Foreign Language Waiver Exam

Waiver Exam Information:  

CSU requires either two (2) years of one language in high school or a university first-year language sequence (ex., FRN 101 and FRN 102). In place of this, you can take a language waiver exam. A successful waiver exam score will remove the foreign language requirement.  Passing the exam will not earn or reduce any credit hour requirements for graduation.  Consult with your advisor to make sure you are on track to completing your degree and graduation requirements.  If you are an Arts & Sciences student, depending on your major, you may be required to take an additional year of foreign language.  

The exam consists of a verbal part and a written part.  While being recorded, you will verbally respond to prompts.  You will then have to write answers (using the language’s script/letters) to additional prompts/questions. I will then email the verbal recording and written part to an outside evaluator, and will contact you once the results are received.  The entire process can take up to six (6) weeks, but I do encourage evaluators to return the results as soon as possible.

There is a $125 exam fee, which you need to pay after we schedule your appointment and before you take the exam. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):  

How do I fulfill the University’s foreign language deficiency (FLD) requirement? 

CSU requires either two (2) years of passing grades in a single foreign language in high school or a university first-year language sequence (ex., FRN 101 and FRN 102). If you think you qualify, you should send your transcript/marksheets to wlc@csuohio.edu for review. The transcript/marksheets should clearly show the number of years in high school or university that you studied a foreign language. 

What about fulfilling the College of Arts & Sciences’ foreign language requirement (FLR)? 

If you are an Arts & Sciences student, depending on your program, you may be required to take an additional year of foreign language to satisfy the College’s FLR. It is recommended that you use a single foreign language for both years (beginner and intermediate levels), or you may take two, different languages at the intro level. 

Where can I look to see if my foreign language requirement(s) has been met? 

You can find this by reviewing your degree audit through CampusNet. You should also consult with your academic coach. 

What foreign language courses does CSU offer? 

You can take courses in Arabic, French, Spanish, Italian and Slovenian.   

What if I am an international student? 

You are still held to the same requirements. English does not count as a foreign language. 

What if I already know a foreign language and wish to “test out” of the requirement? 

In this case, you can take a foreign language waiver exam. A successful waiver exam score will remove the foreign language requirement.  Passing the exam will not earn or reduce any credit hour requirements for graduation.  Consult with your academic coach to make sure you are on track to completing your degree and graduation requirements.  

What can you tell me about the exam? 

The exam consists of a verbal part AND a written part.  While being recorded, I will read questions to you, which you will verbally answer.  You will then have to write answers (using the language’s script/letters) to additional questions. I will email the verbal recording and written part to a certified, outside evaluator, and will contact you once the results are received.  The entire process can take up to six (6) weeks, but I do encourage evaluators to return the results as soon as possible.

Does the waiver exam cost a fee? 

For languages taught by the Department of WLC, there is no fee. For languages not taught at CSU, there is a $125 exam fee, which you need to pay after we schedule your appointment and before you take the exam. We use this money to pay the outside evaluator who scores the exam.    

Who should I reach out to about scheduling a waiver exam?

For Arabic, please contact Ahmad Hamo (a.hamo@csuohio.edu). For French, please contact Annie Jouan-Westlund (a.jouanwestlund@csuohio.edu). For Spanish, please contact Antonio Medina-Rivera (a.medinarivera@csuohio.edu).

For all other languages, please contact the World Languages department by email (wlc@csuohio.edu) or by phone at 216-687-4646. 

When should I schedule a waiver exam? 

You should schedule it early on in your college career. Even if you are confident in your speaking and writing abilities in a foreign language, please do not wait until your final year to schedule an exam. If you fail the exam, you will want to give yourself enough time to take the foreign language classes. 

What happens if I fail the exam? 

You can retake the exam one time. If you fail it a second time, then your only option would be to take the classes in order to complete the requirement.