Foreign Language Placement Information

Because of the increasing globalization of culture, society, and the economy, every student in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the School of Communication and Journalism must demonstrate a certain level of foreign language proficiency to graduate from Stony Brook (LANG requirement). To satisfy the foreign language requirement, students must pass the second semester of an elementary foreign language course (numbered 101 or 112) with a letter grade of C or higher, or enroll in a foreign language course at the intermediate level or higher and earn a grade of C or better. Graduates from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences students are exempt from this requirement. 

 

Foreign Language Placement Examination

The Foreign Language Placement Examination is used to place students into the appropriate level of language courses at Stony Brook or to satisfy the foreign language requirement. Unless you have already met the language requirement via one of the exceptions listed below, or you have had no formal foriegn language instruction,  you must complete the Foreign Language Placement exam. 

Students who plan to pursue a major/minor in Linguistics, Asian & Asian American Studies, English, Globalization Studies and International Studies or a language program of study and will need to take a placement exam as soon as possible so that they are able to register for language courses in their first semester. Indicate this on your Advising Planning Form on SOLAR and you will be contacted with further instructions.

Students who plan to pursue programs of study other than those listed above should plan to take the placement exam during the summer before their first semester at Stony Brook. More information is available through the Language Learning Research Center.

 

Satisfying requirements with transfer and test scores prior to entering Stony Brook

Proficiency for some students will be determined prior to their entering Stony Brook by transfer credits, Regents examination, SAT II scores, or AP scores.   Proficiency for other students will be determined by taking the Foreign Language Placement Examination. 

• Students who have received AP scores on a foreign language or literature exam with a score of 3 or higher will satisfy the foreign language requirement. 
• Students who have transfer college credit equivalent to the second-semester introductory or higher level foreign language course from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C or higher will satisfy the foreign language requirement. 
• If students have at least two years of formal language study at a secondary school or university where the primary language of instruction is other than English, then transcripts from the institution may be submitted to demonstrate foreign language proficiency.
• Students with a score of 530 or higher on the SAT II in a foreign language will satisfy the foreign language requirement. 
• Students with a score of 85 or higher on a New York State foreign language Regents examination taken in 2011 or earlier will satisfy the foreign language requirement.
• Students with a score of 5 or higher on the Higher Level IB exam.

 

Test or Course	Score	Result	Foreign Language Course
SAT II Foreign Language	530 or higher	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)
New York State Regents Exam  (2011 or earlier) Foreign Language	85 or higher	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)
AP Foreign Language	3 or higher	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)
Secondary School or University primary language of instruction other than English	Two or more years	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)
Transfer Foreign Language, 112 equivalent	C or higher	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)
IB Exam Higher level	Score of 5 or higher	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 211)

 

Foreign Language Exam Scores

Test or Course	Level	Result	Foreign Language Course
None		Take two-semester elementary foreign language course sequence	Enroll in a course  sequence numbered 101 or 111/112
Foreign Language Placement Exam	1	Take two-semester elementary foreign language course sequence	Enroll in a course sequence numbered 101 or 111/112
Foreign Language Placement Exam	2	Waives from first semester of elementary foreign language course sequence	Enroll in a course numbered 112
Foreign Language Placement Exam	3	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 201 or 211)
Foreign Language Placement Exam	4	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for 212)
Foreign Language Placement Exam	5	Satisfies foreign language  requirement	None required for Skill 3 or LANG fulfillment (qualified for upper division)

 

Other Ways to Satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement
Students who are proficient in a language not offered at Stony Brook may satisfy the foreign language requirement through the Challenge Examination Program, administered by the Language Learning Research Center (LLRC). For details, go to www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/llrc/placement_challenge_exams/challenge_exam.html.

This requirement may be fulfilled by certain study abroad immersion programs. For more information, visit:www.stonybrook.edu/studyabroad/

Students who do not satisfy the foreign language requirement by any of the means listed above will be required to take a two-semester elementary foreign language course sequence.