We highly recommend that students meet their FL3 requirement as early as possible. Too many students wait until close to graduation to remember that they haven’t met their language requirement. Students who take it early, as soon as they start their career as undergrads, still remember the work they have done prior and are likely to do well. Delaying only reduces their ability to use and improve their language skills. Moreover, the quality of instruction, at the university level, is appealing enough to trigger vocations in the field of World Languages and Literatures.
The following courses are approved at SUNY-Oneonta for completion of the General Education Foreign Language requirement:
- American Sign Language 1001,1002
- French 1001,1002, 2001, 3001, 3002
- German 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002
- Hebrew 1001
- Italian 1001,1002, 1012
- Latin 1001, 1002
- Spanish 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002, 2012, 3501, 3001, 3002
SILP, the Self-Instructional Language Program, DOES NOT fulfill the FL3 requirement. Students in this program acquire notable proficiency, but not necessarily at the level of an ordinary class. Languages in the SILP program include: Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Swahili, etc.
Taking the course
For any of the approved languages, novice language students may fulfill the FL3 requirement by satisfactory completion of the 1001-level course.
Students with prior experience in the language should take 3 credits at the level appropriate to their ability (not 1001). Such students should consult with the department before signing up for class.
Students with foreign language credits from another university must consult with Academic Advisement to see if the course will transfer and if it will count toward the FL3 requirement.
Testing out of the requirement
International students with a native language other than English should consult with the Office of Global Education regarding waiver of this requirement.
Students with prior experience in a language may take a placement/proficiency exam to demonstrate mastery of their language at the appropriate level. These exams do not confer grades or credits to graduation; students should also remember that continuing study of a language is more impressive to future employers and graduate schools, and more useful in our increasingly diverse society.
Please consult the Resources page if you need to review before taking the test. Computerized proficiency exams are offered by appointment only in the language lab, 300 Schumacher Hall. Please contact the department for appointments at 607-436-3409.
ASL: Written and videotaped proficiency exam offered by appointment.
Arabic: Written proficiency exam offered by appointment.
French: FCAPE computerized proficiency exam offered on a walk-in basis in the language lab, 300 Schumacher Hall. Please contact the department for walk-in hours.
German: Written proficiency exam offered by appointment.
Hebrew: Written proficiency exam offered by appointment.
Italian: Written proficiency exam offered by appointment.
Russian: Written proficiency exam offered by appointment.
Spanish: SCAPE computerized proficiency exam offered on a walk-in basis in the language lab, 300 Schumacher Hall.