Foreign Language Requirement
Franciscan University of Steubenville affirms that the learning of a second/foreign language (other than English) is an essential component of a liberal arts education, as it enables students to develop an experiential understanding of culture and language as foundational for comprehension of human dignity.
Students completing a Bachelor of Arts program must meet a second/foreign language requirement that is taught at Franciscan University of Steubenville or for which an appropriate examination can be given. Students may earn credits on their transcripts and fulfill the second/foreign language requirement by demonstrating proficiency at the intermediate level (e.g., transfer credit, or credit by examination such as the CLEP or AP exams). Students should be taught in all forms of a second/foreign language that are customary in the practice of that particular language. These courses may not include foreign literature courses conducted in English. For specific information on transferring credits, please see the registrar, the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, or the Department of Classics.
Franciscan University offers a waiver exam that may satisfy the second/foreign language requirement with an appropriate score; however, this exam does not provide university credits for the student on the transcript. For more details and to register for the waiver exam, please contact the department of Modern Languages and Literatures or the Department of Classics.
The university also offers a placement exam to help students matriculate into the appropriate level of second/foreign language study. Please see the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures or the Department of Classics for more information on how to register for the placement exam.
American Sign Language (ASL) counts for foreign language credit similar to any other foreign language that is not offered at FUS (ex: Italian, Chinese). The requirements for ASL are the same as those for any other language, with intermediate level two proficiency required. Though Franciscan University does not offer ASL, students may transfer credit according to the University's transfer policy.