Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

All William and Mary students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language before they graduate. Completion of this requirement may be accomplished in the following ways:

1. Completion of Level IV in high school of an ancient or modern foreign language.
2. A score of at least 600 on the College Board SAT II achievement test in a modern foreign language or a 650 on the test in Latin.
3. Completion of a William and Mary language course taught at or above the 202 level.

Unless you have completed 4 years of a language in high school, or have achieved the necessary score on the SAT II, you will need to complete your language course of study here at the College up through the fourth semester (202) level. For more information, visit the Placement page.

• Any language course being used to fulfill this requirement, up to and including the 202-level, may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

• Students may fulfill the foreign language proficiency requirement through a study abroad program if:
  
  1. Prior approval for the course has been obtained from the Modern Languages Department
  2. The course is taken in a country where the language is the official language.

• In order to demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language not currently offered at William and Mary, students may document one of the following:

1. Language of instruction other than English at the high school from which the student graduated;
2.  Completion of a fourth semester course in a foreign language at another accredited institution;
3.  A score of Intermediate or higher on the ACTFL examination.

The petition form, which must accompany the documentation of one of these achievements, can be found on the web site of the Office of the University Registrar and should be submitted to that office for processing prior to the pre-registration period of the student's senior year at William and Mary.