All students entering Southwestern are required to take a placement examination in a foreign language (see Who Must Take The Exam for more information). A high placement may exempt students from some or all of the language requirement. Placement tests may be taken in more than one foreign language.  A Placement test may not be taken if you have already started the foreign language sequence at Southwestern or another college or university.

Credit is not awarded for advanced placement, but students are waived from completing some or all of the foreign language requirement based on the score earned.  A grade of CR will be issued with 0 credits earned to act as a placeholder if a student tests out of any level.

Southwestern administers placement examinations in Chinese, French, German, Latin and Spanish. To inquire about testing in other languages, including ASL, please contact the Jami Locklear, Assistant Registrar at locklearj@southwestern.edu.

International students whose native language is not English must achieve at least a score of 88 (internet-based test) on the TOEFL exam or 6.5 on the IELTS exam.