Department of Foreign Languages

Placement

Students who studied a foreign language in high school or at another college or university, and wish to continue to study the same language at Bradley University, must take a departmental placement test before enrolling in a foreign language course. Students must register for coursework at the level of placement in order to receive credit for the language coursework. If they place at the 100 / 200 level, they must complete FL202 (fourth semester) in order to qualify for the B. A. degree. It may take them from one to four semesters depending on their placement. Students who test at the 300 level are required to complete only one course at the 300 level to qualify for the B. A. With the consent of the instructor, students may elect to take a course at a higher level than the indicated placement level if they are willing to do the extra work needed in order to complete the course requirements. Native speakers of foreign languages offered by the department are placed individually on the basis of the level of language competence in their native language.

Placement Tests

Foreign language placement tests (in French, German, or Spanish) are administered Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 AM and from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in Bradley Hall 314. The student is allowed 1 hour 15 minutes to take the test. An appointment is not needed. For more information or for test results, please contact Ms. Judy Keyster, 309-677-2500. During the summer months, the placement tests are administered by the Center for Orientation and Advisement. If you are an incoming freshman, you will be given the placement test during your orientation session. If you are not an incoming freshman, contact the Center for Orientation and Advisement for more information. Their phone number is: 309-677-2420.

The placement test should be taken at least one week before you are scheduled to register for classes during Early Registration. Otherwise, your foreign language registration will be delayed and you may not get the class you want.

Credit

The following options outline ways in which foreign language credit may be earned at Bradley University:

1) Complete a given course at Bradley with a grade of ‘D’ or better.

2) Pre-approved coursework from another American college / university. Many colleges, especially community colleges, are no longer offering courses that are equivalent to the foreign language courses that are offered at Bradley University. Before enrolling in any foreign language course at another college for transfer credit to Bradley, you must obtain transfer approval from Bradley's Department of Foreign Languages for that course.

3) Receive up to 6 hours credit for Advanced Placement tests, which are given while the student is in high school.

a) Students who receive the score of 3 on the AP language test are awarded 202 (2nd semester intermediate) credit and have satisfied the language requirement for the B. A. degree. Students who receive the score of 4 or 5 on the AP language test are awarded 303 (Composition) credit and have thereby satisfied the language requirement for the B.A. degree.

b) Students who receive a 4 or 5 on the AP literature test will be given credit for FL 325 (Introduction to Literature) and have satisfied the language requirement for the B. A. degree. In addition, the General Education Human Values-Literacy requirement has also been satisfied.

4) Receive 3 hours of transfer credit under the auspices of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Students who receive a passing score on the French, Spanish, or German CLEP examination, and who have not taken target language coursework at Bradley, are awarded 3 hours of elective credit and have satisfied the language requirement for the B. A. degree.

5) Receive up to 3 hours of 202 level free elective credit for completing a second-semester intermediate American Sign Language course at an accredited college or university. Students who earn 3 hours of transfer-level credit have satisfied the language requirement for the B.A. degree.

6) Receive 3 hours of transfer-level credit for receiving a passing score on the College Board Advanced Level Program (ALP) test for Spanish. Students who receive a score of 3 or above will receive 3 hours credit for FLS 304 Conversation.

7) Receive 3 hours of transfer-level credit for receiving a passing grade for either high level or subsidiary level International Baccalaureate foreign language examinations. Students receive 3 hours FL 303 credit and have satisfied the B.A. language requirement.