Languages and Cultures
Programs and Placement
Our Programs
Not only can Huskies take courses in a variety of languages—French, German, or Japanese—but students can also perfect their Spanish speaking abilities with a major or minor in Spanish, the worlds second most spoken language.
Continue reading on this page to learn more about placement in courses.
Placement and Credit Information
Which level course to register for?
Enroll in a 100-level course if you:
- have never taken a class in that language.
- have studied that language only in middle school but not in high school.
- had one year of study of that language in high school.
- have not studied that language in the past 3 years.
- studied the language for 2 or 3 years in high school.
- have not studied that language in the past 3 years.
Enroll in a 200-level course if you:
- studied the language for 3 or 4 years in high school.
- participated in the "Senior to Sophomore" program in high school.
- studied the language for 4 or more years in high school.
- studied the language for 4 or more years in high school.
Enroll in a 300-level course if you:
- studied the language for 4 or more years in high school.
If you are uncertain of where you are, see one of our faculty members or a professional advisor about a placement exam.
Credit-by-Exam
Minnesota State Board Policy allows students option to validate previous learning via Credit-by-Exam. Interested students enrolling above a 100-level course may complete the Credit-by-Exam form and pay for the desired credits (at a reduced rate) prior to the tenth day of the semester. This option applies only at the time of the initial entry into the program and only for those with no prior college-level study of language. The higher the initial enrollment, the greater number of credits students may purchase. Students earn those credits by earning a course grade of B- or higher in that initial course completed. Students may find the Placement exam a good indicator of initial placement.
- 102, may purchase 4 credits for 101.
- 201, may purchase 4 credits for 102 or 8 credits for 102 and 101.
- 202, may purchase 4 credits for 201 or 8 credits for 201 and 102 or 12 credits for 210, 102 and 101.
Credit via Standardized Tests
Students may also take an on line CLEP exam for credits based upon previous experience. There is a fee for the exam plus a non-refundable test administration free.
Students entering the Languages and Cultures program and who have earned a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement exam will automatically earn credits for their previous experience.
If you earned the AP score of:
- 3, you will automatically earn 4 credits. You should enroll in 202.
- 4, you will automatically earn 8 credits. You should enroll in 220.
- 5, you will automatically earn 10 credits. You should enroll in 301.
Send your CLEP exam results to the Office of Records and Registration.
CLEP credit fulfills LEP Goals 8 and part of 6.
Native Speakers
Native speakers (those who lived and studied in the country where the language is spoken) are strongly encouraged to enroll in a 300-level course or to take a placement exam.
Heritage speakers (those who spoke the language at home but did not study it formally) are encouraged to speak with one of our faculty members.