World Language Placement Index

Each world language department has its own rules for level placement. Select a language below to determine your appropriate placement or exemption:

Contact the corresponding World Language Coordinator with any further questions. International College-Level Exams Credit, including IB, can also affect placement.

If you would like information on a language not taught at U.Va., please email Assistant Dean Melissa Frost.

American Sign Language

ASL 1010         no previous ASL

ASL 1020         grade of C- or better in ASL 1010 or placement interview

ASL 2010         grade of C- or better in ASL 1020 or placement interview

ASL 2020         grade of C- or better in ASL 2010 or placement interview

Note:

Placement interviews for students with previous ASL experience will be given during the first week of classes. Contact Gregory Propp for more information.

Arabic

ARAB 1010      no previous Arabic

ARAB 1020      ARAB 1010 or equivalent or placement diagnostic administered by Arabic faculty

ARAB 2010      ARAB 1020 or equivalent, permission of instructor or placement diagnostic administered by Arabic faculty

ARAB 2020      ARAB 2010 or equivalent, permission of instructor or placement diagnostic administered by Arabic faculty

Note:

Arrangements to take the diagnostic must be made individually with the Arabic Language Coordinator at the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures.

Chinese

CHIN 1010       no previous Chinese

CHIN 1020       a grade of C or better in CHIN 1010 at U.Va. or the placement diagnostic administered by the Chinese language program

CHIN 1060         the placement diagnostic administered by the Chinese language program

CHIN 2010       a grade of C or better in CHIN 1020 at U.Va. or the placement diagnostic administered by the Chinese language program

CHIN 2020       a grade of C or better in CHIN 2010 at U.Va, or the placement diagnostic administered by the Chinese language program

CHIN 2060         a grade of C or better in CHIN 1060 at U.Va, or the placement diagnostic administered by the Chinese language program

Note:

  • The Chinese placement diagnostic can be found on the Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures and Cultures website.
  • An AP score of 5 or IB score of 7 means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled.

French

French will be using the new PLACE placement diagnostic

New students must take the online placement 10 days before the date referenced in the welcome letter sent by the College of Arts & Sciences. If you miss that window, take it as soon as possible. 

Please refer to the French Placement Page for more information. 

German

*As of May 1 2022, German will be using the new PLACE placement diagnostic.*

New students must take the online placement 10 days before the date referenced in the welcome letter sent by the College of Arts & Sciences. If you miss that window, take it as soon as possible. 

Please refer to the German Placement Chart for more information. 

Greek, Ancient

For information on placement in Ancient Greek, please contact Anthony Crobeill 

Hebrew (Biblical)

  • Students with placement questions regarding Biblical Hebrew need to contact Greg Schmidt Goering by email to discuss placement.

Hebrew (Modern)

All Hebrew course placement is done through an informal diagnostic. Make arrangements for an appointment by contacting Zvi Gilboa, [email protected], (434) 924-1322. Placement for the Modern Hebrew language program takes place the two days prior to the beginning of classes each semester.

Note:

An SAT II Subject Test score of > 560 means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled.

Hindi

HIND 1010       no previous Hindi or Urdu

HIND 1020       HIND 1010 or equivalent, permission of instructor or placement diagnostic administered by Hindi/Urdu faculty

HIND 2010       HIND 1020 or equivalent, permission of instructor or placement diagnostic administered by Hindi/Urdu faculty

HIND 2020       HIND 2010 or equivalent, permission of instructor or placement diagnostic administered by Hindi/Urdu faculty

Note:

Arrangements to take the diagnostic must be made individually with the Hindi/Urdu Language Coordinator at the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures.

Italian

*As of May 1, Italian will be using the new PLACE placement diagnostic.*

New students must take the online placement 10 days before the date referenced in the welcome letter sent by the College of Arts & Sciences. If you miss that window, take it as soon as possible. 

Please refer to the Italian Placement chart for more information. 

Japanese

JAPN 1010      no previous Japanese

JAPN 1020      JAPN 1010 or placement diagnostic administered by the UVA Japanese program

JAPN 2010      JAPN 1020 or placement diagnostic administered by the UVA Japanese program

JAPN 2020      JAPN 2010 or placement diagnostic administered by the UVA Japanese program

 

The placement of all other Japanese (JAPN) courses is determined by the UVA Japanese program placement diagnostic. 

Note:

  • Please click here for the Japanese Placement Diagnostic.  
  • An SAT II Subject Test score of >700 and/or AP-Japanese score of 5 means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled.  

Korean

All Korean course placement is determined by the Department of East Asian Languages, Literatures and Cultures's Placement Diagnostic.

Note:

An SAT II Subject Test score of 700 or greater means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled.

Latin

LATI 1010        no previous Latin or 1-2 years of high school Latin and an SAT II Subject Test score of < 490

LATI 1020        LATI 1010

LATI 1030        1-2 years of high school Latin and an SAT II Subject Test score of 490-570 or 3+ years of high school Latin and an SAT II Test score of < 580

LATI 2010        LATI 1020 or LATI 1030, or 2+ years of high school Latin and an SAT II Test score of 580-640

LATI 2020        LATI 2010

Note:

  • An SAT II Test score of 650 or higher means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled.
  • A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Latin literature or Vergil exam means your World Language Requirement is fulfilled; 3 credits are earned for a 3000-level course determined by the department.
  • If you have studied Latin previously but have NOT taken the SAT II exam you will need to take the department's online Latin placement diagnostic prior to summer orientation. Contact the Language Coordinator, Coulter George to register for the diagnostic and receive instructions on how to take it. 

Persian

PERS 1010       no previous Persian

PERS 1020       PERS 1010 or equivalent or placement diagnostic administered by Persian faculty

PERS 2010       PERS 1020 or equivalent or placement diagnostic administered by Persian faculty

PERS 2020       PERS 2010 or equivalent or placement diagnostic administered by Persian faculty

Note:

If you have questions about the placement diagnostic or if you plan to provide high school transcripts for exemption purposes, please contact: Mahshad Mohit, [email protected], (434) 924-4641.

Polish

Students with questions about Polish language placement should contact Professor Dariusz Tolczyk.

Portuguese

PORT 1110      working knowledge of another world language or some previous knowledge of Portuguese

PORT 2120      PORT 1110 or equivalent

Note:

Completion of PORT 2120 or 2050 satisfies the World Language Requirement.

Russian

RUSS 1010      no previous Russian

RUSS 1020      a grade of C- or better in RUSS 1010 or placement diagnostic and permission of instructor

RUSS 2010      a grade of C- or better in RUSS 1020 or RUSS 103 or placement diagnostic and permission of instructor

RUSS 2020      a grade of C- or better in RUSS 2010 or placement diagnostic and permission of instructor

Note:

All first-year/ transfer students are required to take the placement diagnostic. Please contact Anna Borovskaya-Ellis if you have any questions. 

Spanish

*As of May 1, Spanish will be using the new PLACE placement diagnostic.*

New students must take the online placement  10 days before the date referenced in the welcome letter sent by the College of Arts & Sciences. If you miss that window, take it as soon as possible. 

Please refer to the Spanish Placement Chart for more information on that date. 

Swahili

Students with questions about Swahili language placement should contact Anne Rotich (ajr6y)or call AAS office 434-924-3109

Tibetan

Students who have studied Tibetan language in the past at home or in any institution other than U.Va. should take both the written and oral placement diagnostic. A day or two before the actual class should be fine.

Note:

For more information contact Tsetan Chonjore, Director of Tibetan Language Studies, [email protected], New Cabell B022A, (434) 924-3701.

Turkish

For Information on Placement for Turkish, please contact Didem Z. Havlioğlu

 Urdu

URDU 1010     no previous Hindi or Urdu

URDU 1020     HIND 1010 or equivalent, instructor permission, or placement diagnostic administered by Hindi/Urdu faculty

URDU 2010     HIND 1020 or equivalent, instructor permission, or placement diagnostic by Hindi/Urdu faculty

URDU 2020     URDU 2010 or equivalent, instructor permission, or placement diagnostic by Hindi/Urdu faculty

Note:

Arrangements to take the diagnostic must be made individually with the Hindi/Urdu Language Coordinator at the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures.