Language Requirement
Basic conversational and reading proficiency in a modern foreign language, or advanced reading proficiency in a classical language.
This requirement may be taken Pass/Not Pass.
The language requirement may be satisfied by:
- Passing a UC San Diego language proficiency exam which consists of a satisfactory score on a standard reading examination and conversational proficiency in an oral interview.
- Completion of a fourth quarter (or higher level) college language course (completion of a third semester intermediate level course if taken outside of UCSD).
- Completion of a UCSD Heritage Language Program course for bilingual speakers.
- Appropriate AP or IB score.
- Score of 700 or higher on the SATII Language Exam.
- A native speaker of a language other than English and having attended at least one year of high school taught in that language in a foreign country.
Proficiency Exams
- Take the proficiency exam if your language proficiency is already above intermediate level in order to satisfy the language requirement without taking language classes.
- To take a proficiency exam, all students must submit a request form, available here on the proficiency exam website.
- Requests will be reviewed and screened by the Language Program office. Contact them through the VAC with any questions.
- Additional information can be found on the Linguistics Language Program (LLP) website.
High School Abroad
English as a Second Language |
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Language Placement
Test Information
| If no former study of this language, enroll in this first course in the sequence | If you have ever studied or had exposure to the language, take placement test | Course Needed for Proficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Sign Language | LISL 1A/1AX | Contact ASL Academic Coordinator Peggy Lott | LISL 1D/DX |
| Arabic | LIAB 1A/1AX | Contact one of the Arabic Instructors | LIAB 1D/1DX |
| Chinese | CHIN 10A | All students must take a placement interview before enrolling in a CHIN course. Click here for more information. | CHIN 20A |
| French | LIFR 1A/1AX | Take the online placement test | LIFR 1D/1DX or LTFR 2A |
| German | LIGM 1A/1AX | Take the online placement test | LIGM 1D/1DX or LTGM 2A |
| Greek | LTGK 1 | Contact the instructor of Greek language in the Department of Literature | LTGK 101, 102, 103, 104, or 105 |
| Hebrew | JWSP 1 | Contact the Jewish Studies advisor to schedule placement test | JWSP 101 or 104 |
| Italian | LIIT 1A/1AX | Take the online placement test | LIIT 1D/1DX or LTIT 2A |
| Japanese | JAPN 10A |
All students must take a placement test before enrolling in a JAPN course. Follow instructions here |
JAPN 20A |
| LTKO 1A | See instructor Jeyseon Lee for placement text | LTKO 2A | |
| Latin | LTLA 1 | Contact the Classics advisor in the Department of Literature | LTLA 100, 102, 103, 104, or 105 |
| Portuguese | LIPO 1A/1AX | Contact one of the Portuguese Instructors | LIPO 1D/DX |
| Russian | LTRU 1A | Possible to place higher than first course. Contact Rebecca Wells | LTRU 2A |
| Spanish | LISP 1A/1AX | Take the online placement test | LISP 1D/1DX or LTSP 2A |
| Spanish – Heritage Speakers | Contact the Literature Spanish Language Coordinator | LTSP 2F |
Language Placement with AP or IB Credit
For information about AP credit, see AP Chart (PDF)
For information about IB credit, see IB Chart (PDF)
Note: If you receive AP, IB or previous college credit, you will not be given credit for repeating the equivalent course, or taking a lower level course.
When Language Courses are Offered
Courses offered by the Linguistics, Literature,
and Institute of Arts and Humanities Departments
| Language | Department | Level | Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Sign Language (LISL) | Linguistics |
1st year |
1A/1AX 1B/1BX |
1B/1BX 1C/1CX |
1C/1CX 1A/1AX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | 1D/1DX* | |||
| Arabic (LIAB) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX | 1B/1BX | 1C/1CX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | ||||
| Chinese (CHIN) | Institute of Arts and Humanities | 1st year |
10AN/10AM /10AD |
10BN/10BM /10BD |
10CN/10CM /10CD |
| 2nd year |
20AN/20AM /20AD* |
20BN/20BM /20BD* |
20CN/20CD* | ||
| French (LIFR) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX 1B/1BX |
1B/1BX 1C/1CX |
1C/1CX 1A/1AX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | 1D/1DX* | |||
| French (LTFR) | Literature | 2nd year | 2A* | 2A* | |
| German (LIGM) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX | 1B/1BX | 1C/1CX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | ||||
| German (LTGM) | Literature | 2nd year | 2A* | ||
| Greek (LTGK) | Literature | 1st year | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2nd year | LTGK 104* | ||||
| Hebrew (JWSP) | Institute of Arts and Humanities | 1st year | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2nd year | 104* | ||||
| Italian (LIIT) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX | 1B/1BX | 1C/1CX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | ||||
| Italian (LTIT) | Literature | 2nd year | 2A* | ||
| Japanese (JAPN) | Institute of Arts and Humanities | 1st year | 10A | 10B | 10C |
| 2nd year | 20A* | 20B | |||
| Korean (LTKO) | Literature | 1st year | 1A | 1B | 1C |
| 2nd year | 2A* | ||||
| Latin (LTLA) | Literature | 1st year | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2nd year | 100* |
102/103 /105* |
|||
| Portuguese (LIPO) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX | 1B/1BX | 1C/1CX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | ||||
| Russian (LTRU) | Literature | 1st year | 1A | 1B | 1C |
| 2nd year | 2A* | ||||
| Spanish (LISP) | Linguistics | 1st year | 1A/1AX 1B/1BX |
1B/1BX 1C/1CX |
1C/1CX 1A/1AX |
| 2nd year | 1D/1DX* | 1D/1DX* | |||
| Spanish (LTSP) | Literature | 2nd year | 2A* 2F* (heritage speakers) |
2A* |
*Satisfies the proficiency requirement
Heritage Languages for Bilingual Speakers
Heritage Language Program (HLP) courses can be taken three times for credit. Topics vary each quarter.
| Cantonese | LIHL 118*, 138* |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | LIHL 112*, 132* |
| Persian | LIHL 117*, 137* |
| Vietnamese | LIHL 114*, 124*, 134* |
* Satisfies proficiency requirement
