Foreign Language at PHC

The Foreign Language Requirement

Regardless of the method of instruction, students must demonstrate adequate foreign language ability in one of following ways:

1) Successfully complete the fourth semester course of a language currently offered at PHC.

2) Successfully complete the final intermediate-level course in a foreign language at a PHC-approved college or university. (Enrolled students should submit the Request for Transient Student Status form to obtain approval before enrolling in such courses.)

3) Demonstrate intermediate mastery of a classical or modern foreign language currently offered at PHC by taking a college-administered proficiency test. (See "Taking a PHC Language Proficiency Exam.")

4) Score a 4 or 5 on one of the Advanced Placement (AP) language tests identified on the Advanced Placement Equivalency Table. Students choosing this option also earn Open Elective Credit.

5) Sit for both the certified Writing Proficiency Test and the certified Oral Proficiency Interview administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Proficient students will achieve the following proficiency classifications for both assessments in a single language:

Category I and II languages: Intermediate High
Category III and IV languages: Intermediate Mid

According to ACTFL, Category I and II languages include French, German, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish; Category III and IV languages include Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Foreign Language Requirements for Each Major

There are program-specific requirements that must be met when selecting a language to study. The following list identifies which majors require a classical (Latin or Greek) or modern foreign language.

Classical Language

Classical Liberal Arts
Environmental Science & Stewardship - Pre-Med track only
History
English

Modern Language

Government - Strategic Intelligence Track
Strategic Intelligence in National Security
Strategic Intelligence in National Security - Cyber & Artificial Intelligence Track

Classical or Modern Language

Economics & Business Analytics
Environmental Science & Stewardship - with no track
Environmental Science & Stewardship - Law & Policy Track
Environmental Science & Stewardship - Science Pedagogy Track
Government - with no track
Government - American Politics & Policy Track
Government - International Politics & Policy Track
Government - Political Philosophy Track
Government - Political Theory Track
Journalism - Liberal Arts Track
Journalism - Political Journalism Track

Foreign Language Guidance

Students who choose to fulfill their language requirement in a language offered at PHC (currently Spanish, Latin, or Greek) must study at PHC. Transient Student Status will not be granted for the study of these languages at another institution. The College regularly offers these language courses on-campus; the College offers Spanish online in summers.

Students who choose a language other than those offered at PHC will only be approved to study through one of the following institutions that PHC faculty have identified as quality programs:

Submit the Request for Transient Student Status prior to enrollment.

Students participating in a Global Studies & Service semester may also pursue language study at one of the associated international institutions.

Students who have not fulfilled their foreign language proficiency requirement prior to first-time enrollment as a degree-seeking student must complete their requirement at PHC (for a currently offered language) or at a PHC-approved institution listed above.

In most cases, PHC recommends that students begin foreign language study in their sophomore year and complete foreign language study in their junior year.

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Foreign Language at Patrick Henry College

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