Foreign Language Requirement
John Jay College requires a one-year Foreign Language sequence at the 100-level (such as SPA 101 and 102 or SPA 111 and 112) for students who start at John Jay College as freshmen. 101-level foreign language courses can be selected from the World Cultures and Global Issues category (students will need to select an additional World Cultures and Global Issues course for their sixth Flexible Core requirement). 102-level foreign language courses can be selected from the College Option: Communications area. Students who place into the 102 or 112 level can satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement by completing that 3-credit Foreign Language course. It is strongly suggested that students complete the foreign language sequence within their first two years at the college.
John Jay College values education in languages and strongly encourages all students, including those exempt from the language requirement, to take these or higher-level foreign language courses.
Exemptions. The foreign language requirement applies to students who start at John Jay College as freshmen. Transfer students are exempt from the foreign language requirement.
Students with prior knowledge of a foreign language can become exempt from the requirement by taking a placement examination and scoring high enough to place into the intermediate (200) level or higher.
Students who can provide documentation of a high school degree from a foreign country and whose primary language of instruction is not English are exempt from the foreign language requirement but are not awarded any credits for that language. Students who receive a grade of 4 or higher on the Advanced Placement examination will be awarded 6 credits, thereby fulfilling the foreign language requirement.
Foreign language credit earned through College Now will be counted toward the requirement.
Credit by examination (up to a maximum of 6 credits) or exemption by examination may be obtained by taking the CLEP examination.
Note: American Sign Language will be accepted on the same basis as all other languages in fulfillment of the John Jay College foreign language requirement.