Language Placement Guidelines

It is very important for you to begin your language studies at Salem State at the appropriate level. If you have studied a language in high school or if you speak the language due to life experience, you should not enroll in the 101-level course. The 101 course is designed for beginners who have very little or no prior experience with the language.

Students who have previous experience with a language other than English, should follow the department’s placement guidelines listed below. It is also worthwhile to contact Chairperson Kenneth Reeds.

Course Basic guidelines for placement

Course	Guidelines
101	No experience in the language (true beginner) Less than two years of high school study in the language Less than 400 in the SAT-II
102	2-3 years of high school language study 400-460 in SAT-II test
201	3-4 years of high school language study 461-559 in SAT-II test Documented achievement of the intermediate level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 3 credits (201 level).
202	4-5 years of high school language study At least 560 in SAT-II test 3 in the AP test Documented achievement of the intermediate-high level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 6 credits (201-202 level).
300+ and 400+	Five or more years previous language study Above 700 in SAT-II test 4 or 5 in AP test Or permission of the department’s chairperson Documented achievement of the advanced-low level on the Seal of Biliteracy will earn a student 9 credits (201, 202, and 300 level).

Department Policies

It is considered academically dishonest for native speakers, heritage speakers (those who learned a language through family or life experience), or students with significant prior study of a language (in secondary school or at another institution of higher education) to enroll in elementary-level language courses. Students who intentionally conceal their language background and place themselves into elementary-level language courses may face charges of academic dishonesty which can result in exclusion from the course and the filing of a report of Academic Misconduct. See the University’s policy on Academic Integrity for more information about academic dishonesty.