Second Language Requirement for Undergraduate Degrees

Note: Revised policy for U.S. and International students whose primary language is not English, effective Summer 2020, per the Faculty Senate, 4/7/20.

Note: IB and CLEP scores updated to reflect current requirements described on IB and CLEP policies, 9/14/20.

Second language requirements vary depending on whether you are in a B.A or a non-B.A degree program.

For all students in B.A. degree programs:  fourth-semester skill level in a second language is required.  B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:

1. Scoring the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level on a proctored proficiency examination administered by The University of Arizona.
2. Completion with a C or better of a fourth-semester course at the post-secondary level.
3. Completion with a C or higher of a 300- or 400-level language course at the post-secondary level.
4. Completion of one course beyond the third semester in combination with an AP (Advanced Placement) score, IB (International Baccalaureate) score or a CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) score determined by the individual language department.
5. An AP, IB, or CLEP language score as listed below.

   Examination	AP score	IB score	CLEP score
   Chinese	5	7	--
   French	3 or higher	7	66 or higher
   German	3 or higher	7	60 or higher
   Italian	3 or higher	--	--
   Japanese	5	7	--
   Latin (Classical Language)	5 or higher	7	--
   Spanish	3 or higher	7	68 or higher

6. A minimum of one semester study abroad in a language program approved by the appropriate language department as the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level.

For all students in non-B.A. degree programs:  second-semester skill level in a second language is required.  Non-B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:

1. Scoring the equivalent of second-semester skill level on a proctored proficiency examination administered by The University of Arizona.
2. Completion with a C or better of a second semester course at the post-secondary level.
3. An AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate) or CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) language score as listed below.

   Examination	AP score	IB score	CLEP score
   Chinese	3 or higher	5	--
   French	3 or higher	5	55 or higher
   German	3 or higher	5	46 or higher
   Italian	3 or higher	--	--
   Japanese	3 or higher	5	--
   Latin (Classical Language)	3 or higher	5	--
   Spanish	3 or higher	5	55 or higher

4. In the College of Engineering by a method determined within the College; however, all students in the college must also take a language placement examination on entrance to the University.

Note: Credit will not be awarded for language courses equivalent to, or at a lower level than, elementary or intermediate language courses for which the student has already earned credit (i.e., University Credit, transfer credit, or credit by exam). This policy applies to languages offered by the College of Education (i.e., American Sign Language), College of Humanities (i.e., Chinese, Critical Languages, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish), and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (i.e., Arabic, Hebrew, Navajo, O'Odham, Persian, Turkish).

U.S. students who are speakers of a language other than English (e.g. Spanish, American Sign Language, Navajo) may satisfy the requirement through a proficiency exam administered by the appropriate department.

International students whose primary language is not English and who had to prove English proficiency to be admitted to the University have thereby fulfilled the Second Language requirement.

All questions about language proficiency exams should be directed to the department that will evaluate proficiency. If you want to be tested in a language that is not taught by a UA department, contact:

Department of Linguistics (link is external)
Douglass Building, Room 200E
The University of Arizona
PO Box 210028
Tucson, AZ 85721-0028
Phone: (520) 621-6897
Fax: (520) 626-9014