Foreign Language Competency

For many students, the general education foreign language competency requirement will be met by taking a one-year series of courses. However, several alternative ways of meeting this requirement are listed below:

• Show by your high school transcript that you have completed a third-year course in a foreign language (grades 9–12) with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in the final year, or a minimum grade of C (2.0) in the final course. 
• Be a native speaker of a language other than English. 
• Attain a minimum grade of C (2.0) or a “pass” in the third quarter of the elementary level of an SPU foreign language course (with the exception of THEO 1203), or a higher level course, in a language other than modern English. 
• Complete a study abroad program (minimum 10 weeks) with a significant language-study component (minimum 5 credits in a single language; minimum grade C) in a non-English-speaking country. 
• Obtain a professional reference attesting to proficiency in a language other than English. For example, if you lived for years in another culture, you might request a reference from a professional who has lived among or worked with the same language/culture group. 
• Transfer a course equivalent to, or more advanced than, 1103 (the third quarter in an elementary-level SPU course) in a language other than English. The course must have been taken at an accredited post-secondary institution whose credits are accepted for transfer by SPU. The grade in the transferred course must be C (2.0) or better, or a "pass," provided the institution's minimum achievement level for a "pass" grade is a "C" (2.0) or higher. 
• Take a proficiency test and achieve a “passing” rating (equivalent to the third point above) in a language other than English. The test should be administered by a qualified testing center, such as a college or university, and the results sent to Student Academic Services. If the test is not administered by SPU, a description of the test with the criteria for achieving a passing rating should accompany the results. 
• Enter SPU with Advanced Placement test credits (awarded based on a minimum score of 3) in a language other than English. 
• Take a CLEP test in a language other than English and attain a score equal to or above the minimum score recommended by CLEP for awarding credit for the exam. 
• American Sign Language (ASL) may be used to fulfill the SPU foreign language requirement if the time you spent in classroom instruction is equal to the 15-credit requirement. No other forms of sign language satisfy the requirement. 
• Earn an approved direct transfer degree from a Washington, Oregon, or California community college prior to matriculation at SPU. A degree earned in California must be accompanied by full completion of the IGETC curriculum.

Foreign Language Substitution Policy for Documented Disability

Qualified students with current professional documentation of less than five years, which specifically certifies that the student possesses a disability, and clearly indicates the inability to successfully complete the study of a foreign language, may be able to utilize the Foreign Language Substitution Policy as the means to satisfy the general education foreign language requirement. For more information, contact Disability Support Services in the Center for Learning.