Placement
The course level at which students begin their study is determined by several factors. These factors include the following: the number of high-school units complete; language placement examination scores; or, for those with native or heritage competency, faculty evaluation.
Students with more than two high school units of French, German, Spanish, or Latin should take a placement examination in the Language Resource Center, 252 BB Comer Hall. With the exception of heritage language or bilingual individuals, students placed in intermediate level courses or higher can earn placement credit.
Below please find more information for placement in French, German, and Spanish as described in the Undergraduate Catalog: http://catalogs.ua.edu/catalog10/
Students with previous work in other languages should see the appropriate undergraduate advisor for placement purposes.
| Level | Placement Criteria for French |
| FR 101 | No prior instruction in French, fewer than two high-school units in French, instruction more than four years ago, or UA placement test |
| FR 102 | UA credit for FR 101 or UA placement test |
| FR 103 | Two high-school units of French or FR 101 at another institution |
| FR 201 | Credit for FR 102 or FR 103 or UA placement test |
| FR 202 | Credit for FR 201 or UA placement test |
| FR 300 | Credit for FR 202 or UA placement test |
| Level | Placement Criteria for German |
| GN 101 | No prior instruction in German, fewer than two high- school units in German, instruction more than four years ago, or UA placement test |
| GN 102 | UA credit for GN 101 or UA placement test |
| GN 103 | Two high-school units of German, GN 101 at another institution, or faculty evaluation. |
| GN 201 | Credit for GN 102 or GN 103 or UA placement test |
| GN 202 | Credit for GN 201 or UA placement test |
| GN 361 | Credit for GN 202 or faculty evaluation |
| Level | Placement Criteria for Spanish |
| SP 101 | No prior instruction in Spanish, fewer than two high-school units in Spanish, instruction more than four years ago, or UA placement test |
| SP 102 | UA credit for SP 101 |
| SP 103 | Two high-school units of Spanish or SP 101 at another institution |
| SP 201 | Credit for SP 102 or SP 103 or UA placement test |
| SP 202 | Credit for SP 201 or UA placement test |
| SP 300 | Credit for SP 202 or UA placement test |