Current and prospective students
Proficiency testing
Study abroad and internships
Non-native English speakers
Students with disabilities
Foreign language calculator - not official, for informational purposes only
Foreign Language skills are ensured by requiring that students pass either a third-semester college-level course in one foreign language or a second-semester course in two foreign languages, or satisfactorily complete some other significant activity that requires second-level foreign language proficiency as a prerequisite, such as study abroad in a non-English environment or an internship serving people who can communicate only in a language other than English. Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement prior to enrolling in college either by completing four or more units of one high school foreign language with a course grade in the fourth unit of 85 or better, or three units each of two high school languages with course grades in each third unit of 85 or better, by passing the AP examination (or its equivalent) with a score of 3 or better, or by demonstrating equivalent proficiency in some other fashion.
Note: Students who have completed a fourth-level high school language with a passing grade or third-level high school language with a Regents score of 85 or better (or, for students who did not take the Regents examination, a course grade of 85 or better) are considered to have completed two semesters of a college-level language and can fulfill the requirement by completing either the third semester college-level course of that language or the second semester college level course of a second foreign language.
Foreign Language skills are ensured by requiring that students pass either a third-semester college-level course in one foreign language or a second-semester course in two foreign languages, or satisfactorily complete some other significant activity that requires second-level foreign language proficiency as a prerequisite, such as study abroad in a non-English environment or an internship serving people who can communicate only in a language other than English. Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement prior to enrolling in college either by completing four or more units of one high school foreign language with a course grade in the fourth unit of 85 or better, or three units each of two high school languages with course grades in each third unit of 85 or better, by passing the AP examination (or its equivalent) with a score of 3 or better, or by demonstrating equivalent proficiency in some other fashion.
Note: Students who have completed a fourth-level high school language with a passing grade or third-level high school language with a Regents score of 85 or better (or, for students who did not take the Regents examination, a course grade of 85 or better) are considered to have completed two semesters of a college-level language and can fulfill the requirement by completing either the third semester college-level course of that language or the second semester college level course of a second foreign language.
Information on the foreign language requirement for students who entered Binghamton University prior to Fall 2004 is available at http://www2.binghamton.edu/general-education/old-forlang.html.
Students follow the Gen Ed program in effect for their catalog year. A student's catalog year is the academic year in which he or she matriculates at Binghamton University. For example, students matriculating in Summer 2011, Fall 2011, or Spring 2012 all fall under the 2011 catalog year and would follow the 2011-2012 Bulletin. If you are not sure which requirements apply to you, please contact your school advising office for assistance.
Students may only request to be proficiency tested in languages they did not study in high school. For more information, read the downloadable form Policies on Proficiency Testing (in Microsoft Word format). If you have any additional questions, contact your advisor for more information.
Beginning with the 2004 catalog year, students may fulfill the Foreign Language requirement by satisfactorily completing some other significant activity that requires second-level foreign language proficiency as a prerequisite, such as study abroad in a non-English environment or an internship serving people who can communicate only in a language other than English.
For information on how to fulfill the Foreign Language requirement through an internship, read the downloadable form Fulfilling the General Education Foreign Language Requirement Through An Internship (in Microsoft Word format).
For information on how to fulfill the Foreign Language requirement through study abroad, contact Katharine Krebs, Director of International Programs, via email at oip@binghamton.edu or by phone at x7-2336 or 607-777-2336.
Non-native English speakers may fulfill the Foreign Language requirement by alternate means. For more information, read the downloadable form Policies on Proficiency Testing (in Microsoft Word format). If you have any additional questions, contact your advisor for more information.
Students with documented disabilities who feel their disabilities will impact their ability to learn a foreign language should contact the Office for Services for Students with Disabilities at ext. 7-2686 or 607-777-2686.
The Foreign Language requirement for transfer students in the College of Community and Public Affairs, Harpur College, and the School of Management
