Foreign Language Placement Guide

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Foreign Language Placement Guidelines at SUNY Cortland

The Elementary & Intermediate level language sequence is composed of four sequential courses 101, 102, 201, 202. The prerequisite for each course is the preceding course in the sequence. Your initial placement is determined by your previous language experience as explained below.

If you have received any Cortland or transfer credit for the language (AP, CLEP, courses taken at another college, college credit for high school coursework), you must take the next course in the language sequence:
101, 102, 201, 202, 3xx.

If the previous course in the language was taken for high school credit, select the appropriate Level, Elapsed Time, and Grade from the form below.  Then click on the button and view your recommended placement below.

The last course you completed in the language was:

The time elapsed since you completed the course is:


The last course you completed in the language was:

Your Placement


 Foreign Language Requirement

All undergraduate degree candidates at SUNY Cortland must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by fulfilling one of the following requirements:

All B. A. degree candidates (also B.S. candidates in Speed Pathology and/pr Audiology) must: 
- successfully complete the fourth semester (202) of a college-level foreign language sequence; or
- confirm proficiency equivalent to successful completion of the fourth semester (202) of a college-level foreign language sequence, through a testing program (such as CLEP) approved by the International Communications and Culture Department; or
- demonstrate equivalent AP credit.

B. S. degree candidates in Early Childhood, Early Childhood and Childhood, Adolescence, or Special Education must: 
- successfully complete the second semester (102) of a college-level foreign language sequence; or
- confirm proficiency equivalent to successful completion of the second semester (102) of a college-level foreign language sequence, through a testing program approved by the International Communications and Culture Department; or
- demonstrate equivalent AP credit.

All other candidates must:
- successfully complete a one-semester college-level foreign language course (101) or the demonstrate equivalent credit (e.g., submit CLEP or AP credits); or
- earn a score of 85 or higher on the New York State Regents examination in a foreign language.

Note: ASL (American Sign Language) can meet the SUNY GE and Cortland foreign language requirement in certain programs only; please see the Foreign Language Requirement description in your catalog for a full list of these programs.