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Getting Started

At the 成人大片, studying a foreign language is more than meeting a requirement — it’s a step toward becoming a global thinker. Whether you choose French, Spanish or Chinese, you’ll build real-world skills, explore diverse cultures and open new career opportunities. The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers placement tools, retroactive credit and flexible course options to help you get started and stay on track.

Why Study a Foreign Language?

Where French Can Take You: Culture, Careers and Global Connections

French is spoken on five continents by over 200 million people in 43 countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. It is an official working language of the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, the Council of Europe, and European Union, and other international organizations.

Moreover, it is an indispensable vehicle for understanding the literature and culture of France, Belgium, Québec, Haiti, North Africa, West Africa, and many other regions. French is the second most studied foreign language in the United States and Europe.

The study of French, therefore, not only allows entry into a community of speakers endowed with a rich and diverse culture, but also it enhances employment opportunities in such fields as international business, international agencies, the diplomatic service, hotel management, travel and tourism, international law, education and many more. Many French Studies majors opt as well to pursue their passion for language, literature and culture at the graduate level.

Five 成人大片students in France for study abroad

Why Spanish Matters: Language, Identity and Professional Reach

Spanish is the primary language for millions of people in Europe and Latin America. As a result, it is an indispensable vehicle to understand the literature and culture of Spain, México, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador, and many other countries.

In addition, during the last fifty years, Spanish has rapidly evolved into this country's second language. Spanish is used on a daily basis in almost every state of the union. The study of Spanish, therefore, not only allows entry into a community of speakers endowed with a rich and diverse culture, but also it enhances employment opportunities in such fields as business, social work, the health professions, hotel management, travel and tourism, international law, communications, public administration, law enforcement, education, and many more. Many Spanish majors opt as well to pursue their passion for language, literature, and culture at the graduate level.

成人大片student in Spain

The Global Advantage of Learning Chinese

Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over 1 billion people worldwide. Studying Chinese gives you access to the rich history and culture of China. Familiarity with Chinese also provides you with the professional advantages that come with speaking the language of a nation that plays a central role in today’s international economic and political systems.

Eight 成人大片students in China for study abroad
  • State of Florida Foreign Language Requirement
    As explained in the , students in the Florida state university system are expected to have studied for two years (or the equivalent) in a second language, including American Sign Language, or to document one of the exceptions enumerated in Florida Statutes 1007.261-262.
  • Language and Culture Studies (LCS) or Foreign Culture (FC) Requirement for Bachelor of Arts Majors
    Separate from the Florida Statutes, the College of Arts and Sciences at 成人大片requires B.A. degree-earning students to complete coursework—with grades of C or higher—in a language other than English (3-8 credit hours, depending on current proficiency) or in English-language classes with the ‘Foreign Culture’ (FC) designation (6 credit hours). For details, see the .
  • Program-Specific Foreign Language Requirements
    Students in the BA in Art History, the BA in International Studies, and the MA in International Affairs must demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate level or above in a spoken language other than English. For details, see the common policy that applies to all three programs below. Students in International Business should consult the program requirements for their degrees. For additional information, contact Dr. Greg Helmick, chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Dr. Andrés Gallo, director of International Business.
  • Common Policy

    Students in the BA in Art History, the BA in International Studies, and the MA in International Affairs must demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate level or above in a spoken language other than English. To do so, the following possibilities exist:

    1. A student may pass a two-course 1000-level beginning language sequence (eight credits total) and a two-course 2000-level intermediate sequence (six credits total) at UNF, completing all courses with a C or higher (a B or higher for graduate students in the MAIA). Note:
      • Students with previous experience in Chinese, French or Spanish may be able to skip courses, and optionally receive retroactive credit by passing a more advanced course. See the policy on , and contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for more information.
      • Students who choose to pursue language coursework at an institution other than UNF, whether in the US or abroad, must consult beforehand with their program director and the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures to ensure that credits will transfer and to complete any necessary paperwork.
    2. A student with existing proficiency in Chinese, French or Spanish may meet this requirement by completing one 3000-level course taught in the respective language at 成人大片with a grade of C or higher (a B or higher for graduate students in the MAIA). See the policy on , and contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for more information.
    3. A student with existing proficiency in a language other than Chinese, French or Spanish may meet this language requirement by achieving a qualifying score on a standardized assessment tool (generally the , or OPI), as deemed appropriate by their program director in consultation with the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. The student must assume responsibility for any related costs and no academic credit will be awarded. A student desiring to pursue this option should make the appropriate arrangements as early as possible to avoid potential problems. For instructions, contact the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
    4. A student who can provide evidence of having completed high school outside the US at an institution where English was not the language of instruction may be considered to have already met this requirement, at the discretion of their program director, in consultation with the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
    5. A student who has transfer credit on their 成人大片transcript for upper-level coursework for which English was not the language of instruction (completed in the United States or abroad) may be considered to have already met this requirement, at the discretion of their program director, in consultation with the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. If a student has done such coursework but it does not appear as transfer credit on their 成人大片transcript, it may be possible to determine that the requirement has been met based on a transcript issued directly by the institution in question. Additional documentation may be required to make such a determination.

    Exceptions to the policies on this page may occasionally be made by the program directors, in consultation with the chair of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, as appropriate to the circumstances of individual students.

  • Beginning Students
    Students who wish to study French or Spanish for the first time should enroll in FRE 1120, Beginning French I, or SPAN 1120, Beginning Spanish I.
  • Students with Foreign Language Exposure

    Those students who have had some contact with French or Spanish, either through high school coursework or through other experiences, should take the French or Spanish online placement examination and then register according to their test results. 

    Students may contact the department for information to take the placement test. The test is free for 成人大片students.

  • Native/Heritage Foreign Language Speakers
    Native or heritage speakers of French or Spanish seeking to enhance their writing skills or to expand their cultural and literary knowledge should meet with the department chair to determine an appropriate first class at UNF.
  • Retroactive Credit

    Students who enroll in Chinese, French or Spanish at the 成人大片 are eligible to receive up to 6 credit hours of retroactive credit as determined by course placement and satisfactory completion of specific language courses. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students place at the appropriate level of instruction in a foreign language sequence.

    • If a student places at the intermediate I level, s/he may receive a maximum of four (4) hours of retroactive credit for Beginning Language II upon completion of the intermediate-level sequence I and II.   
    • If a student places at the Intermediate II level, s/he is eligible for three (3) hours of retroactive credit (equivalent to Intermediate I) pending completion of Intermediate Language II with a grade of C or above.
    • If a student places at the 3000-level, s/he will be eligible for a maximum of six (6) hours of retroactive credit upon completion of upper-level foreign language courses.

    *A student will receive three (3) credits of Intermediate-level (I) language upon completion (with a grade of C or above) of a 3000-level class in Chinese, French or Spanish. Students will receive an additional three (3) credits of Intermediate-level (II) language after completing a second 3000-level language class with a grade of C or above.

    Students who wish to receive retroactive credit must apply for the credits in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures after their final grades have been assigned and recorded in the relevant courses. The 成人大片Registrar will add the retroactive credits to the student’s transcript with no grade assigned. These credits will not be computed into the GPA, but they will count toward degree requirements as appropriate.

    **Students will pay an administrative fee of $20.00 per 3-4 credit hours course for which retroactive credit has been awarded.

    Please Note: The retroactive credit policy applies only to language courses taken at UNF. (Transfer courses from another university and study abroad courses are not eligible to earn retroactive credits).