Foreign Language Placement

Guidance for placement in Foreign Language courses at UMKC

  1. Students planning to enroll in Foreign Language courses for the first time who have high school or other foreign language experience are strongly recommended to take the language placement exam, which can be accessed on the Department of World Languages and Cultures website.
  2. Credits earned in HSCP dual enrollment courses in high school count as courses taken in the Department of World Languages and Cultures and satisfy prerequisite requirements.
  3. UMKC currently recognizes specific scores on the AP, CLEP, and IB foreign language exams to count as credit earned. Inquiries may be directed to your academic advisor.
  4. Students who have fulfilled advanced tasks through a Seal recognized by the state of Missouri* (Seal of Biliteracy) will be awarded retroactive credit** (specifically 110, 120, 211, 221 level courses) once they have earned a grade of C or better in an advanced (300 or 400) UMKC language course (in the same language of the Seal). *Students with a Seal of Biliteracy from another State should consult the Department of World Languages and Cultures or their advisor to determine eligibility. **Retroactive credit will only be awarded for courses in which credit has not already been earned.  This credit will contribute to the maximum 45 hours of credit earned through credit by exam.
  5. Students who have fulfilled advanced tasks through a Seal recognized by the state of Missouri (Seal of Biliteracy) in a language that UMKC does not offer will be awarded retroactive credit for FRN-LNG 110,  FRN-LNG 120, FRN-LNG 211, and FRN-LNG 221 once they have earned a grade of C or better in a 300- or 400-level UMKC course that is approved for the International Studies emphasis area (in the BA in Languages and Literatures).
  6. Students who have had more than two years of a foreign language in high school may not enroll in the 110-level course of that language at UMKC without specific permission of either the section head/coordinator for that language or the chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
  7. Heritage speakers may not enroll in 110-level courses without permission of the language coordinator or section head for their language, or the chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures in cases where there is no course coordinator.  (Note:  A heritage speaker is someone who grows up with a certain family language in the home which is different from the dominant language in the country.)