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World Languages Placement

Southern students are required to complete a second semester or 101-level foreign language to fulfill the general education Multilingual Communication requirement. You will start in either 100 or 101 based on your placement level or you may pursue one of the alternate completion pathways outlined below.

First-Year Freshman

First, please log into the MySCSU student portal to verify that you have a World Language placement level:

  • Go to Banner Student
  • Select Record and Registration
  • Select Prior Education and Testing
  • In the testing section, if a World Language Placement (ex. HFRE—High School French Level) is present, you have a placement level
  • In the testing section, if a World Language Placement is not present, you do not have a placement level

To obtain a placement level and help ensure you start in the appropriate course, please submit one or more of the following to admissions@southernct.edu:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Scores: Students who earn an AP Score of 3 in a foreign language will transfer in 3 credits for 101-level language, which satisfies the Multilingual Communication requirement for the general education program. Students who earn an AP Score of 4 or higher in a foreign language will transfer in 6 credits for 101-level and 200-level language, which satisfies both the Multilingual Communication and Cultural expression requirement. 
  • High School Transcript: Students who successfully completed: (1) level 1 of a language are placed at the 100-level and will be required to pass 100 and 101-level foreign language to fulfill the Multilingual Communication requirement, or (2) level 2 of a language are placed at the 101-level and will be required to pass the 101-level foreign language to fulfill the Multilingual Communication requirement, or (3) level 3 or higher of a language have satisfied the Multilingual Communication requirement, it is waived without credit. Students are placed at the 200-level and may elect to complete a 200-level language to satisfy a different general education requirement.
  • Seal of Biliteracy: Students who are awarded the Seal of Biliteracy will transfer in 6 credits for 101-level and 200-level foreign language, which satisfies both the Multilingual Communication and Cultural Expression requirement for the general education program.
  • Study Abroad: Students who attended at least 1 year at a non-English Speaking high school or college overseas may request a waiver of the general education Multilingual Communication requirement.
  • Note: Students who want to learn a new language will be placed in a 100-level class.

Waiver Exams

Students who are already proficient in a foreign language, are native speakers or heritage learners can waive the general education Multilingual Communication requirement by taking a waiver test (PLACE Test, ACTFL Test, CLEP Exam). Students can also earn as many as 9 credits of language based on the examination.  Duplicate credit will not be issued for language courses that have already been completed. Many students choose to pursue a major or a minor in the language and may apply partial or full credit toward their requirements; otherwise, elective credit will be granted.  Students should schedule an appointment with a professional advisor to understand their options.

You may also choose to complete the World Language Assessment to obtain or improve your placement score. This should be completed prior to attending orientation if you would like to take a language course during your first semester. You can also take the World Language Assessment during your first-year inquiry class in your first semester. The World Language placement assessment is a 90-minute online exercise used to place students in an appropriate foreign language course. Please be aware of the following prior to logging in:

  1. You will have only one opportunity to take it.
  2. You may not stop and come back to it; you must complete it in one sitting.
  3. All devices (computers, smartphones, and handhelds) and browsers (Firefox, Safari, Chrome, etc.) are compatible with the placement.
  4. While you can use smartphones and handhelds, it is highly recommended that you use a computer. 
  5. Also, some browsers will offer you the option to translate the language, selecting that option will undermine the validity of your results and may place you unfavorably.
  6. When you’re ready to take the placement make sure you have your Southern email address (i.e. username@southernct.edu) and student ID number (70XXXXXX) in front of you before beginning it and remember it begins as soon as you click on it.

Note: We do not offer an online placement for Chinese. Please contact Dr. Miaowei Weng at wengm2@southernct.edu to schedule a time to take the paper version of our placement exam.

If you need special testing accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact the Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services.

PLACE Tests

Transfer Students

Students who transfer the equivalent of a second semester 101-level foreign language course, have 60 or more transfer credits, or an associate degree at the time of transfer have fulfilled the Multilingual Communication requirement for the general education program.

Otherwise, transfer students may review and submit any of the alternatives listed in the First-Year Freshmen section above to either receive foreign language credit, a waiver of the requirement, or take an assessment exam to be placed in the appropriate foreign language level to complete the Multilingual Communication requirement. Transfer students must submit all foreign language materials referenced above to transfer@southernct.edu.