Language Placement Guidelines and Regulations

Past Experience

If you studied a Romance language in high school and would like to continue studying it at Colgate, you should register for the appropriate course as explained below. In all matters of placement, the department makes the final determination, usually on the first day of classes when we check the language background of all our students.

If you have attained considerable fluency from language practice out of the country, at home, or in some other informal, non-classroom manner, you should consult with the department chair for placement. Likewise, if you have advanced placement (AP) credit or transfer credit from another college, you must consult the Department Chair for placement.

If you who fail to do so and register for a course considered below your appropriate level, you will not receive credit.

Exceptions

1. If you have finished Level II and need to meet the language requirement, you are automatically permitted to register for 101 if your prior achievement is considered to be poor.
2. If you have had a break in your language study of two years or more or if you have an SAT verbal score below 450, you may in some instances -- with permission of the department chair -- register for credit courses at a lower level than indicated above.