Foreign Language Placement Testing
Those students who have had previous training in a foreign language or who are native speakers of a language other than English may receive credit for their level of proficiency through a credit examination.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures administers national standardized credit examinations in French, German and Spanish. Depending on proficiency, students may receive from one semester to two years credit in a language. High school study of a foreign language thus may provide immediate college credit to students who have applied themselves in high school. Students who challenge out of the second year of a foreign language, and who plan to major or minor in one of these foreign languages, must take at least one semester of advanced grammar in the language.
Upon request, the department will grant credit in a language other than those taught at MSU Billings, including Native American languages. Students must provide a qualified interpreter. They must show oral proficiency for first year credit, and generally both oral and reading proficiency for second year credit. This credit is awarded under the LANG prefix.
Prior to graduation, students must enroll in the course for which the credits will be awarded. Students may elect to enroll in the course in the semester after the challenge exam is taken, or they may enroll for the course in any semester after the successful completion of the challenge exam. Students will avoid any additional tuition and fee charges for the successfully challenged course if they elect to enroll for the course during a semester when they are planning to enroll in 12 or more credits. Additional tuition and mandatory fees are not charged for credits taken in the tuition "flat spot" between 12 and 18 credits.
Students can make an appointment to take a credit examination by visiting the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures located on the 6th floor of the Liberal Arts building or by calling 657-2178.
