The Language Requirement for the A.B. or B.S. Degree

The study of a second language expands the outlook and interests of the educated citizen. By providing insight into the social and intellectual life of other peoples, language study fosters humanistic attitudes and cultivates a spirit of tolerance and understanding.

Students who have previous training or experience in a particular language are required to take a placement test before electing a course in that language. Please note that students may not take the placement test in a particular language more than one time. Placement test information, including testing dates, are available on the department website at: lsa.umich.edu/rll/undergraduates/language-placement/language-placement-tests.html.

Students who demonstrate a fourth-term proficiency are certified to have fulfilled the LSA language requirement. Other students are placed in courses according to their demonstrated degree of competence and satisfy the LSA language requirement by successful completion of FRENCH 232, ITALIAN 232, PORTUG 232, SPANISH 232, or the equivalent. Students with previous background in or exposure to a Romance language are encouraged to continue study of that language through the freshman and sophomore years. The language requirement cannot be satisfied by out-of-residence credit which is elected after the student has begun degree enrollment in LSA.

RLL Course Progression

RLL Course Progress Chart

400-level Spanish course registration note:
Romance Languages & Literatures allows students to complete their third Spanish 279-399-level course concurrently with their first 400-level Spanish course. Students seeking to do so should e-mail rll.undergrad@umich.edu to request this update to their registration eligibility.

French 100, 101, 102 course offering update:
Starting in Winter 2022, French 101 will ONLY be offered in Fall term and French 102 will ONLY be offered in Winter term. French 100 will no longer be offered in Fall or Winter terms.

Override Policy

lsa.umich.edu/rll/undergraduates/registration.html

Attendance Policy

A student who misses either of the first two meetings of any course offered by the Department of Romance Languages (regardless of instructional format) may be dropped from the course for non-attendance.