Hispanic Studies at William & Mary

Please consult the W&M Undergraduate Course Catalog for detailed information about the College's foreign language proficiency requirements, placement, and AP equivalency credits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Placement in Spanish Language Courses at W&M

Q: I completed Spanish IV in high school. What's the right class for me to continue in Spanish language courses in the Hispanic Studies program at W&M? I feel like I've forgotten quite a bit of grammar and vocabulary, and am nervous about my placement in a college course.
A: Having completed Spanish IV, you have fulfilled the College's foreign language proficiency requirement. If you wish to continue taking courses taught in Spanish, you have several options for enrollment. You may not take Hispanic Studies 101, 102, 201, or 202 for academic credit, and will not be allowed to take these course. You should enroll in either of these courses taught in Spanish: Hispanic Studies 206 (Conversation) or HISP207 (Cross-Cultural Perspectives; fulfills GER 4C). There is opportunity to review in these post-202 courses, designed for students like you who may be feeling rusty about linguistic skills learned even 2-3 years ago in high school.

Q: I completed level IV or V of high school Spanish. What's the right level of coursework for me?
A: You have fulfilled the College's foreign language proficiency requirement based on your high school study. The best courses for entering freshmen with your Spanish language background are either: HISP 151 Freshman Seminar (taught in Spanish); HISP 207 Cross-Cultural Perspectives (fulfills GER4C); HISP 208 (Fundamentals of Literary Criticism; fulfills GER 5); HISP 305 (Advanced Composition and Grammar; counts for Hispanic Studies minor and major). You will not receive academic credit for courses numbered 101-202, and will not be allowed to take these courses. HISP 281 is not recommended for Fall Semester Freshmen.

Q: I completed Spanish II in high school but feel like I forgot a lot. What's the right course for me?
A: You may not enroll in HISP 101 - 102 for academic credit. Students who completed Spanish II in high school are in fact prepared to enroll in HISP 201, a grammar course in which students review the verb tenses, vocabulary, and grammatical structures introduced in Spanish I and Spanish II in high school. HISP 201 is offered every fall semester, and in Session I of summer school.

Q: I completed Spanish III in high school but feel like I forgot a lot. What's the right course for me?
A: You may not enroll in any course numbered HISP 101-102 for academic credit. You should enroll in either HISP 201 (taught every fall and Session I of summer school); or HISP 202 (taught every fall, every spring, and Session II of summer school). Both 201 and 202 are "REVIEW" courses designed for college students who completed Spanish 3 in high school. If you are particularly nervous about your Spanish skills, take HISP 201 instead of HISP 202, although technically you have the prerequisite to enroll in HISP 202.

Q: I'm a transfer student and have already completed 1-2 college courses past the Spanish IV (HISP 202) level. What should I take as I continue to study in courses taught in Spanish at W&M?
A:  HISP 281 (Introduction to Hispanic Studies) is recommended for you. It is offered every semester.

Q:  Can you refresh my memory about college credit I have already earned through my AP tests in Spanish?
A: For AP Spanish Language or Literature Exams, a score of 3 earns 3 credits of HISP 202.
For AP Spanish Language Exams, a score of 4 earns 3 credits of HISP 206.
For AP Spanish Language Exams, a score of 5 earns 6 credits of HISP 206 & 207.
For AP Spanish Literature Exams, a score of 4 earns 3 credits of HISP 208.
For AP Spanish Literature Exams, a score of 5 earns 6 credits of HISP 207 & 208.
If you have already received AP credits by exam for these courses, you may not receive additional credit for these same courses once you are at the College.