Student Resources

Placement Criteria for Languages

Students belong in ARAB 1001 if:

The student has never studied Arabic before, or
The student has studied one year of high school Arabic.

Students belong in ARAB 1002 if:

The student received credit for Arabic 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school Arabic regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in ARAB 2001 if:

The student received credit for Arabic 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Arabic at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Arabic courses (ARAB 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams in Arabic.

Students belong in ARAB 2002 if:

The student received credit for Arabic 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams)
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Arabic at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Arabic courses (ARAB 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams in Arabic.

Students may not take ARAB 1001-2002 if:

The student is a native speaker (the student learned Arabic at home as a child and it was an official language in the society he/she grew up in. These students in most circumstances will have received formal education in the Arabic language as well).
- Note: if the heritage speaker student or if the native speaker student wishes credit for elementary and intermediate level Arabic language courses to appear on their transcript, the student must take proficiency exams in Arabic; however, it is preferred and should be encouraged that the student take elementary and intermediate level courses in a different language to fulfill language requirements.

Students belong in FREN 1001 if:

The student has never studied French before, or
The student has studied one year of high school French.

Students belong in FREN 1002 if:

The student received credit for French 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school French regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in FREN 2001 if:

The student received credit for French 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned French at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous French courses (FREN 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams/CLEP in French.

Students belong in FREN 2002 if:

The student received credit for French 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.)
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned French at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous French courses (FREN 1001-2001) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams/CLEP/etc. in French.

Students may not take FREN 1001-2002 if:

The student is a native speaker (the student learned French at home as a child and it was an official language in the society he/she grew up in. These students in most circumstances will have received formal education in the French language as well).
- Note: if the heritage speaker student or if the native speaker student wishes credit for elementary and intermediate level French language courses to appear on their transcript, the student must take proficiency exams/CLEP/etc. in French; however, it is preferred and should be encouraged that the student take elementary and intermediate level courses in a different language to fulfill language requirements.

The MCL Department offers placement exams for students of French, German, or Spanish who are unsure about their level. For more information, contact the department chair.

Students belong in GERM 1001 if:

The student has never studied German before, or
The student has studied one year of high school German.

Students belong in GERM 1002 if:

The student received credit for German 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school German regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in GERM 2001 if:

The student received credit for German 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned German at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous German courses (GERM 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams/CLEP in German.

Students belong in GERM 2002 if:

The student received credit for German 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams/CLEP/etc.)
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned German at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous German courses (GERM 1001-2001) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams/CLEP/etc. in German.

Students may not take GERM 1001-2002 if:

The student is a native speaker (the student learned German at home as a child and it was an official language in the society he/she grew up in. These students in most circumstances will have received formal education in the German language as well).
- Note: if the heritage speaker student or if the native speaker student wishes credit for elementary and intermediate level German language courses to appear on their transcript, the student must take proficiency exams/CLEP/etc. in German; however, it is preferred and should be encouraged that the student take elementary and intermediate level courses in a different language to fulfill language requirements.

Students belong in JAPN 1001 if:

The student has never studied Japanese before, or
The student has studied one year of high school Japanese.

Students belong in JAPN 1002 if:

The student received credit for Japanese 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school Japanese regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in JAPN 2001 if:

The student received credit for Japanese 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Japanese at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Japanese courses (JAPN 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams/CLEP in Japanese.

Students belong in JAPN 2002 if:

The student received credit for Japanese 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams)
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Japanese at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Japanese courses (JAPN 1001-2001) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take proficiency exams in Japanese.

Students may not take JAPN 1001-2002 if:

The student is a native speaker (the student learned Japanese at home as a child and it was an official language in the society he/she grew up in. These students in most circumstances will have received formal education in the Japanese language as well).
- Note: if the heritage speaker student or if the native speaker student wishes credit for elementary and intermediate level Japanese language courses to appear on their transcript, the student must take proficiency exams in Japanese; however, it is preferred and should be encouraged that the student take elementary and intermediate level courses in a different language to fulfill language requirements.

Students belong in LATN 1001 if:

The student has never studied Latin before, or
The student has studied one year of high school Latin.

Students belong in LATN 1002 if:

The student received credit for Latin 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency exams), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school Latin regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in LATN 2001 if:

The student received credit for Latin 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking a proficiency exam/AP exam/etc.).

Students belong in LATN 2002 if:

The student received credit for Latin 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking proficiency a exam/AP exam/etc.).

Students belong in SPAN 1001 if:

The student has never studied Spanish before, or
The student has studied one year of high school Spanish.

Students belong in SPAN 1002 if:

The student received credit for Spanish 1001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking the CLEP exam or by taking the AP exam), or
The student took 2 or more years of high school Spanish regardless of how long ago it was taken.

Students belong in SPAN 2001 if:

The student received credit for Spanish 1002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking the CLEP exam or by taking the AP exam), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Spanish at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Spanish courses (SPAN 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take the CLEP exam in Spanish.

Students belong in SPAN 2002 if:

The student received credit for Spanish 2001 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking the CLEP exam or by taking the AP exam)
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Spanish at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department.
- Note: if the heritage speaker student wishes credit for the previous Spanish courses (SPAN 1001-1002) to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take the CLEP exam in Spanish.

Students belong in SPAN 3150-Conversation and SPAN 3160-Grammar & Composition if:

The student received credit for SPAN 2002 (either at CSU or as a transfer, or by taking the CLEP exam or by taking the AP exam), or
The student is a heritage speaker (the student learned Spanish at home as a child but it was a minority language in the society he/she grew up in). Competency levels may vary so if there are questions about placement, refer the student to MCL department, or
The student is a native speaker (the student learned Spanish at home as a child and it was an official language in the society he/she grew up in. These students in most circumstances will have received formal education in the Spanish language as well).
- Note: if the heritage speaker student or if the native speaker student wishes credit for elementary and intermediate level language courses to appear on their transcript, then she/he must take the CLEP exam in Spanish; however, it is preferred and should be encouraged that they take elementary and intermediate level courses in a different language to fulfill language requirements.

The MCL Department offers placement exams for students of French, German, or Spanish who are unsure about their level. For more information, contact the department chair.

When advising beyond SPAN 3150 and SPAN 3160, students should take the SPAN 3000 level courses before taking SPAN 4000 level courses. Majors/Minors pass with a grade of C or better.

Only students seeking online degrees are admitted to online Spanish classes. Contact the chair for further information.