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Foreign Language Certification in French or Italian

Proficiency in French or Italian can be certified in one of two ways:

1) The Departmental Language Certification form (GS 82A) is submitted by your own major department when you have met that department's requirements. This information is recorded in your file—not on your transcript. This form simply states that you have demonstrated proficiency, along with your name and the signature of your advisor and the director of graduate studies (DGS).

2) The Department of French and Italian completes the Language Department Certification of Foreign Language Proficiency form (GS 82), indicating that you have met proficiency according to the language department's criteria. This is recorded in your file and on your transcript. This certification becomes part of the official record and can be used in the future to certify your knowledge. This form provides information on what you did to achieve proficiency.

These forms may be downloaded from the Graduate School website.

Meeting the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

You can meet the foreign language proficiency requirement in the following ways:

• by having taken 8 semesters of graduate or undergraduate language courses with a grade of B or better. This coursework must have been taken within last 5 years. (Your program’s DGS may certify compliance with this requirement on GS 82A.)
• by passing Fren 0001 (Reading French in the Arts and Sciences), offered one semester per year, during the summer, and as a distance-learning course. The French program will certify the passing grade.
• by arranging for an aptitude test with the DGS in French or Italian.

Meeting the Higher Proficiency Language Requirement

You can meet the higher proficiency language requirement in the following ways:

• by having taken upper division undergraduate (major level) or graduate coursework within the last 5 years. (Your program’s DGS may certify compliance with this requirement on GS 82A.)
• by arranging for an aptitude test with the DGS in French or Italian.