**Review** Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

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Prior Learning Credit in World Languages

The World Languages and Cultures Department uses placement examinations in Chinese 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 100 level in a particular language (Chinese, 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 HSS Student Success Resource Center. Prior learning language credit is counted as in‐residence work. Prior learning credit may be earned in one or more languages, as follows:

  • Elementary CHIN/JAPN Language II (102) courses earn 5 prior learning credits plus 5 course credits for a total of 10 credits.
  • SPAN 200 earns 3 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 6 credits.
  • Intermediate CHIN/JAPN Language I (201) courses earn 10 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 13.
  • Intermediate SPAN Language I (201) courses earn 6 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 9
  • Intermediate CHIN/JAPN Language II (202) courses earn 13 or 14 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 16.
  • Intermediate SPAN Language II (202) courses earn 9 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 12.
  • The elementary Spanish courses SPAN 103 and SPAN 104 are not eligible for prior learning credits.

Any advanced CHIN/JAPN language course (300 and above) earns 16 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 19.

See table below for specific course information. 

Any advanced SPAN language course (300 and above) earns 12 prior learning credits plus 3 course credits for a total of 15.

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

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 100(3) & SPAN 200(3) & SPAN 201 (3) & SPAN 202 (3)

12

 

 

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.