Getting Into the Right Language Course
Several academic disciplines on campus require that you have placement into one of their courses, to ensure that you’re ready for the content in that course. To get the proper Foreign Language Placement, we ask that you take the corresponding Foreign Languages Placement Exam.
Foreign Language Placement
| Foreign Language Placement Exam Information |
| Placement Exams: Scores and Course Placement |
| All Other Languages |
| Native Speakers |
| Retroactive Credit |
Foreign Language Placement Exam Information
Who should take the Foreign Language Placement Exam?Foreign Language placement is required for any student with prior language experience who wants to enroll in their first UNO course in Chinese, French, German, or Spanish.
Students with no prior Foreign Language experience do NOT need to take a placement exam.
Native speakers of a language do NOT need to take a placement exam, and neither do students who have earned the Gold level of the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. Instead, they should contact a Foreign Language advisor in the Department of World Languages and Literature (301 ASH) for placement and permission to enroll in higher level courses.
Students can register for a foreign language placement exam via MavLINK (the University Student Information System) through the Academics tab. For more information on how to register and access the foreign language placement exams, please visit UNO's World Languages and Literature website.
Foreign Language Placement Exam is a computer based test. It is untimed. The exam can be taken on any computer with Internet access. You are only allowed to take the placement exam once every 365 days. A second attempt is not permitted for another 365 days after the first placement attempt. Results are valid for 1 year. The test should take approximately 25 minutes to complete. If your test is interrupted, you are able to return to the exam by re-entering your registration information and clicking the resume button.
Students can NOT use this exam to be placed out of the language requirement for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Only verified AP and International Baccalaureate scores, or transferable credit will qualify for exemption.
Chinese Placement Exam
| Placement Exam Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1 (000-199) | CHIN 1110 |
| 2 (200+) | CHIN 1120 |
French Placement Exam
| Placement Exam Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1 (000-159) | FREN 1110 |
| 2 (160-239) | FREN 1120 |
| 3 (240-289) | FREN 2110 |
| 4 (290-339) | FREN 2120 |
| 5 (340+) | FREN 3030, 3040, or 3060 |
German Placement Exam
| Placement Exam Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1 (000-229) | GERM 1110 |
| 2 (230-319) | GERM 1120 |
| 3 (320-369) | GERM 2110 |
| 4 (370-499) | GERM 2120 |
| 5 (500+) | GERM 3030, 3040, or 3060 |
Spanish Placement Exam
| Placement Exam Score | Course Placement |
|---|---|
| 1 (000-159) | SPAN 1110 |
| 2 (160-219) | SPAN 1120 |
| 3 (220-269) | SPAN 2110 |
| 4 (270-399) | SPAN 2120 |
| 5 (400+) | SPAN 3030, 3040, or 3060 |
All Other Languages
Any student with prior experience in Arabic, Japanese, or Latin should see a Foreign Language advisor (in ASH 301) to determine placement for their first UNO course.
Native Speakers
Native speakers of a language do NOT need to take a placement exam. Instead, they should contact a Foreign Language advisor in the Department of World Languages and Literature (301 ASH) for placement and permission to enroll in higher level courses.
Retroactive Credit
Students who complete a foreign language course at the 1120 - level or higher may be eligible for retroactive credit for UNO courses they test out of. The student must earn a final course grade of “C -” or better in the course they are placed into in order to receive retroactive credit. Retroactive credit forms are available in the Department of World Languages and Literature, and only available after successful completion of the UNO Chinese, French, German, or Spanish course into which a student has placed.