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Placement Recommendations

How to Select a Language Course

Students continuing their study of a foreign language are placed in a course appropriate for their abilities based on the results of their foreign language placement test and/or based on placement advising by the department chair. First semester courses are for beginners. Typically students with three or more years of high school study are placed in second or third semester courses. Students must be placed by the department chair prior to registering for foreign language courses. 

Spanish Placement Recommendations

Numbers of Years of Study High School GPA Overall Placement
0-2 N/A Spanish 100
3 years Below 3.3 GPA; Below 480 SAT Verbal Spanish 200
3 years Above 3.3 GPA; Above 480 SAT Verbal Spanish 301
4 years N/A Spanish 301
5 years N/A Spanish 302
5+ years Above 560 SAT Verbal Above Spanish 302

 

German Placement Recommendations

 

Numbers of Years of Study High School GPA Overall Placement
0-2 N/A German 100
3 years Below 2.8 GPA; Below 550 SAT Verbal German 100 (fall semester) or 200 (200 spring semester)
3 years Above 2.8 GPA; Above 550 SAT Verbal German 210
4+ years N/A German 210

French Placement Recommendations

 

Numbers of Years of Study High School GPA Overall Placement
0-2 N/A French 100
3 years N/A French 200
4 years N/A French 210
5+ years N/A French 210 or 300 level

Important Information

  • AP Scores: All AP scores are received by Radford U as elective credits. In order to have your AP credits converted to a specific course number, talk with your language advisor
  • For transfer students: Enroll in the next sequential course after the one for which you have received transfer credit. If you feel that you are not prepared for the next sequential course, you may re-take the class for which you have transfer credit, although doing so will result in loss of the transfer credit.
  • For native and heritage speakers: Generally, native speakers should begin their coursework at 306 or above. Heritage speakers - people who use the language at home at least some of the time and who completed most of their education in English.
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