Language Placement

The course level at which students begin their study is determined by several factors, including the number of high school units completed; language placement examination scores; or, for those with native or heritage competency, faculty evaluation.

Placement Exam

Students with more than two high school units of French, German, Spanish, or Latin should take a placement examination via Foreign Language Assessment. To access the Foreign Language Assessment,

  • Log into your myBama account (mybama.ua.edu)
  • Select the Admissions/Scholarships tab
  • Select the Foreign Language Assessment links in the Undergraduate Admission section of the page

Students placed in intermediate level courses or higher can earn placement credit. However, heritage language or bilingual students do not receive credit for courses below the 300 level. These students should contact the Department of Modern Languages and Classics before attending summer orientation or before registering for a course in the language for which they have native or heritage competency.

Determining Which Course to Take

You can find more information for placement in Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish at the links below. Students cannot place themselves in a lower class than placement guidelines indicate. The placement guidelines take into account previous exposure and experience. Taking a lower level course will do students a disservice and lead only to frustration. Any deviation from the placement guidelines (number of high school units completed; language placement scores; native or heritage competency) must be approved by the Language Program Director.

Students with previous experience should see the appropriate undergraduate advisor for placement purposes and consult the following pages for more information: