Incoming first year students should take the placement test for the language studied in high school as soon as possible.
Language placement is determined by previous academic work (high school transcript, AP/IB credit, transfer credit, dual enrollment credit, etc.) and in conjunction with Wofford’s online placement test. Incoming first-year students take the placement test during April through June before registration in July. The results of both the evaluation of previous academic work and the placement test are evaluated to determine a student’s placement. Students need to register for the course in which they are placed. During the first week of class, students’ target language will be assessed through multimodal activities. The Modern Language faculty verify the accuracy of the placement during the first week of classes. If a change in level is required, students’ registration/courses will be adjusted.
Students are initially placed in the modern language they studied in high school at the level indicated by the placement process previously described. All students are also granted placement to enroll in the 100-level courses of a language not studied in high school with the exception of Spanish 101. For any course in which they have not been placed, students will need to request access by completing “Request for Course Section Prerequisite Override,” which can be found on Workday under the “Academics Hub” and “Suggested Links.” Language courses offered at the 100-level are primarily reserved for students with limited or no previous knowledge of that language. Students should register for one of the courses in which they are placed. Seats in specific courses are not guaranteed so flexibility is necessary.
Information, step-by-step instructions for taking the online placement test, and completed language placements can be accessed on https://my.wofford.edu/fyi under Modern Language Placement. Students completing the online placement test by June 1, will receive their placement by June 8. After June 1, students can expect to receive their placements within 3 business days.
For students that surpass the 200-level learning objectives, have spent time abroad, are heritage speakers and/or have exceptional academic preparation, the 301/303 course is likely best option and comes with a benefit. Students who meet these criteria will be invited to take 301/303. Students who enroll in 301/303 and complete it with a grade of ‘C’ or better will receive the six credit hours for the 201 and 202 courses, as well as the three credit hours for the 301/303 course. In essence, earning nine credit hours for three credit hours of coursework.
Students can use CLEP to receive credit for French, German and Spanish. CLEP exams must be completed, and the scores reported to the Office of the Registrar prior to matriculation. For more information, visit the AP, CLEP, Dual Enrollment, IB page on the Registrar’s site. (https://www.wofford.edu/academics/registrar/ap-cambridge-clep-dual-enrollment-ib)
Students who are native or heritage speakers of a language other than Arabic, Chinese, French, German and Spanish and have graduated high school in an English-speaking country, may meet the general-education language requirement, if they exhibit documented attainment of one of the following credentials:
The placement test is taken in the language in which the student studied in high school. The assessed score is assigned based on the joint evaluation of the placement test and the high school transcript. Students are placed based on the rubric outlined below. Students who plan to study a new language (i.e. not studied in high school) will have access to register for the 101 course in that subject with the exception of Spanish 101. Spanish 101 requires the completion of the “Request for Course Section Prerequisite Override” available in Workday.
| Assessed Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 101 |
| 3-4 | 201 |
| 5-6* | 201 or 301 |
| Assessed Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 101 |
| 3-4 | 201 |
| 5-6* | 201 or 303 |
**Students who score a 5 or 6 are encouraged to enroll in the 301 or 303 course depending on the language.