Second Language Proficiency Policy

All undergraduate students with two or more years of high school study in Chinese, French, Italian, Russian or Spanish, who plan to continue their study of the same language in either the fall, spring or summer semester must take a placement examination to determine the appropriate level of college study. Test scores remain valid for one year, so students who postpone language study beyond that year must retake the placement test.  All students with less than two years of high school study in a language will automatically be placed in the 10-level course in their chosen language.

All students must begin their language study at the evaluated placement level and will not receive Core credit if they start at a lower level.

  • Students placed at 101 must take 101 and 102 in the same language.
  • Students placed at 102 must take 102 and 280 in the same language.
  • Students placed at the 200 level or above must take one 3-credit course at the level of their placement.
  1. Placement based on AP scores – For students who have taken an AP exam in French, German, or Spanish Language or Literature, the placement is as follows:
    1. Score of 4 or 5 – Students receive six (6) Pace credits and are exempt from taking language courses for core, but are encouraged to continue language studies to develop proficiency. Students who elect to continue may select any 300-level course.  They might also consider completing a minor or major (or second major) in a language.
    2. Score of 3 – Placed in a three-credit (3) 200-level course. Course No. 280, "Intensive Review," is the recommended course in Spanish or French, but other options are also possible.  Must complete one (3 credit) language course to satisfy the language core requirement.
  2. Placement based on SAT II Exam Scores
    Students may take the SAT II language exam, as high school or college students. The placement is as follows:
    1. Score of 550 or above – Exempt from taking language courses for core, but are encouraged to continue language studies to develop proficiency.  Such students may select any 300-level course. They should also consider completing a minor or major (or second major) in a language.
    2. Score of 450-549 –Placed in a three-credit (3) 200-level course. [No. 280, "Intensive Review," is the recommended course in Spanish, French, and Italian, but other options are also possible.]  Must complete that one language course to satisfy the language core requirement.
    3. Score of 300-449 – Placed in course number 102. Must complete 102 plus a 200-level course to satisfy the language core requirement.
    4. Score below 300– Placed in course number 101.  Must complete 101 and 102 to satisfy the language core requirement
    5. For further information on registering for the SAT II exam, go to: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/lc_two.html
  3. Placement based on high school record
    If a student has studied a language for the following length of time in high school, he/she will be placed at the following level of the same language:
    1. Four years – No. 280 or other 3-credit 200-level course selected by the student. Must complete that one language course to satisfy the language core requirement.
    2. Three years – No. 280 (Intensive review) is the best option in French, Spanish, or Italian. In Japanese and Chinese, the intensive review course is No. 281 in PLV and No. 271 in NYC. Must complete that one language course to satisfy the language core requirement.
    3. Two years or one year (during any high school years) – No. 101.  Must complete 101 and 102 to satisfy the language core requirement. (Note: Students with a facility for language may elect to accelerate their language study by enrolling in intensive language study 101A and 102B, offered consecutively for seven weeks each during a single 14-week semester.)
  4. Placement for those starting a new language
    All students starting a new language at Pace will be placed at the beginning (101) level. Those students must complete 101 and 102 in that language to satisfy the language core requirement.

Notes on Language Core Requirements

  • Students who have completed their secondary schooling at an institution where English is not the language of instruction are exempt from the core language requirement. However, they are invited to learn a new language at Pace.
  • Students who take the NYU 12 point Proficiency Exam and score 12 points receive 3 credits of language Core credit.
  • American Sign Language (ASL) may be used to fulfill the core language requirement. Transfer students with two semesters of college-level study of ASL (grade "C" or better) will receive transfer credit and will be exempt from further study of any language at Pace.
  • Transfer students in the professional schools, with the exception of the School of Education, may take a culture course to fulfill the entire language core requirement. The remaining three (3) credits are to be made up in Inquiry and Exploration.