Retroactive Credits in French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Modern Greek, and Spanish

LSA students may earn up to a maximum of 8 retroactive credits for prior academic work completed in French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Modern Greek, and Spanish. To earn these credits students must complete an upper-level course into which they were placed with a grade of B or better.

Result on Departmental Placement Test
(the course placed into)		 Students must receive a B or better in the following course: Number of credits granted
Met LS&A language requirement An upper-level language course taught in the target language:
235, and 250 or higher for French
300, and 325 or higher for German
301 or higher for Latin
250, and 270 or higher for Spanish
301 or higher for Hebrew
301 or higher for Modern Greek.
(Translation courses and one-credit conversation courses are not allowed. See specific departmental regulations for more information.		 8
232 (202 for Hebrew and Modern Greek) 232 (202 for Hebrew and Modern Greek) 4
231, 221, 103, 102, or 101
(202, 201, 102, or 101 for Hebrew and Modern Greek)		   No retro-credit granted

Details and Restrictions

  1. This policy is effective for all students whose first term of enrollment in LS&A is Fall 1997 or after. Students who entered LS&A before Fall 1997 are not eligible for retro-active language credit.

  2. Students must successfully complete a designated course on the UM—Ann Arbor campus with a B or better.

  3. The course taken to earn retro-credits must be the first college course in the foreign language and must be designated as appropriate for this purpose by that department.

  4. Although there is no time limit on retro-credit, students are advised to complete coursework and apply for retro-credits within their first year of enrollment in LS&A.

  5. Taking a designated course Pass/Fail disqualifies students from receiving the retroactive credit.

  6. Transfer students are not allowed to earn double credit for the same work. That is, transfer students may either receive transfer credits for the foreign language or retroactive credits given through successful completion of the designated course, but not both.

  7. Students may receive a maximum of 8 credits through AP/IB examination and/or retroactive credits. For guidelines on AP/IB credit, consult an LS&A academic advisor or the relevant language department.

  8. Retroactive language credits are available only to students who began learning French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Modern Greek, or Spanish as a second/non-native foreign language, primarily in a school setting. Students with native language fluency (i.e., students who learned the target foreign language in ways other than formal schooling/instruction) are not eligible to earn retro-credits in that foreign language. Unusual cases will be addressed by the individual departmental undergraduate advisors.

How to Apply for Retroactive Credits in French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Modern Greek, and Spanish

  1. If your placement is 232 (202 for Hebrew and Modern Greek), enroll in 232 (202 for Hebrew and Modern Greek). If you have placed out of the language requirement, enroll in a designated upper-level language course in that language.

  2. Fill out the Application for Retroactive Credits. Return this form to your instructor as early as possible during the term.

  3. Complete the course with a grade of B or better.

  4. The department will forward it to the LSA Academic Advising Center or the Honors Program Office for authorization.