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Heritage and Foreign Transfer Students Policy

Foreign Language Requirement for Students with Preexisting Foreign Language Skills 

In general, students who began a language in high school or elsewhere and plan to continue the study of that language must take the placement test. Students are urged to take the placement test the semester prior to starting foreign language study. The test may be taken according to the schedule posted by the Department of Languages and Literatures. Please contact the Department of Languages & Literatures (Carman Hall, Room 257, telephone 718.960.8215) to schedule your placement exam. The test may be taken only once and the result is binding. Results are generally posted within a week after taking the test.

  • In general, students who have taken a language in High School will not be allowed to take the equivalent course at Lehman unless they are placed there by the Department.

  • Students who have begun a language at another college will not be permitted to take an equivalent course for credit.

  • Students may take equivalent foreign language courses for credit at other CUNY colleges through ePermit (Lehman ePermit, also https://epermit.cuny.edu) or at non-CUNY colleges (visit the Registrar’s office for a non-CUNY permit).

Only students who transfer into Lehman with an associate's degree are exempt from the Foreign Language Requirement.

Spanish Heritage Speakers

Spanish heritage speakers are those who speak Spanish at home.  Often this is their first language and mastery of the language in both spoken and written forms varies considerably. Spanish heritage speakers cannot take language courses in their home or native language intended for non-heritage speakers (courses numbered 111, 112, 201, 202). Spanish heritage speakers will be placed by examination and/or interview with a Languages Department advisor. There are special courses for Spanish heritage speakers (SPA 113-SPA 114 and SPA 203-SPA 204).

Foreign Transfer Students

 Foreign transfer students often enter Lehman with college credit for coursework completed in a language other than English. Foreign transfer students cannot take language courses in their home or native language (courses numbered 111, 112, 201, 202). Foreign students will be placed by examination and/or interview with a Languages Department advisor.

Foreign transfer students who have completed college coursework in a foreign language may request a waiver from taking a foreign language. If the waiver is granted, the student is required to substitute Foreign Language Option courses to complete the language requirement.