FAQ

If you have no previous language learning experience, you can begin at the 1010 level in the language of your choice. If you have previously studied the language, please follow this guideline:

• Students with one year of language instruction should register for 1020.
• Students with two years of language instruction should register for 2010.
• Students with more than three years of high school language instruction are not eligible to take 1000-level coursework and should take the department placement test found here.

Once you’ve completed your placement exam, contact one of our advisors with questions about language placement.

Psssst- the password is in the directions for the exam. Be sure to read thoroughly before you begin.

Check out our Visit Us page for more information.

While we strongly recommend that our students complete a study abroad or global internship, students working on a “classic track” major or minor in our department are not required to study abroad. For Spanish, studying abroad reduces the number of required credits. If you’re a second major in our LCP Program, you’re required to study or intern abroad to add international experience to your primary major.

Yes! Our department offers coursework in Arabic, ASL (American Sign Language), Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. You can study more than one language and combine multiple majors and minors to create a unique and specialized curriculum that’s just right for you.

Yes! We offer a major or minor in Anthropology and Classical Studies along with minors in world film studies and U.S. Latino/a Studies. We also offer a wide range of culture courses in English taught by our language faculty—topics range from Chinese calligraphy to French animation to Latin American agriculture (and everything in between)!

Start taking a class with us and see where it takes you! Discover your passion for languages and cultures and work with our advisors and LAS Career Services to see how to best fit this skill set into your broader career plans. If you’re planning on teaching a foreign language at the secondary level, please contact Professor Julie Wilhelm for more information on our teacher education program. Learn about planning ahead with a degree in foreign language.

If you speak a language other than English and one not offered for instruction in our department, you can schedule an exam for credit through OPI, but we do not provide those services through our department.

Yes! Native speakers may take content courses in our department (literature, culture, business classes, etc.) but may not enroll in the language classes at the 1000 or 2000 level. Spanish native and heritage speakers may only enroll in courses numbered 3040 and higher. Heritage speakers of Spanish are encouraged to enroll in SPAN 3050: Spanish for Heritage Speakers. Native speaker students interested in coursework in the other languages we offer should consult with faculty members in that language section or with one of our advisors.

That’s our “materials and professional support fee”. Each 1000- and 2000-level course has an associated $30 charge for access to our LSRC. For more information, check out the full description here (PDF).