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Office of Academic Advising

Language Proficiency Requirement

Students who have declared one of the following majors Fall 2019 or later must complete the Language Proficiency Requirement. 

Majors with the Language Proficiency Requirement:

American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Art, Media, & Design, Border Studies, Child & Adolescent Development, Communication, Criminology & Justice Studies, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Global Studies*, History, Literature & Writing Studies, Media Studies, Political Science, Psychological Science, Social Sciences, Sociology, Theatre, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies 

The Language Proficiency Requirement can be met in one of the following ways:

  1. Intermediate-level Language Course: Complete the equivalent of one intermediate-level course (i.e. 200 level - excluding courses focused solely on oral conversation skills) in any language other than English at the college or community college level, with a C grade or higher or CR grade (including study abroad).
    • For many students, this will mean a three-course sequence to successfully complete the 200-level course. 
    • American Sign Language (ASL) may be used to satisfy the Language Proficiency Requirement*. Conditions apply.
    • The Language Proficiency Requirement cannot be met with computer languages.
    • Approved online or non-CSUSM courses may be used to satisfy the Language Requirement.
  2. CSUSM Proficiency Exam: Demonstrate intermediate-level language proficiency assessed via a CSUSM Proficiency Exam;
  3. Advanced Placement Exam (AP): Earn a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam in a foreign language;
  4. International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam: Earn a score of 4 or higher on an IB Higher-Level Language A Literature Exam, or Language A Language and Literature Exam;
  5. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Language Examination: Receive the following minimum score on a CLEP Language Exam:
    • French Level II: 59
    • German Level II: 60
    • Spanish Level II: 63
  6. TOEFL or other CSUSM-approved English language exam: Took the TOEFL or other CSUSM-approved English language exam as a condition for admission into the University;
  7. Complete at least three years full-time at a high-school or university where English was not the principal language of instruction.

*Global Studies majors must complete a fourth semester language proficiency requirement. Global Studies majors may not use American Sign Language to satisfy the Language Proficiency Requirement.