Overview
Language is the way that members of a culture organize and encode their thoughts, allowing them to communicate with each other. Moreover, language shapes one’s relationship with other people, and different languages will shape that relationship differently.
Carleton’s language requirement aims not just to teach another language but also to broaden students’ worldviews and deepen their understanding of the language they already speak. Learning another language offers numerous benefits, including enhanced cognitive abilities, improved problem-solving skills, and a greater appreciation for diverse cultures. It can also lead to better job opportunities in our increasingly globalized world. At Carleton, we offer a diverse range of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish, each providing a unique lens to view and understand the world. Language learning at Carleton, therefore, advances and supports the stated values and goals of the College’s Mission Statement.
The Policy
Carleton’s language requirement policy aims to assure that students demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency in a language other than English. This proficiency is demonstrated either (a) through successful completion of a fourth-level language course (fifth-level in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese) or (b) through acceptable performance on a standardized or college designed examination.
If you have existing knowledge of a language other than English, you can complete the language requirement by demonstrating your proficiency at the comparable level to a Carleton language sequence. You can demonstrate this proficiency through placement testing at Carleton or an Advanced Placement or other similar exam (for languages that we teach at Carleton), or through proficiency testing organized by Carleton (for languages that we don’t teach at Carleton).
For more information on how to fulfill the Carleton language requirement, please visit the website for the Office of the Provost.
Placement
Students who complete language courses equivalent to courses 101 through 204 (205 in Arabic/Chinese/Japanese) at domestic post-secondary institutions after being enrolled at Carleton may take a placement or proficiency test in order to be placed into the appropriate level course or to complete the language requirement. Credit toward the degree is typically not awarded, however.
Beyond the Requirement
Language study at Carleton aims at far more than the satisfaction of the requirement. Students are encouraged to increase their proficiency through advanced courses and Off-Campus Studies, and to apply their language skills in their academic work in other areas. With this foundation, language will enrich their studies at Carleton and enable graduates to become contributing members of the multi-cultural world.