World Language Placement

Why Study a World Language

There are plenty of good reasons to pursue language study in college.

It may surprise you to see how many languages are in use throughout the United States. We recommend that you begin studying language early in your academic career. It will open opportunities for study abroad, myriad professional opportunities, and deepen experiences in any career. For more information regarding study abroad and additional career opportunities, be sure to contact the Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE).

For information on courses and programs in your language of choice, contact the discipline coordinator.

Discipline Coordinators

What is the World Language Requirement

Under our current General Education Requirements (GER), UMN Morris students must demonstrate a proficiency level equivalent to one full year of college level course work in a language other than English.

Placement Exams for World Languages

Students with prior experience in a world language should take the language placement exam before registering for their first semester of classes. Placement scores will be valid for a period of two years. Students are expected to abide by their placement score. Students are always welcome to consult with faculty before registering, particularly if they have any concerns about their placement scores.

The placement exam informs you of what language level you are at and suggests what course(s) you should take.

Possible Scenarios

You have not studied a World language.

Since you have not studied a language other than English, you may choose from a variety of languages to complete your language requirement at UMN Morris. If you would like to discuss specific languages and for more information on courses and programs in the language you wish to pursue, please contact the discipline coordinator:

You intend to begin a new language at UMN Morris

These include: American Sign Language, Anishinaabe, Dakota, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish.

You studied a language other than French, German, or Spanish

Placement exams are currently offered through SLUPE for French, German, and Spanish. Other placement exams that are offered at UMN Morris include:

Please contact the Office of the Registrar at ummregistrar@morris.umn.edu with questions.

You are a domestic student who speaks a language (or languages) other than English.

Domestic students who speak a language (or languages) other than English for which they can provide documentation may be exempt from the World Language requirement. You may be a recent immigrant who graduated from a U.S. high school but speaks and reads the country of origin’s language(s). If so, you should make an appointment with the Scholastic Committee executive staff in the Office of the Registrar by emailing ummregistrar@morris.umn.edu.

You are an international student who speaks a language (or languages) other than English.

Per the Scholastic Committee, international students who speak a language (or languages) other than English have fulfilled the world language requirement. Please contact the Office of the Registrar by emailing ummregistrar@morris.umn.edu in order to have your APAS report updated accordingly.

You have approved transfer credit for World languages from an accredited institution.

Please contact the Office of the Registrar by emailing ummregistrar@morris.umn.edu to make sure your APAS is updated. A language certificate course cannot be accepted for credit.

Taking the Exams

A free, online language placement exam is available for:

  • French
  • German
  • and Spanish.

If you wish to take a placement exam, you may do so at no cost. The exam will take 15-20 minutes and must be completed in one sitting. Once you leave the exam web page, you will not be able to return to the place you left off. At the end of the exam, you will receive your scores, which you must then submit via the Language Placement Score form.

Complete the exam by following these steps

  1. Register for the exam and enter your University email address (@morris.umn.edu) to receive a custom invitation to take the exam. You will receive a link in your email to complete the language exam.

    • Please note, the test link expires in 30 minutes.
    • If you do not see the link, check your spam and junk folders.
    • If you still cannot find the link, you may request a new link.
  2. When you complete the exam, you will receive a unique code/identifier and your scores for the exam.
    • If you are unable to view your scores, you may visit the SLUPE site where you can enter the University email address you used to take the exam. Your results will be sent to your University email address.
  3. If you are an incoming student, please submit your language placement result link in the new student checklist (checklist step #5).
    If you are a current student please email your language placement result link to the Student Success Center. ummssc@morris.umn.edu

Placement Exam Results

Depending on the score received on the placement exam, students have several options to consider (see World Language Test Results Chart for details).

Placement at 1001 or 1003

  • Begin study with the recommended course above or
  • complete the entire first-year sequence of any other language offered in order to satisfy FL General Education Requirement.

Placement at 2001 or higher

Students can satisfy the WL General Education Requirement by:

  • successfully completing one or more courses in language at the Intermediate or Advanced level (courses numbered 2xxx or 3xxx) or
  • successfully completing the World Language Proficiency exam.

World Language Proficiency Exam: How to Demonstrate Proficiency

If you don’t see a place for further language study in your college experience, you may be a good candidate to take the World Language Proficiency exam in order to demonstrate skills sufficient to meet the UMN Morris requirement. Credit is not awarded for this exam.

If you wish to test for exemption from the World Languages general education requirement, you may take a proctored proficiency exam in the Hasselmo Language Teaching Center. Please email ummltc@morris.umn.edu to schedule an exam.