Foreign Language Placement Test

The Integrative Studies curriculum at Houghton College requires that all students be competent in a language other than their native tongue equivalent to the first year of college instruction.

This requirement is an integral part of the College’s mission to prepare students to be global Christian citizens. The study of another language enables you to communicate across cultural boundaries, contributes to the development of your analytical and writing skills, trains your mind in verbal expression and systematic thinking, and opens up new worlds of literature and ideas. Methods of satisfying this requirement include, but are not necessarily limited to:

  • The successful completion of one of the second level I.S. foreign language courses offered at Houghton College. (We offer French, Spanish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Spanish for Human and Social Services, Spanish for Business and Finance, Spanish for Educators, and Spanish for Health Professionals)
  • The successful completion of one of the approved Mayterm foreign language courses at Houghton College. (We currently offer one Mayterm in Costa Rica and another in Honduras).
  • A score of 3 (or higher) on the AP language or literature exam in a language other than your native tongue.
  • Three years of a single foreign language in high school with a cumulative B+ average
  • Any semester abroad experience that includes at least 4 credit hours in a foreign language.
  • An overseas experience without a formal language component (a summer or semester internship that requires extensive use of a foreign language for example), subject to the approval of the Department of World Languages and Literatures and of Integrative Studies.
  • Transferring, to Houghton College, approved foreign language credits from other college coursework or its equivalent: CLEP (College Level Examination Program), for example.
  • The successful completion of 2 semesters (or its equivalent) of American Sign Language.
  • Testing out of the requirement via a placement exam such as the one administered by the Department of World Languages.
  • Students whose native tongue is other than English may demonstrate English proficiency sufficient to satisfy the Foreign Language Competency by successfully meeting all other Houghton College graduation requirements.

If you have previously studied French, German or Spanish and are not transferring credits to meet the requirement, you need to take an online placement test in order to determine if your knowledge of that language meets the requirement and if not, to be placed in an appropriate class if you wish to continue your study of that language. There is no need to take the placement test if you want to begin a new language – simply register for the first level!

Here is the information for the French, German, and Spanish placement tests:

Exam website: http://webcape.byuhtrsc.org/?acct=houghton

UserID: houghton (all lower case)

Password: tower1 (all lower case)

This requires no more than 20-30 minutes of your time and should be done preferably before you arrive for Transitions 101. If your results, which will be automatically forwarded to us, place you beyond the 102 level, you will not be required to take more language courses for graduation but we would encourage you to do so in order to enrich your studies here. If you are unable to attend Transitions 101, you should complete the test no later than one week prior to the Fall semester. (If you have studied Latin, we will provide that placement test here at the college on the Friday of Transitions 101 chosen, or at another time.)

If you plan on delaying the completion of your language requirement (we don’t recommend this), you don’t need to take the test before arrival but you do need to ensure that you take the test no longer than 6 months prior to the time that you plan to take the class.

If you have questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact our Departmental Assistant, Jane Miner, by email (Jane.Miner@houghton.edu) or by phone (585-567-9670).

Sincerely,

Marlene Collins-Blair
Chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures