Learn more about each of our programs: Questions about the Language Requirement Why is there a language graduation requirement? The world languages graduation requirement is part of WPU’s mission to graduate students who embody “active involvement in a multicultural world.” What is the WPUNJ Language Graduation Requirement? You will be required to complete 2 (two), 1 (one) or 0 (zero) semesters of world language at WPU depending on your language placement level. For how many semesters I will need to take language courses? It depends on your score on the language placement test. -Score at the 1100 level or below (no prior knowledge or study of language): complete two semesters of language: 1100 (Language Basic I) and 1110 (Language Basic II) -Score at the 1110 (Language Basic II) level: complete two semesters of language: 1110 (Language Basic II and 2100 (Language Intermediate I) of language in which you tested. -Score at the 2100 (Language Intermediate I) level: complete one semester of language: 2100 (Language Intermediate I) of the language in which you tested. -Score at the 2110 (Language Intermediate II) level or above: Congratulations! – you have fulfilled your graduation requirement. We encourage you to take an additional language course, to maintain and increase your skills, which are highly valued in many fields and jobs. Which languages can I study at WPU to satisfy the language requirement? Typically, the Department of Languages and Cultures offers several languages each semester. These include the more commonly taught languages such as French, German, Italian and Spanish, as well as less commonly taught ones such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and several others. For the latest listing, please consult the current semester’s course offerings in WPConnect. Is American Sign Language (ASL) accepted in fulfillment of the Language Requirement? Yes, it is. Both ASL I and ASL II meet the university language graduation requirement. Questions about the Language Placement Test How do I test my language level? Take a placement test in the world language at WPUNJ. Students take the language test if they have knowledge of language for various reasons: family heritage, personal life circumstances, or previous study in middle or high school. Your score on this test will determine your language placement level. What is this language placement test? It is a computerized test that takes about 10 -15 minutes to complete. WPUNJ offers placement tests in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. You need an appointment to take the test. For an appointment or questions contact James Miles the Director of the Lab. (milesj@wpunj.edu) How do I prepare for the placement test? You don’t! The placement test is not a judgment of performance, but an assessment of your current level. It is a tool that helps the Department place you in the course that is right for you. Where can my Advisor find my language placement score? Advisors can access language placement results through the student information page (“View Test and Placement Scores”) in WPConnect. The level you are placed in is clearly indicated. Questions about Language Study at WPUNJ What if I want to study a new language? We encourage students to study a new language, although we currently offer Major and Minor in Spanish only. What if don’t feel confident being in the language level I’m placed in? It happens. You have two options. Option 1: You may take a lower–level course as a refresher course. For example, you place into the 1110 level but would like to take the 1100 level instead. You will earn free elective credit for the lower course, but not graduation credit. You must still complete two additional courses at the 1110 and 2100 levels. Option 2: You may take the course you have been placed into and use tutoring support which is available at the Academic Support Center, located in the lower level of Raubinger Hall. This Center is open for extended in-person and virtual hours and its well qualified staff offers tutoring assistance free of charge in many languages. When should I take the language courses? We advise students to complete your language graduation requirement as early as possible in your academic career. If you are required to take 2 semesters of language courses, you should take them one after another, in two consecutive semesters. Where can my Advisor find my language placement score? Advisors can access language placement results through the student information page (“View Test and Placement Scores”) in WPConnect. The level you are placed in is clearly indicated. Other Language Placement and Transfer Credit Questions Can I get Advanced Placement (AP) Credit towards the Language Requirement? AP Credit is granted by the Office of Admissions to students who have earned AP exam credit and reported it to WPUNJ. AP credit is not granted for merely taking AP courses in high school. Granting AP Credit is the purview of the Office of Admissions, not of the Department of Languages and Cultures. If credit can be granted, the Department of Languages and Cultures determines the number of credits. Can you explain Challenge Exams? Challenge Exams are administered by the Department of Languages & Cultures for any language taught at the University. -Challenge Exams are offered only at the Intermediate level (2100 and 2110). -You may take the test up to your last semester. We strongly advise you to take this Exam as soon as possible. You have only one chance to take the Challenge Exam. If you do not pass, you will be required to take the necessary credits to fulfill the language requirement. For languages not taught at WPU, you can take the NYU challenge exam. This exam can be taken at WPU upon payment of the NYU fee. The NYU challenge exam will be accepted for credit or waiver according to the policies outlined above. Please contact the Language Placement Office in Atrium 129 for more information. Can I transfer in language credit(s) from my previous academic institution? Can I transfer in language credit(s) from my previous academic institution? You may transfer in language classes taken elsewhere as long as you have earned a “C” grade or better AND if you have not yet transferred in 70 credits from a community college or 90 credits from a four-year university. If you have already transferred in the maximum number of credits, the WPU language requirement will be waived but you will not receive transfer credits for these courses. What about CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) Credits? You may transfer in up to a maximum of 6 CLEP language credits as free electives. These credits will not fulfill the language requirement, and you must still complete the Language Placement Test. Who can I contact for help if I still have questions? Professor Michele Cascardi (cascardim@wpunj.edu), Professor Maria Tajes (tajesm@wpunj.edu), or Jim Miles (milesj@wpunj.edu), Director of the Department’s Multi-Media Language Center.
