2020-21 Undergraduate Academic Catalog | General Academic Information

Foreign Language Proficiency

All students who graduate from Roberts Wesleyan College must demonstrate proficiency in or exposure to foreign language. For most programs (see exceptions below), the proficiency may be shown by the following:

  1. Completing three years of the same language in high school with grades of C or better. Grades 7 and 8 each count as ½ year if the same language is continued at a higher level. (Note: Proficiency is determined by the grade in the third course. Proficiency is granted if a student receives less than C grades in high school foreign language courses but obtains a passing grade on the New York State regents exam or Checkpoint B exam for a foreign language. Proficiency is granted if a student receives less than C grades in the first two language courses but obtains a C or higher in the third-year course.)
  2. If no language was taken in high school, passing three sequential semesters of the same language at Roberts Wesleyan.
  3. Continuing at the appropriate level a language begun in high school until successful completion of the first intermediate level of a foreign language.
  4. Successful performance on the final examination for the first intermediate level course in the language of choice. No course credit is given for passing the exam; it simply establishes a proficiency level.
  5. Successful performance on the CLEP examination to the twelve-credit level in the language of choice, or successful performance on a College-approved examination to the nine-credit level for languages not offered in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Please Note: American Sign Language fulfills the foreign language proficiency requirement for all majors except: Biblical Studies, Communication, English, History, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Music B.A.-Applied Voice, Music Education-Vocal, Music Vocal Performance, Philosophy-Religion, and Religious Studies .

Students who have not studied a foreign language since high school (or within the last seven years) may begin college-level foreign language study at the 101 level. Students who have studied a foreign language within seven years prior to registering for it at Roberts Wesleyan College, may not receive credit for the same level(s) of a foreign language studied elsewhere.

International Students

On an individual basis, international students for whom English is not a native language may have the foreign language requirement waived.

    

Professional Programs

Students in the professional programs of Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Economic Crime Investigation, Homeland Security & Applied Intelligence, Management & Social Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Music Education, Music Performance, Nursing, Physical Education, Social Work, and Sports Management and Marketing are required to have an exposure to a foreign language. In these cases, a minimum of two years of foreign language with grades of C or better taken in high school or one semester at the appropriate level in college is required. Students majoring in Music Performance-Voice should refer to the requirements listed in their program section.

Teacher Education Programs

Students in the Childhood, Early Childhood, and Adolescence Education programs must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. For these programs, the proficiency may be shown by the following:

  1. Completing three years of the same language in high school with grades of C or better. Grades 7 and 8 each count as ½ year if the same language is continued at a higher level.
  2. If no language was taken in high school, passing two sequential semesters of the same language at Roberts Wesleyan.
  3. Continuing at the appropriate level a language begun in high school until successful completion of the 102 level.
  4. Successful performance on the final examination for the 102 level course in the language of choice. No course credit is given for passing the exam; it simply establishes a proficiency level.
  5. Successful performance on the CLEP examination to the six-credit level in the language of choice, or successful performance on a College-approved examination to the six-credit level for languages not offered in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).