Language Requirements

Completion of any level four language course (the “212” course in most cases) satisfies the language requirement. For most students, this will involve taking four semesters of instruction in a single language sequence. However, students with prior language exposure may pursue appropriate course placement—if a student places into a language sequence past the first level, they only need to take the number of courses necessary to reach and complete the level four course.

Language sequences offered at the University and their corresponding course information is listed below. For students with prior language exposure, course placement options are also described below.

Earning credit in a level four course automatically satisfies the language requirement, regardless of where a student begins the sequence. Note: There is no minimum grade necessary to advance to the next level in a sequence, nor is there a minimum grade required in the level four course to complete the language requirement.

Notes:

• There are no minimum grade requirements or prerequisites (e.g. “C or higher”) in the language coursework.
• Courses at different levels in a sequence cannot be taken concurrently. Students must successfully earn credit in a lower course to advance to the next course in the sequence, and will need a passing grade (i.e. any letter grade other than “F”) in the fourth level course to complete the language requirement.
• Students with transfer credit in a world language not offered at UNR may still be able to use this coursework to satisfy the language requirement, if they successfully completed the final course of a two-year world language sequence at their previous institution. Speak with a College Advisor if this may apply to you.
• Since language sequences can take up to two years to complete and some language courses are offered only once a year, students are highly encouraged to start working on the requirement right away (ideally in fall of their first year at the university). Students that wait until later to begin language coursework could put themselves in danger of delaying completion of the language requirement and potentially extend their graduation timeline.

Methods of demonstrating proficiency include but are not limited to:

• Minimum standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB)
• Attaining a minimum aptitude on an accredited world language assessment test
  • As of 2022, World Languages uses the Avant STAMP 4S language assessment for proficiency testing. A score of “5” or higher in all four skills of the assessment demonstrates sufficient proficiency to satisfy the language requirement.
  • Students who completed a STAMP 4S assessment for another purpose prior to attending college (e.g. an assessment taken as part of the final year of a high school language program, attaining a seal of biliteracy, etc.) may utilize their previous results.
• Providing transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction

Visit the World Languages and Literatures’ Language Requirement page for additional information about demonstrating language proficiency.

Students that successfully demonstrate proficiency will have their language requirement satisfied via a requirement waiver. Course credit is not awarded for any method of demonstrating language proficiency, except for AP and IB test scores as outlined in the General Catalog.

Completing the language requirement while studying abroad entails traveling to a non-English speaking country and taking appropriate language instruction while abroad. Students would need to complete a language class that is equivalent to a fourth-level language course (or higher) at the University to satisfy the requirement.

To complete the language requirement abroad can be a very intensive experience which typically involves taking multiple courses of a language sequence back-to-back during a single semester abroad. For example, students with no prior Spanish language experience participating in a USAC specialty program in a Spanish speaking country during a fall or spring semester would need to complete equivalents to SPAN 111, 112, 211 & 212 in that semester (i.e. a two-year sequence completed in about 16 weeks) to fully complete the language requirement abroad.

Students interested in this option are highly encouraged to talk with an academic advisor and begin planning for studies abroad early on, to ensure they can go abroad and satisfy the language requirement in a reasonable timeframe.

Note: This option is only applicable to students declared in a liberal arts major with requirement term of Spring 2022 or earlier. Effective with the 2022–2023 catalog, four years of high school language instruction does not automatically satisfy the language requirement.

To satisfy the requirement under this option, a student must have earned no less than four full years of high school credit in successive levels of instruction in a single language. (Initial language courses taken in middle school may count towards the four-year total, if this coursework aligns with the high school sequence and can be verified on a transcript or grade report.)

Students wishing to exercise this option must have their high school language instruction verified by a College Advisor. Email CLA advisors to request verification. If verified, the student’s language requirement will be satisfied via waiver — course credits are not awarded.