Colleges typically require students to complete between 9 to 12 credits of a foreign language at the college level to graduate. These credits are usually in the same language and count towards general education requirements. The requirement may vary slightly depending on the college or major. For admission to college, many institutions expect applicants to have completed at least two years of the same foreign language in high school. If students have prior knowledge of a foreign language, such as from high school or being fluent, they may be able to place out of lower-level language courses by passing proficiency exams or through programs like AP or IB. In summary:
- For high school preparation for college admission: Usually 2 years of the same foreign language.
- For college graduation: Typically 9 to 12 college credits in the same foreign language are required.
These credits generally correspond to about 3 to 4 semesters of a language course in college.
