)
  • A score of 5 on IB-HL: start at FREN 241 (you receive 4 college credits, which will count as FREN 215)
  • A score of 6 or 7 on IB-HL: start at 341 (you receive 8 college credits, which will count as FREN 215 and FREN 241)

*The General Education requirement for foreign language is satisfied by a score of 4-7 on either the Standard Level or Higher Level exams.

French native speakers Cannot take FREN 111, 115, 211 or 215. Can take 300-level courses.*
  1. Students who have received a score of 85 or more in the Regents exam should begin at the 211 level.
  2. Students who have AP credit cannot take 211 for credit.
  3. Students who earned a 3 on the IB exam can take 211 for credit.
  4. Students who have credit from a language or literature exam must consult an advisor for specific guidelines for placement.

Please be advised that students may be removed from the course(s) if they exceed the level of experience for the particular course they have enrolled in. It is also important to consult with a departmental advisor for additional questions.

*Consult with a departmental advisor about course needs for native speakers.

For more information

Please visit the Foreign Language Requirements page where you will find the Foreign Language Calculator to help determine your foreign language requirement. You can also download our Language Waiver Application Form..