Language Requirement

Arts and Sciences students must fulfill the Foreign Language requirement as a part of the Explorations level of the Magis Core Curriculum.  Students must successfully complete a language to the intermediate level, completing the 112 level course in a language, to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

If you are an Arts and Sciences student who intends to continue studying a foreign language, please reference the Modern Languages Placement Information page for recommendations regarding language placement.  There is an online placement test for French, German, and Spanish to determine at which level you should begin.  In other words, the exam will help you register for the correct class, depending on where you “place” according to the exam results. More information about the placement test can be found here.

Arts & Sciences students who want to completely test out of the foreign language requirement need to complete a competency exam; this will be evidence of proficiency in another language. Competency Exams in Spanish, French, and German will be administered at Summer Preview. Instructions for registering for a competency exam can be found here.

If you have studied a language other than French, German, or Spanish, please reference the Modern Languages Placement Information page for contact information regarding language placement and competency exams.  

If English is your second language, the foreign language requirement can be waived, please complete the Language Exemption application.  Exemption requests are viewed biannually.

Foreign language is not required unless you plan to major in International Business or pursue a major, minor or Kingfisher Concentration in a language. To take French, German or Spanish, students are required to take the online Language Placement Exam.  The Language Placement Exam will help you determine which language course/level you should enroll in for the fall semester. If you would like to take a language other than French, German or Spanish, simply register for the course.

Competency exams in Spanish, French, and German will be administered at Summer Preview.

Get more information about the placement test

There is not a foreign language requirement in the College of Nursing curriculum. Students enrolled in the College of Nursing should not take the Competency exam.

Nursing students who plan to continue studying a foreign language, please reference the Modern Languages Placement Information page for recommendations regarding language placement. There is an online placement test for French, German, and Spanish to determine at which level you should begin. In other words, the exam will help you register for the correct class, depending on where you “place” according to the exam results. More information about the placement test can be found here.