Languages, Literatures & Cultures

Placement Policy

• Language placement is based on students’ prior experience in that language. Language Placement Levels (LPLs) are indicated on Progress Reports and must be consulted before registering for a language course. LPLs correspond to the following:

• The GE Foreign Language (FLNG) Requirement is met for students who previously earned college credit for Elementary 1 and Elementary 2, Elementary 2 and Intermediate 1, or Intermediate 1 or higher.
  
  
  • Students must have their official college transcripts or AP or IB exam scores sent to the Office of Admissions by the mid-point of their first semester at New Paltz.
    
    
  • Students who have college credit for Elementary 1 (101) must continue on to Elementary 2 (102); students who have college credit for Elementary 2 must continue on to Intermediate 1 (201). This applies to students continuing with the same language they previously took.
    
    
• Students over-prepared for any course based on previous experience with the language (academic and/or non-academic) may not take the course.
  
  
• Students will not receive credit for a language course if they have already earned credit for a higher-level course in that language.
  
  
• Students who have not had language instruction for more than one year may petition the Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures for a level adjustment.
  
  
• Students may begin a new language at New Paltz. In order to fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement, students with no prior experience in a language begin at the Elementary 1 (101) level of that language and must complete Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 (102).
  
  
• Advanced Placement (AP): Students earning AP credit in a foreign language will be placed as follows.

For further questions, the Department of LL&C secretary can direct you to an available faculty member (OM 206).