How to Meet the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement
FOR STUDENTS WITH CATALOG RIGHTS BEGINNING FALL 1992 AND LATER

NOTE: Students may use previous foreign language coursework, CSUS foreign language coursework or language proficiency testing, to meet the graduation requirement for foreign language. Please read the following carefully.

I. BEFORE YOU ENROLL AT CSUS

The foreign language requirement may be met by any one of the following as listed in the university manual.

II. AFTER YOU ENROLL AT CSUS

If you have not demonstrated proficiency through one of the above, you must meet the CSUS foreign language proficiency graduation requirement by one of the following (A, B, or C):

A. PROFICIENCY TESTING OPTION (intermediate): Pass intermediate-level tests in two of four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. One of the tests you pass must be in reading or writing. Check the Official Campus Proficiency Test Date/Time page (for Spanish only), and contact the Foreign Language Department for any changes.These tests are given by the Department of Foreign Languages, MRP 2051. More information is provided in the links below:

B. PROFICIENCY TESTING OPTION (advanced): Pass advanced-level tests in two of four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. One of the tests you pass must be in reading or writing. Check the Official Campus Proficiency Test Date/Time page (for Spanish only), and contact the Foreign Language Department for any changes. These tests are given by the Department of Foreign Languages, MRP 2051. More information is provided in the links below:

PROFICIENCY TESTING INFORMATION FOR OPTIONS "A" AND "B":

Languages offered for testing WITHIN the F.L. Dept, on an appointment basis or on a test-date (Spanish):
(Arabic, Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish)
Languages for which testing is available OUTSIDE the regular F.L.Dept offerings, on an appointment basis:
(Afrikaans, Am Sign Language, Bengali, Dutch, Farsi, Flemish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Philippine languages, Serbo-Croatian, Swahili, Thai, Vietnamese). Other languages may be tested as well. See "authorized examiners" link below and special circumstances at the bottom of that link.

Procedures for proficiency testing in Spanish only:

  • Spanish testing is done in a group setting, once per semester. Official Campus Proficiency Test Date/Time page.
  • Students may register for the exam as soon as test dates are announced, mid-semester.
  • A registration form is required.   (Forms are also available in the dept. office.)
  • No fee is required for this exam.
  • Student records will be updated within four weeks of the completed exam date.
  • If you have any questions or need further clarification, contact Prof. Laurette Suter at (916) 278-7417 or suterla@csus.edu .
  • Sample Proficiency Test in Spanish

Procedures for proficiency testing in ALL LANGUAGES other than Spanish:

  • Language testing is done on an individual basis with the authorized examiner from the Foreign Language Department faculty, or an expert from outside the department.   If your language is not on the authorized examiner list of languages, then use the last option on that page for testing your language skill.
  • No fee is required if testing is done with a Department of Foreign Languages faculty member. However, faculty or authorized examiners outside the department may elect to charge a fee, payable directly to the examiner.  Testers from off-campus will most likely charge a $10 fee, so be prepared to pay them directly.   Students should verify fees with their examiner in advance of testing.
  • Please print the Proficiency Testing evaluation form which is required for the examiner.  Examiners also need to provide the student with a separate written/signed statement to verify the student’s language proficiency.
  • Student records will be updated after their exam verification has been received.  Records are updated weekly during the regular semester.  Summer exams are updated at the start of the fall semester.
  • If you have any questions or need further clarification, contact Prof. Laurette Suter at (916) 278-7417 or suterla@csus.edu .

Recording of the Test Results on Casper/CMS


C. COURSE WORK OPTION: Complete the first year (two semesters or the equivalent) of a foreign language at the college level, with grades of "C-" or better. The following courses are available at CSUS:

CHIN 1A and CHIN 1B GERM 1A and GERM 1B PORT 1A and PORT 1B
CHIN 15A and CHIN 15B ITAL 1A and ITAL 1B PUNJ 1A and PUNJ 1B
EDS 150 and EDS 151 JAPN 1A and JAPN 1B RUSS 1A and RUSS 1B
FREN 1A and FREN 1B LATN 1A and LATN 1B .SPAN 1A and SPAN 1B

The following courses are third semester classes offered at CSUS which also meet the requirement at a higher level than the 1B level:

CHIN 2A FREN 7 ITAL 2A SPAN 2A SPAN 121
CHIN 5A GERM 2A JAPN 2A SPAN 5A .
EDS 152 GERM 5A LATN 2 SPAN 7 .
FREN 2A GERM 5Ax PORT 2 SPAN 10B .
FREN 5 GERM 5C RUSS 2A SPAN 17 .

Note: CSU/CSUS Global Education also offers instruction abroad in Danish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. For more information, contact the Office of Global Education (Lassen Hall Rm 2304, Telephone (916) 278-6686).

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ???
If you have any questions or need further clarification, contact Prof. Laurette Suter at suterla@csus.edu or (916) 278-7417, in Fall or Spring semesters, and NOT during summer or winter breaks. For Fall 2009, office hours are Tues 1-3pm in MRP 2058.

BACK to Foreign Language Page

updated: September 2, 2009 ls