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 a second 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.
The language requirement at Carleton can be satisfied in two basic ways:
- Completing a language sequence at Carleton. You can complete the language requirement by successfully completing the fourth-level course (fifth-level course in the case of Arabic, Japanese, or Chinese) in a language taught at Carleton (that is, successfully completing the course numbered 204 or 205 in your chosen language). For more information about language courses at Carleton, see the Languages at Carleton webpage.
- Demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English. You can complete the language requirement by demonstrating your proficiency in a language other than English, 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). There is more information available about how to satisfy the language requirement through demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English (including what “proficiency” means in this context).
Students who have experienced inordinate difficulty in satisfying the language requirement may be eligible to petition for an exemption from (or replacement of) the language requirement. More information about the petition process is available here.