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College of Letters and Science Basic Second Language Proficiency Certificate

Undergraduate Certificate

The Basic Second Language Proficiency Certificate allows students to acquire a second language to reach a basic proficiency level and to focus on understanding cultural knowledge related to the people where this second language is spoken. The certificate provides preparation for students from a variety of disciplines to work more effectively with others in their future workplaces – whether those workplaces are in business, higher education, government or non-profit agencies. The certificate can enhance the general education of any student.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of how languages other than English are similar to and different from the English language.
  • Discuss the importance of speaking a language other than English to become a more engaged global citizen.
  • Discuss how basic language proficiency in a second language represents an asset to professional success.

Required Courses:

Complete first four semesters of a world language offered at UWSP including Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish.

  • At least one of the courses in the following sequences must be taken at UWSP.
  • If you have enough retro-active credits to cover the sequence and your placement is above this level, take a 300-level language course at UWSP. To receive retro-active credits, you need to earn B- or above in this course.
  • For languages not offered at UWSP (e.g., Hmong), an official ACTFL oral proficiency test score of beginning high may be substituted.
  • FLNG 101 – Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship Credits: 3

UWSP Course Sequences

Chinese: CHIN 101, 102, 200, 201

French: FREN 101, 102, 211, 212

German: GERM 101, 102, 211, 212

Japanese: JAPN 101, 102, 211, 212

Russian: RUSS 101, 102, 211, 215

Spanish:  SPAN 101, 102, 211, 212