Foreign Languages at UIC Language Requirement

The basic requirement is a level of proficiency equivalent to that expected of the student who has completed the elementary and intermediate levels of language study (the first two years) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Students enrolled in foreign language courses at UIC are strongly encouraged to register in required language courses in consecutive semesters until the requirement is met.

Meeting the requirement

Students may satisfy the requirement in any one of the six ways listed below. Check the FAQs in the next section for answers to your questions about the language requirement.

1. By presenting qualifying scores on Advanced Placement examinations in foreign language or a qualifying score on a UIC foreign language placement test or other authorized proficiency test for languages not offered at UIC.
2. By transferring credit for two years of a single language at the college level. With college approval, a student transferring from another university or another UIC college who has never been enrolled in LAS, who is admitted with senior standing and who has not satisfied the language requirement may do so by passing one course in a language sequence during each term in enrollment residence at UIC. Seniors admitted with foreign language transfer credit must consult a dean for application of this rule.
3. By completing four semesters of language courses at UIC. The college currently offers complete sequences in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Modern Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, and Spanish.
4. By completing a partial sequence of language courses as determined by the results of a placement test or placement by a language department. The college determines eligibility for credit in a recommended course.
5. By presenting evidence of secondary education completed in a country where the language of instruction was other than English. No elementary or intermediate level course or proficiency credit will be given for that language. The language requirement, however, will be considered fulfilled only if the student consults a dean for application of this rule and receives conditional approval.
6. By transferring four semesters of credit in American Sign Language courses from an accredited U.S. college or university. Courses must include the study of deaf culture.