Please encourage students to take languages as early in their college program as possible; too often Rockhurst students on study abroad programs or in their senior year say that they wish they had more time to continue studying the language.
- If a student has already completed ACCP (Advanced College Credit Placement) with a grade of “C” or above, the course should in no case be repeated. If the student has completed, for instance, SP 1100 and SP 1150, s/he should be placed into SP 2100. If the student has completed FR 2100 and FR 2150, for instance, s/he should be placed into FR 3100. CLEP and AP language credits do not satisfy the Humanities Division’s requirement that students majoring in communication, English, or history complete two semesters of college coursework in a language other than English.
Placement is based on a number of years taken in high school (regular high school courses, not ACCP credit) is recommended as follows, if the student has taken these language courses within the last few years (1-4):
1 semester of language (or none) 1100 (Fundamentals I, e.g. FR 1100)
1 year of same language 1150 (Fundamentals II, e.g. GR 1150)
2 years of same language 2100 (Intermediate I, e.g. FR 2100)
3-4 years of same language 3100 (Advanced I, e.g. SP 3100)Beginning conversational language courses are also offered (SP, FR, GR 1000 & 1010). These courses do not focus on skills such as reading and writing, and are not recommended for students in humanities or international programs.
However, if it’s been a long time since the student has studied the language, or if the grade was lower than a “C”, the desire to start at a lower level is likely justified and acceptable. In other cases, the student may feel that they need to refresh their skills and start at a somewhat lower level, which is permitted. Please be aware, however, that placing a student with 3-4 years of the same language in high school in a first-semester university class is fair to no one, neither to that student who should be challenged to develop skills further at a higher level, nor to those who have never studied the language and who understandably feel intimidated by those misplaced and who have already studied that language for years.
The above are guidelines and just that, rather than hard and fast rules. When in doubt, advisors are encouraged to call members of the Classical and Modern Languages department for assistance in determining the level. Proficiency exams can be costly and students sometimes place lower purposely to get into a “crib” course, so for the time being we will continue to advise on an individual basis.
If a student does not wish to continue with the same language studied in high school, encourage him/her to try a new language. Rockhurst University offers majors in French and Spanish, a minor in German and two-year sequences in Latin and Japanese, with an occasional course in ancient Greek.
We also offer innovative programs in International Journalism (with a French or Spanish major) and a bilingual emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology (with a minor in French or Spanish). Double majors are highly encouraged; a foreign language complements every other major offered here.
- Rockhurst offers summer abroad programs in France, Mexico and Spain. Please have students contact the foreign language department if interested. Academic credit is also accepted for numerous other study abroad programs.