Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Advising/Placement

Foreign Language Placement Testing

Placement Testing is required of all new students who have taken more than one year of French or Spanish. In order to enroll in any French or Spanish course, the placement test process must be completed prior to registration. The placement examinations are intended to assess a student’s level of proficiency in French and Spanish; the placement examinations test reading skill, vocabulary and grammar. The objective is to place a student into courses commensurate with the student’s level of competency. Students are required to register for the course level in which they are placed. In some cases, further testing may be required.

The Web-CAPE (Web-based Computerized Adaptive Placement Exam) uses state-of-the-art computer testing techniques to help us more accurately and effeciently place students in our language courses.  The test takes approximately 20-25 minutes and allows students to work at their own pace without any time pressure.

Please take this test seriously and honestly to give us an accurate picture of your abilities. Discrepancies between the test score and your previous school work will require re-testing at the beginning of the semester; your classes may have to be re-scheduled at a time when fewer class choices are available (early in the day, or late in the evening).

  • All testing is completed in the Office of Testing Services, Rhodes Tower West, Room 215. Please call 216-687-2272 for their current hours.
  • Placement test results are provided to the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures immediately after completion of testing. Please call the department at 216-687-4646 for your results and placement or visit the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in Rhodes Tower, 1619.
  • A Photo ID is required to take all placement examinations.
  • Please call 216-687-2272 to setup an appointment.
  • The Office of Disability Services is available to assist students with special needs during placement testing.  Call the office at (216) 687-2015 for more information.

Foreign Language Placement

The courses needed to meet the CSU Foreign Language Entrance Requirement and College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirement depend on how many years were completed in high school and when these were taken. Any delay in meeting this requirement may mean repeating classes taken in high school. Students should begin their language study at a level that reflects their current level of competency. Placement tests in French and Spanish and advising from Modern Languages faculty can help determine the appropriate level. Students who repeat language courses taken in high school can count those credits toward graduation, but not toward the CLASS Foreign language requirement.

Freshman and transfer students with more than one year or its equivalent study and fewer than 3 years or their equivalent study in French or Spanish are required to take the placement test. Students with 3 years or more of study in French or Spanish who want to continue their work in the language must take the placement test to assist in placement. Students who have studied other languages in high school should consult with the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures directly to continue their work in these languages. Faculty in the foreign languages normally conduct informal placement interviews.

Transfer students and students who have taken the Advanced Placement Test in a foreign language should consult with an academic advisor regarding the credit granted; they should then consult with the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures to select appropriate advanced coursework.

 

Advising for Students with High School Foreign Language Experience

 

If you have ...

You could be ready for . . .

2 years
of high school
language
  1. a 2nd year language course *
    (ex. FRN/GER/SPN 201)
    With this option you can apply for Retroactive Language Credit and receive an additional 10 credit hours! (See policy below.)
  2. Study Abroad -- earn credit while studying your target language and fulfill university Gen Ed requirements (for example, Western or Nonwestern Culture and Civ., Writing, etc., click here for a link to Gen Ed courses)
  3. A good start toward a minor

3 years
of high school
language
  1. A 2nd year language course *
    (ex. FRN/GER/SPN 201)
    With this option you can apply for Retroactive Language Credit and receive an additional 10 credit hours! (See policy below.)
  2. Study Abroad -- earn credit while studying your target language and fulfill major/minor requirements (for example, Art, History, International Relations, Business, etc.)
  3. A good start toward a minor

4 or more years
of high school
language
  1. A 3rd year language course *
    (ex. FRN/GER/SPN 301)
    With this option you can apply for Retroactive Language Credit and receive an additional 14 credit hours! (See policy below.)
  2. An upper level course that fulfills a university Gen Ed requirement (for example, Western or Nonwestern Culture and Civ., Writing, etc., click here for a link to Gen Ed courses)
  3. Completion of almost two-thirds of a minor

* Take the French/Spanish Placement Test or speak with a department advisor for other languages, call 216-687-4646.  The higher your score, the more credit you can earn!

Retroactive Language Policy:  For students whose first college language skills course is taken at CSU.  If the student receives a B- or better in the skills course, credit will be granted for previous skills courses.  Example: Student takes SPN 201 at CSU and gets an “A”.  As long as SPN 201 is the first college course in Spanish, he/she can apply for retro credit and receive a total of 14 credit hours (4 for SPN 201 and 10 hours for SPN 101 and SPN 102).  (A $20 fee is charged by the Office of Treasury Services for processing.)

Return to top