Many students enter Colgate with previous learning and coursework in a Romance language. Learn about how this may translate into course credit or placement at Colgate.
High School Experience
The charts at the bottom of this page outline appropriate course placement at Colgate for students who are continuing the study of a Romance language they took in high school. 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 students.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credits
Students may receive credit for Advanced Placement courses in French and Spanish language or literature as follows:
- General course credit: A university course credit is granted to entering students who achieve a score of 4 or higher on qualifying AP examinations.
- Major credit: Credit toward a major in the department is granted to entering students who achieve a score of 5 on qualifying AP examinations.
To learn more about how AP scores translate to course credits at Colgate, see information from the Office of the Registrar:
Extracurricular Language Fluency
Coursework is not the only way to gain fluency in a language. Many students may have gained language proficiency while living or traveling abroad, within their own home, or in another informal manner.
Students with considerable fluency from such non-classroom language practice should consult with the department chair for placement. If a student enrolls in a course below their level of proficiency without having consulted the chair, that student will not receive credit for the course.
Course Placement with Prior Experience
French and Italian
|
Secondary School Placement |
Colgate Placement |
|---|---|
|
No previous study |
121 |
|
Level I |
121 |
|
Level II: Fair to good achievement |
122 |
|
Level II: Very good to excellent achievement |
201 |
|
Level III |
201 |
|
Level IV: Fair to good achievement or CEEB below 570 |
201 |
|
Level IV: Very good achievement or CEEB 570–630 |
202 |
|
Level IV: Excellent achievement or CEEB above 630 |
350 |
|
Level V: Fair achievement or CEEB below 570 |
201 |
|
Level V: Good achievement or CEEB 570–630 |
202 |
|
Level V: Very good to excellent achievement or CEEB above 630 |
350 |
|
AP language score of 3 |
202 |
|
AP literature score of 3 or 4 |
350 |
|
AP language score of 4 or 5 |
350 |
|
AP literature score of 5 |
301, 350, or 400 w/permission |
Spanish
|
Secondary School Placement |
Colgate Placement |
|---|---|
|
No previous study |
121 |
|
Level I |
121 |
|
Level II: Fair to good achievement |
122 |
|
Level II: Very good to excellent achievement |
201 |
|
Level III |
201 |
|
Level IV: Fair to good achievement or CEEB below 550 |
201 |
|
Level IV: Very good achievement or CEEB 550–620 |
202 |
|
Level IV: Excellent achievement or CEEB above 620 |
350, 361, or 362* |
|
Level V: Fair achievement or CEEB below 550 |
201 |
|
Level V: Good achievement or CEEB 550–620 |
202 |
|
Level V: Very good to excellent achievement or CEEB above 620 |
350, 361, or 362* |
|
AP language score of 3 |
202 |
|
AP literature score of 3 or 4 |
350, 361, or 362* |
|
AP language score of 4 |
350, 361, or 362* |
|
AP literature score of 5 |
350, 361, 362, or 400 w/permission* |
|
AP language score of 5 |
350 |
*For advice regarding which of these courses is most appropriate, students should consult a member of the Spanish faculty.