Coursework (one option)
CSUSM Courses Info
Which CSUSM Course to Enroll In
Non-CSUSM Course Info
Document Processing
1. Which CSUSM courses meet the LOTER?
- Specific CSUSM courses that meet the LOTER
- Arabic, French, German, Japanese & Spanish
- 201 or higher - EXCEPT Spanish 205, 398 or 399
- Spanish 250 "Spanish for Native Speakers" (For native speakers who would like to work on written grammar skills.)
- CSUSM Extended Learning offers Accelerated Spanish 101 and 102 in the fall and Online Spanish 201 in the spring. Complete the requirement in one year! This Spanish 201 course is the only online course that meets the LOTER.
- Grade of “C” or better OR “Credit” (You can take the class for credit or pass, if you don't need it to count towards anything else. You can also get any passing grade for the prerequisits; it's just the last one that you using to meet the LOTER that needs this specific grade or higher.)
- Study Abroad! Contact the Office of Global Education.
- Major or Minor! Contact the Modern Language Studies Department.
2. Which CSUSM course do I enroll in?
- IMPORTANT NOTE: If it has been more than 2 years since you took a language, you will be required to start at the beginning (101). For example: If you took Spanish 1 and 2 during Freshman and Sophomore years of high school, you would have to take Spanish 201 during your college Freshman fall, spring or summer. If you did not do this, you will need to take 101.
- Meet with your academic advisor before registering for classes
- A general guide is that 1 year in high school equals a semester in college.
- For all classes but 101, bring an unofficial transcript or test score on the first day of class
- If you think you should place higher than suggested below, speak to the Modern Language Studies Department (2nd Floor of Markstein)
- Guidlines on how to pick your course:
| If you... | Enroll in... |
|---|---|
| speak Spanish at home and would like to learn written grammar | SPAN 250 “Spanish for Native Speakers” |
|
have no previous language study OR |
101 (or you may TRY to talk your way into one of the below classes, but that is never, ever guaranteed) |
| took 1 year in high school or 1 semester in college, less than 2 years ago | 102 (for new material) OR 101 (for review) |
| took 2 years in high school or 2 semesters in college, less than 2 years ago | 201 (for new material; meets LOTER) OR 250 (if you are a native speaker; meets LOTER) OR 102 (for review) |
| took 3 years in high school or 3 semesters in college, less than 2 years ago |
202 (for new material; meets LOTER) OR |
| took 4 years in high school or 4 semesters in college | 300-level classes (new material; meets LOTER; starts a major/minor) OR 202 (for review; meets LOTER) OR Sit for the Proficiency Exam. |
| took the Spanish Language AP and got a 3 |
202 (for new material; meets LOTER) OR |
| took the Spanish Language AP and got a 4 or 5 |
301 (for new material; meets LOTER) OR |
| took the Spanish Literature AP and got a 3, 4 or 5 |
Course(s) 316+ (for new material; meets LOTER) OR |
3. Which courses outside CSUSM meet the LOTER?
- Specific courses around San Diego County (at many schools) that meet the LOTER
- Almost any language – including American Sign Language (Note: ASL Deaf Culture and Fingerspelling do not meet the LOTER.)
- At an accredited college or university – including study-abroad!
- Study Abroad! Contact the Office of Global Education. Note: Study-abroad programs must be no shorter than 4 weeks and meet at least 4 hours/day, for a total of 20 hours/week and 80 hours total. Programs not already approved by Global Education are considered, but will need special approval.
- At least 3rd semester, intermediate-level class (equal to or above CSUSM's 201)
- Note: Luiseno or Cupeno at Palomar must be 4th semester
- Grade of “C” or better, or “Credit”, or “Pass” (You can take the class for credit or pass, if you don't need it to count towards anything else. You can also get any passing grade for the prerequisits; it's just the last one that you using to meet the LOTER that needs this specific grade or higher.)
- ONLY ONLINE COURSE ACCEPTED: CSUSM Extended Learning offers Accelerated Spanish 101 and 102 in the fall, followed by Online Spanish 201 in the spring. Complete the requirement in one year! For more information, go to the CSUSM Extended Learning Website.
- No online courses other than the above (Note: You can take prerequisite classes online, just not the one you are using to meet the LOTER.)
- No conversation classes
- No writing-only classes
- No languages without written grammar rules, such as dialects or patois or computer.
- College courses taken in high school can meet the LOTER ONLY IF the student did not use the course for high-school units and/or diploma. If they did use it for high school, then we suggest taking the Proficiency Exam.
- We accept courses that earn credit through the exam process. Normally in these cases the transcript will list the actual course with units and grade and then have the notation that it was earned through "Credit by exam".
-
SOME language insitutes MAY meet the requirement. Contact the LOTER Advisor for more information.
4. What do I need to do to get documents processed?
- If you took the course at CSUSM, nothing!
- If your non-CSUSM transcript was part of your admissions packet to CSUSM (via an official score sent by the school directly), then Admissions checked the LOTER as MET.
- If your non-CSUSM transcript was NOT part of your admissions packet, then have the university send an official transcript *and official translation, if needed*, directly to:
Office of Admissions and Recruitment
California State University San Marcos
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.
San Marcos, California 92096 - If your non-CSUSM transcript has been sent and the LOTER is not yet checked as MET, please contact your primary academic advisor.
- If you want to go or have gone to a 'language institute', speak to the LOTER Advisor.
