Foreign Language
Foreign Language
The College of Arts and Sciences’ foreign language requirement is stated in terms of proficiency. Students seeking the B.A. degree must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Intermediate II (or up to 14-15 hours of coursework) in one foreign language; students seeking the B.S. degree must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Elementary II (or up to 8-10 hours of coursework) in one foreign language. Successful completion of a language-based course at a higher level than the minimum required also will satisfy the requirement.
In general, students may elect any foreign language taught through the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies or the Department of Pan-African Studies. However, certain majors, fields of concentration and minors require specific languages or limit the languages from which students may choose. In addition, students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular languages for that study. In such cases, the students should seek the advice of the appropriate department before selecting a language.
The Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies offers courses of study beyond the minimum needed to meet the foreign language requirement in Arabic, Chinese, Greek (classical and modern), Italian, Japanese and Portuguese; however no major is available for them at this time.
Placement and Credit
Students arrive at Kent State with varying types of foreign language experience: Some come from other countries and are fluent in their native language, others have grown up in America with a first language other than English, but most have learned a second language in a formal classroom setting.* All students should begin foreign language study at the appropriate level in their first semester and continue with the appropriate sequence of courses in consecutive semesters and/or summer sessions. Those who qualify to begin at an advanced level can complete the requirement in less time and apply the remaining hours to their major, a minor or one or more electives.
*For definition of the terms “native language” and “first language” above, click here.
Students may qualify for advanced placement with or without college credit in any of the following ways: CLEP examination, Credit- By-Examination, proficiency examination or a placement test. The CLEP and the university’s Credit-By-Examination program, available in certain languages, do award credit that will count toward fulfillment of the language requirement and as hours toward graduation.
Students should contact the appropriate academic department for information regarding courses designated as eligible for CBE. Students who wish to pursue CBE must complete the CBE application (available at ATS) to gain appropriate department and college permission. Such permission will be granted only if the students present documented evidence of substantial prior preparation in the subject area.
For students who do not receive placement or credit through testing, proficiency level and placement can be established through appropriate documentation of school coursework in that language or in the home/foreign country. As a general rule, a year of high school study is roughly equivalent to a semester of college-level study of a foreign language. Whether through tests or other documentation, placement does not award academic credit; the credit hours which have been exempted by such placement are still required for graduation and may be applied to coursework in the student’s major, minor or elective courses.
Additional information regarding foreign language placement and study can be obtained from the department offering that language.
Students With a Native or First Language Other Than English*
A student with a native language other than English may fulfill the language requirement by demonstrating the appropriate level of proficiency on a proficiency test in his or her own language; in the case of languages for which no examiner or examination is available, proficiency can be established through documentation of previous school work in the native land and language. The student must still meet the College English requirement.
A student with a native language other than English may not register for, or receive credit in, coursework on the elementary or intermediate level in that language or a closely related one as determined by the chairperson of the appropriate department.
Students with a first (not native) language other than English may be permitted to enroll in, and receive credit for, coursework on the elementary and/or intermediate level. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the chairperson of the appropriate department after evaluation of the student’s skills in that language.
*For definition of the terms “native language” and “first language” above, click here.
Progress Toward Fulfillment
Arts and sciences students are required to begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their third semester of full-time enrollment (that is, no later than upon completing 30 semester hours) and are required to continue to enroll for foreign language courses until the requirement has been completed. Students who transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences from other universities or from other programs at Kent State University with sophomore status are required to begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their second semester of full-time enrollment in the college and must continue to enroll for foreign language courses until the requirement has been completed. Students who fail to meet these stipulations risk unnecessary delays in the completion of their degree programs. The stipulation that arts and sciences students begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their third semester of full-time study applies not only to students with declared majors but also to undeclared students. This includes those students seeking admission to selective programs in other colleges who do not achieve admission to the selective program at the time they achieve sophomore status.
In general, students may elect any foreign language taught through the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies or the Department of Pan-African Studies. However, certain majors, fields of concentration and minors require specific languages or limit the languages from which students may choose. In addition, students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular languages for that study. In such cases, the students should seek the advice of the appropriate department before selecting a language.
The Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies offers courses of study beyond the minimum needed to meet the foreign language requirement in Arabic, Chinese, Greek (classical and modern), Italian, Japanese and Portuguese; however no major is available for them at this time.
Placement and Credit
Students arrive at Kent State with varying types of foreign language experience: Some come from other countries and are fluent in their native language, others have grown up in America with a first language other than English, but most have learned a second language in a formal classroom setting.* All students should begin foreign language study at the appropriate level in their first semester and continue with the appropriate sequence of courses in consecutive semesters and/or summer sessions. Those who qualify to begin at an advanced level can complete the requirement in less time and apply the remaining hours to their major, a minor or one or more electives.
*For definition of the terms “native language” and “first language” above, click here.
Students may qualify for advanced placement with or without college credit in any of the following ways: CLEP examination, Credit- By-Examination, proficiency examination or a placement test. The CLEP and the university’s Credit-By-Examination program, available in certain languages, do award credit that will count toward fulfillment of the language requirement and as hours toward graduation.
Students should contact the appropriate academic department for information regarding courses designated as eligible for CBE. Students who wish to pursue CBE must complete the CBE application (available at ATS) to gain appropriate department and college permission. Such permission will be granted only if the students present documented evidence of substantial prior preparation in the subject area.
For students who do not receive placement or credit through testing, proficiency level and placement can be established through appropriate documentation of school coursework in that language or in the home/foreign country. As a general rule, a year of high school study is roughly equivalent to a semester of college-level study of a foreign language. Whether through tests or other documentation, placement does not award academic credit; the credit hours which have been exempted by such placement are still required for graduation and may be applied to coursework in the student’s major, minor or elective courses.
Additional information regarding foreign language placement and study can be obtained from the department offering that language.
Students With a Native or First Language Other Than English*
A student with a native language other than English may fulfill the language requirement by demonstrating the appropriate level of proficiency on a proficiency test in his or her own language; in the case of languages for which no examiner or examination is available, proficiency can be established through documentation of previous school work in the native land and language. The student must still meet the College English requirement.
A student with a native language other than English may not register for, or receive credit in, coursework on the elementary or intermediate level in that language or a closely related one as determined by the chairperson of the appropriate department.
Students with a first (not native) language other than English may be permitted to enroll in, and receive credit for, coursework on the elementary and/or intermediate level. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the chairperson of the appropriate department after evaluation of the student’s skills in that language.
*For definition of the terms “native language” and “first language” above, click here.
Progress Toward Fulfillment
Arts and sciences students are required to begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their third semester of full-time enrollment (that is, no later than upon completing 30 semester hours) and are required to continue to enroll for foreign language courses until the requirement has been completed. Students who transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences from other universities or from other programs at Kent State University with sophomore status are required to begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their second semester of full-time enrollment in the college and must continue to enroll for foreign language courses until the requirement has been completed. Students who fail to meet these stipulations risk unnecessary delays in the completion of their degree programs. The stipulation that arts and sciences students begin meeting the foreign language requirement by their third semester of full-time study applies not only to students with declared majors but also to undeclared students. This includes those students seeking admission to selective programs in other colleges who do not achieve admission to the selective program at the time they achieve sophomore status.