2018-19 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-19 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Foreign Language Requirement


General Education Requirement

All undergraduate students must demonstrate proficiency in foreign language by fulfilling one of the following requirements:

  • successful completion of a one-semester college-level foreign language course (101) or the equivalent, such as CLEP, the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or AP credits
    or
  • having earned a final grade of 85 or higher in the third year of high school foreign language study or a passing grade in any subsequent year of high school foreign language study
    or
  • having earned a score of 85 or higher on a foreign language Regents Exam or a local exam aligned with a discontinued Regents Exam (Checkpoint B Exam)

Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science Candidates

Students enrolled in a B.F.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. program in the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Professional Studies need only one semester of a foreign language.

Students enrolled in the B.S. program in early childhood, childhood, early childhood and childhood, adolescence education, inclusive special education, and the B.S. in speech and hearing science 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 Modern Languages Department, such as the CLEP or OPI.

Note: Some majors require specified courses in foreign language in support of their major program requirements in addition to those described above.

Bachelor of Arts Candidates

Students enrolled in a B.A. program 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 approved by the Modern Languages Department, such as the CLEP or OPI.

Students with no previous college-level credit who plan to meet the bachelor of arts foreign language requirements through coursework at SUNY Cortland may choose from the following:

American Sign Language German
Arabic Italian
Chinese Spanish
French  

Students will begin work at a level determined in consultation with an advisor according to guidelines established by the Modern Languages Department. The guidelines are based on criteria taking into account individual academic records.

Students who wish to begin foreign language study at a level below the level indicated by the guidelines may do so on an "audit" (no credit) basis. To begin foreign language study for credit either below or above the level indicated by the guidelines, students need the written consent of the Modern Languages Department chair.

Students with no previous college-level credit who believe they have achieved their required proficiency in a foreign language may arrange for assessment through CLEP or ACTFL OPI examination, following guidelines established by the Modern Languages Department. Any financial burden for such assessment must be assumed by the student. 

Students whose first language is not English may satisfy the foreign language requirement through successful CLEP or OPI examination or by presenting a transcript that attests to successful completion of secondary study in any language other than English. Contact the associate dean of arts and sciences for more information.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language can meet the SUNY Cortland foreign language requirement for the following programs only:

School of Arts and Sciences

   

Adolescence Education: Biology (7-12)
Adolescence Education: Earth Science (7-12)
Adolescence Education: Mathematics (7-12)
Adolescence Education: Physics (7-12)
Anthropology
Art - Art History
Art - Studio Art
Art Studio - B.F.A.
Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Communication Studies
Conservation Biology
Criminology
Graphic Design and Digital Media                       
Individualized Degree Program
Mathematics
Musical Theatre
New Communication Media
Political Science
Psychology
Social Philosophy 
Sociology

 

School of Education

   

Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education (Birth-2)
Early Childhood/Childhood Education (Birth-6)
Inclusive Childhood Education
Inclusive Special Education 
Selected Studies

 

School of Professional Studies

   

Athletic Training
Coaching
Community Health
Exercise Science
Fitness Development
Health Education
Human Service Studies
Kinesiology
Outdoor Recreation
Physical Education
Recreation
Recreation Management
Selected Studies        
Speech and Hearing Science
Sport Management
Sport Studies
Therapeutic Recreation