Certain lower-level courses in French, Italian, Latin and Spanish fulfill University General Education requirements in Arts and Humanities with an International Perspective. These courses also fulfill Foreign Language requirements as determined by each College.

Foreign Language requirements vary among colleges, therefore students who had foreign languages in high school need to consult with their college advisor prior to enrollment in their first language course at BGSU. The advisor will help the student select the appropriate courses to fulfill their College requirements. All students should be encouraged to start at the highest level for which they qualify.

For Students within the College of Arts and Sciences who need to fulfill their Foreign Language requirements, the following information is offered as a general guideline:

The Language Track

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may complete the 101-102-201-202 course sequence on campus for any language offered through the Department of Romance and Classical Studies. Students in French or Spanish have the option of completing the sequence through an intensive "cluster" summer program abroad offered by the Department in France or Spain. For more information about the summer abroad programs, please contact the Romance and Classical Studies Study Abroad office at (419) 372-8053

Standard language courses teach the communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The content is culturally oriented so that students may learn about the peoples and places associated with the language being studied.

The Culture Track

There is an option available beyond the 201 level in French and Spanish for students who prefer an alternative approach, provided they have no need or intention to study the language beyond the requirement. The alternative course, 212, is generally referred to as the “culture course” because there is considerable emphasis on reading in the foreign language, translating, and discussing in English materials about the customs, values, and culture of the people whose language is being studied. There are no alternatives to the 101-102-201, but at the intermediate level, French and Spanish regularly offer the culture course of 212 as an option for 202.

A student of Latin, after having two years of high school Latin or after taking 101 and 102 here, may choose between Latin 201/202 and CLCV 241/242 to complete the Arts and Sciences requirement level. No culture track options are available in Italian.

A student who has had foreign language experience through home life or considerable foreign residence should consult the chair of the Department of Romance and Classical Studies or the Department’s undergraduate advisor for the language in question about appropriate course selection, or through Credit by Examination.

For quick reference, the chart shows options for a continuing language student.

FOR MAJORS AND MINORS:
A student who is ready for 300-level courses normally should begin with a conversation/composition course (preferably SPAN 351 or FREN 356), and should consult with the appropriate advisor within the Department.

A student planning to begin any language at the 100 level should be encouraged to do so at the earliest possible time, in order to be able to complete the major or minor sequences in four years.

Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement Program is a service that enables qualified entering students to earn credit for college level courses taken in high school, based upon the scores achieved in high school and scored by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The results must then be forwarded to BGSU for credit determination.

Depending on credit determination, students may be exempted from certain University courses. Students granted exemption may begin studying at higher levels, pursue a minor or second major or even graduate early. Students earning a total of 30 credits through Advanced Placement are automatically granted sophmore standing.

Advanced Placement in French, Latin or Spanish Language

French and Spanish Literature Exam