Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023

Prior Learning Credit in World Languages

The World Languages and Cultures Department uses placement examinations in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish to establish advanced placement in language classes. Students in Japanese should contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures for placement. A student may receive prior learning credits provided a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher is earned in the student’s first UNC course above the 101 level in a particular language (Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish).

Students must petition the Office of the Registrar after receiving a ‘B’ or higher grade in order to be awarded the prior learning credits. 

Petition forms are available in the World Languages and Cultures office. Prior learning language credit is counted as in‐residence work. Prior learning credit may be earned in one or more languages, as follows:

  • Elementary Language II (102) courses earn 5 prior learning credits plus 5 course credits for a total of 10 credits.
  • Intermediate Language I (201) courses earn 10 prior learning credits plus 3 (CHIN, JAPN, SPAN) or 4 (FR, GER) course credits for a total of 13 or 14 credits.
  • Intermediate Language II (202) courses earn 13 or 14 prior learning credits plus 3 (CHIN, JAPN, SPAN) or 4 (FR, GER) course credits for a total of 16 or 18 credits.
  • The elementary Spanish courses SPAN 103 and SPAN 104 are not eligible for prior learning credits.

Any advanced language course (300 and above) earns 16 (CHIN, JAPN, SPAN) or 18 (FR, GER) prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 19 or 21 credits.

See table below for specific course information. 

Earn B or above in this course:

Receive prior learning credit for:

For total credits:

Chinese

 

 

The following upper-division courses: CHIN 301 (3), CHIN 302 (3), CHIN 407 (3), CHIN 450 (3)

CHIN 101 (5) & CHIN 102 (5) &  CHIN 201 (3) & CHIN 202 (3)

16

French

 

 

The following upper-division courses: FR 301 (3), FR 302 (3), FR 311 (3), FR 312 (3),

FR 101 (5) & FR 102 (5) & FR 201 (3) & FR 202 (3)

16

German

 

 

The following upper-division courses: GER 301 (3), GER 302 (3), GER 311 (3), GER 312 (3),

GER 101 (5) & GER 102 (5) & GER 201 (3) & GER 202 (3)

16

Japanese

 

 

The following upper-division courses: JAPN 301 (3), JAPN 302 (3), JAPN 407 (3), JAPN 450 (3)

JAPN 101 (5) & JAPN 102 (5) & JAPN 201 (3) & JAPN 202 (3)

16

Spanish

 

 

The following upper-division courses: SPAN 301 (3), SPAN 302 (3); or SPAN 310 (3), SPAN 311 (3); & SPAN 312 (3)

SPAN 101 (5) & SPAN 102 (5) & SPAN 201 (3) & SPAN 202 (3)

16

  

 

Students whose first UNC language course is a 300 or 400-level course that is not listed in the preceding table may petition the appropriate department for prior learning credits. Alternatively, they can apply for prior learning credits after they have completed a course that appears in the preceding table.