Description
This section explains CLA’s second language requirement and gives a brief explanation of the steps to satisfying the requirement.
Policy Statement
Students graduating from the College of Liberal Arts with B.A., B.I.S. degrees, or a B.F.A. in art, must fulfill the second language requirement.
Exemptions
Students whose native language is not English are exempt from the CLA second language requirement; students who are bilingual should consult with their adviser about determining whether exemption is a possibility. Students with a T1 tracking flag in BASIS records are exempt from the requirement. Students should consult with their college advising office for official determination of their native language (usually the primary language of instruction of the student’s secondary education) and degree requirement.
Interpretation
The second language requirement for all B.A., the B.I.S. degrees, and the B.F.A. in art, requires either a grade of C- or better in a fourth semester language or a passing score on the Language Proficiency Exam. This requirement does not necessarily require students to complete any minimum of coursework; however, if students have not taken language courses, and they are starting their studies in a second language at the University of Minnesota, reaching proficiency in a language will typically mean a student will need to take four semesters worth of coursework in a second language.
Entrance Proficiency Test
The EPT is required for all students who wish to take second-year (intermediate) French, German or Spanish at the University Minnesota - Twin Cities but who have not taken 1002 or 1022 with a passing grade.
The EPT is a proficiency test which evaluates the student’s ability to understand written and spoken language at the Intermediate-Low level (as defined by ACTFL) and to write language at the Intermediate-Low level (as defined by ACTFL). It takes 3 to 4 hours to complete the test. Students may take the test only once. This test does not offer any course credit.
CLA Language Testing Program
The CLA Language Testing Program has information about the second language requirement including history, scheduling, and registration for the EPT. The Reading and Listening portions of the French, German, and Spanish EPTs are available at this website.
Related Information
CLA Language Testing Program
Second Language Placement
I am new website:
Informs admitted CLA students of the EPT
Student File Documents
History (amendments)
Students admitted prior to fall 1986:
Students who were admitted to the College of Liberal Arts Prior to fall 1986, or who were admitted to CLA between fall 1986 and spring 1988 with at least 39 quarter credits completed at another institution, were held to the “Former Second Language Requirement.”
The Former Second Language Requirement for the B.A. degree requires students to fulfill the second language requirement by one of two routes:
• Route I requires completion of the equivalent of at least 23 quarter credits in a second language (high school and college work combined) or passage of a validation examination at that level.
• Route II requires completion of the equivalent of at least 27 quarter credits (at least 15 credits in a second language or validation at that level and 12 credits in courses taught in English about the country or countries that use the language chosen). Students who are held to the former second language requirement should consult an adviser for a list of courses that meet part of the Route II requirement.
• Latin: Students who completed two or more years of high school Latin could choose either to continue the study of Latin (Route I or II) or take 15 quarter credits (10 semester credits) in another second language. Those who have completed two years of Latin and three years of another language in high school have fulfilled the requirement.
