All students with previous language experience in French, German or Spanish who wish to advance their studies in the same language must take the Foreign Language Placement Test prior to Camp War Eagle, Successfully Orienting Students or enrolling in a language course in these areas.
Based on the Languages Placement Test, the College Board Advanced Placement Exam, or evaluation of a student's previous foreign language experience by the department, a student may enter at a level higher than 1010 in a language. For a grade of C or higher in an Auburn University foreign language course, students will receive up to 8 hours of credit for advanced placement in addition to the credits for the course taken. For example, a student who enters a language at the 2010 level, upon completing that course with a C or higher, will receive up to 8 lower division hours (ungraded), equivalent to 1010 and 1020.
If a minimum grade of C is not earned, the student may enter at a lower level or re-enter the same level and receive advanced placement by earning a C or better. Students who fail a course at the 1000 or 2000 level must repeat that course before continuing to the next higher course.
While eligible for advanced placement as indicated above, students who are native speakers in a foreign language may only begin courses in that language at the 3000 level or higher, excluding conversation courses altogether if they have received substantial academic preparation in that same language (such as the French Baccalaureat, the German Abitur, the Spanish Bachillerato, or higher).
Students who are either foreign or U.S. ethnic native speakers in a foreign language, but with minimal or limited academic preparation, may only begin courses in that language at the 2000 level or higher unless granted permission by the advisor. If special situations arise, such as foreign language learning through extensive residence abroad, the advisor for the specific language will make an appropriate entry-level determination.
The following are other examples of how a student may earn advanced placement credit:
- College Board Advanced Placement Exam scores of 4 or 5 will earn students up to 8 lower division hours (ungraded), equivalent to 1010 and 1020, and thus fulfill the College of Liberal Arts core language requirement. Students who wish to do further work in the language for which this AP credit was received should consult with the undergraduate advisor for appropriate placement.
- College Board Advanced Placement Exam score of 3 will earn students up to 4 lower division hours (ungraded) equivalent to 1010. Students may enroll in 1020 or 2010 to fulfill the College of Liberal Arts core language requirement.
PLEASE NOTE: Scores for these exams must be reported to Auburn University by the College Board. Student reports of scores earned must be substantiated by College Board documentation.
- If entering at a level higher than 2010 in a skills course, students will receive advanced placement for the two previous terms (in sequence). Advanced placement for 2000 level courses may be used to fulfill major or minor requirements to the extent allowed by university regulations.
- If a student skips a course(s) within the first- or second-year sequence, and successfully completes the next course with a grade of C or better, they will receive credit for the course(s) skipped.
- To challenge a course by examination, students must meet with the undergraduate program director and provide a current unofficial transcript. Once the exam is set up through an instructor or professor currently teaching the course to be challenged, the student must score a minimum 80% on the final exam in order to receive credit. A student may not challenge a course for credit if they have previously taken the course and received a grade for it. The challenge by examination option is not available for FLSP 1010, FLSP 1020, FLKN 1010 and FLKN 1020. A student may receive no more than a total of 8 credit hours through challenge by examination.
Transfer Credit Policy
A student may transfer foreign language credits from another institution if the credits are equivalent to Auburn courses. Credit for language courses not offered by Auburn may be allowed by the student's dean.
Issues Related to Transfer Credit:
Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 reflect the departmental interpretation of issues related to the transfer of foreign language credits and are for the purpose of administrative information only.
- If a student transfers to Auburn and has already completed a standard first-year college textbook, they have satisfied the one-year foreign language requirement at Auburn. However, the student will receive only the number of hours in a foreign language which are transferable from another institution. In this case, the student must confer with the appropriate advisor in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
- Advanced placement credit awarded by an accredited college can be transferred upon the approval of the appropriate language advisor in the department provided that the placement policy is equivalent to the policy at Auburn University and the first-year sequence at the college completes the equivalent material. Advisors from other institutions are encouraged to provide copies of the syllabi for that purpose.
- In the case where advanced placement has not been granted by another institution for previous work in high school, advanced placement cannot automatically be granted and credit can only be received by completing a course at Auburn University.
- If a student transfers to Auburn, they are strongly encouraged to consult with the language advisor in the department for appropriate placement. If a student has received credit in a specific course at a certain level by transfer, they may repeat the course at Auburn but will receive credit for both only if the course content is significantly different as determined by the appropriate advisor in the department.