Frequently Asked Questions
- I need to complete the World Languages requirement. How do I go about signing up for a class?
- On the AP test (for either Spanish or Italian) I received a score of 3, 4, or 5. Can I receive credit for my score?
- Can I take the NYU Proficiency Exam to test out of the World Language requirement?
- Can I take the CLEP exam to test out of the World Languages Requirement?
- I want to take an Italian or Spanish language course at another institution during the summer. What do I do?
- I want to study abroad during the summer. Can I get credits for a language course?
- I am a transfer student. Can I transfer the language courses I took at my previous institution to MSU to full the World Language Requirement?
- I am concerned that the language course that I have been advised to take will be too difficult for me. Is there tutoring available on campus?
- I want to study Portuguese at MSU. Can I fulfill the World Languages requirement with Portuguese 101, 102, and 103?
Frequently Asked Questions for Majors of Italian and Spanish - Who is my academic advisor?
- How can I find out what courses I need to complete a major or minor in Spanish and Italian?
- Who answers questions about transfer credits in my major?
- Who answers questions about AP credits from high school?
- Who answers questions about study abroad for a semester or year?
- I want to graduate and see that I am missing one course in my major that is not offered next semester. Who can help me?
- Does the Department offer Independent Study courses?
- Who answers questions about the Teacher Education Program?
- What is the process for being accepted into the Teacher Education Program?
- Who answers questions about the Translation Program in Spanish?
- Who answers questions about summer study abroad programs offered by the Department?
Frequently Asked Questions for Post BA and Graduate Students - Who answers questions about the M.A. program in Spanish?
- Who answers questions about the M.A.T. program in Spanish?
- Who answers questions about the CRI program in Spanish and Italian?
- Who answers questions about the Alternate Route in Spanish and Italian?
- I am interested in teaching but did not major in Spanish or Italian in my undergraduate studies. What do I need to do for certification in teaching?
[1] The Department has very clear guidelines about student placement in Spanish and Italian courses depending on the language you studied in high school and the date you graduated from high school. Click here for Placement Policy.
[2] Yes. A score of 3 on the AP Italian or Spanish language exam is equivalent to completion of ITAL 103 or SPAN 103. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Italian or Spanish exam is equivalent to completion of ITAL 104 or SPAN 104. Both these courses fulfill the language requirement for the 2002 GEN ED and you will receive 3 credits for one of these courses. A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Spanish Lit. exam is equivalent to 3 credits in a Spanish literature course. Please see Dr. Levine to convert the AP score into a specific course if it has not been posted on your academic analysis.
[3] You must first take the MSU placement test (flp.montclair.edu) to determine your level in the language. Depending on your level, consult with the language coordinator in either Spanish (Dr. Delforge) or Italian (Dr. Dini) about the score you would need to receive on the NYU Proficiency Test to be given a waiver from the language requirement. The NYU placement test gives credits for the language; if your score is high enough, you are waived from taking language courses at MSU.
[4] As indicated in the undergraduate catalog, the CLEP exam is equal to 3 credits of elementary language, which is not sufficient to fulfill the World Languages requirement. The Department does not recommend that students take this exam.
[5] You need to take the placement exam at MSU to ascertain your correct level. If you want to take a language that you studied in high school, you need to bring the following to Dr. Levine: your placement score, the permission form that you picked up from the Registrar to take work at another institution, and information on how many years of language you had in high school and when you graduated from high school. The course must be substantially similar to our. Please refer to the Placement Policy.
[6] Yes, if the course is substantially similar to ours. Please refer to the above question and answer concerning work at another institution, and please consult Dr. Levine for questions about programs in Spanish and Dr. Trubiano for questions about programs in Italian.
[7] Yes. If the credits from another institution have been posted on your academic analysis record as free electives and you want to use them to complete the World Language Requirement, please contact Dr. Levine for Spanish transfer credits and Dr. Trubiano for Italian transfer credits.
[8] Yes. Tutoring in Spanish and Italian is available through the Center for Academic Development and Assessment in Morehead Hall, and also through the Spanish/Italian Department. Please consult the Department secretary, Ms. Enith Krause, for information concerning tutoring offered by the Department.
[9] Yes. PORT 101 and PORT 102 fulfill the 1983 GEN ED Foreign Language Requirement and the 2002 GEN ED World Languages Requirement. PORT 103 meets the 1983 GEN ED Foreign Language Requirement, but not the 2002 GEN ED World Language Requirement. Please see the Department chair, Dr. Levine, and she will fill out a credit adjustment form so that PORT 103 counts toward the 2002 GEN ED World Language Requirement.
[11] You can find out by going to the link http://www.montclair.edu/AcademicAdvising and clicking, "Who is my advisor?" or by calling the secretary of the Department, Ms. Enith Krause.
[12] The Department office (DI-301) has information about all the programs offered in Spanish and Italian. The Department website also lists information. You can also consult your advisor. Finally, the website of the Center for Academic Advising and Adult Learning also lists four year plans for Spanish and Italian majors.
[13] Please talk to Dr. Levine for Spanish courses and Dr. Trubiano for Italian courses.
[14] Please see Dr. Levine to convert a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Spanish Literature exam into an elective course in Spanish.
A score of 3 on the AP Italian or Spanish language exam is equivalent to completion of ITAL 103 or SPAN 103. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Italian or Spanish exam is equivalent to completion of ITAL 104 or SPAN 104. These courses do not count toward the major in Italian or Spanish.
[15] Please talk to Dr. Levine about Spanish courses and programs and Dr. Trubiano about Italian courses and programs.
[16] Please talk to Dr. Levine about Spanish courses and Dr. Trubiano about Italian courses.
[17] In special cases, yes, especially to help a student graduate on time. Please consult Dr. Levine about this matter.
[18] Please contact Dr. Edstrom for questions about the Teacher Education Program in Spanish and Dr. Antenos-Conforti for questions about the Teacher Education Program in Italian.
[19] If you consult the website of the Center of Pedagogy, http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/cop/teacher/undergrad.shtml, you will find detailed information about the admissions process. Your home department—Spanish/Italian—requires nine credits of major courses before you can apply to the program. Please contact Dr. Edstrom in Spanish or Dr. Antenos-Conforti in Italian concerning the dates of the interviews for admission to the program.
[20] Please contact Dr. García Vizcaíno.
[21] Please contact Dr. Guemárez-Cruz for Montclair in Madrid and David DelPrincipe for Montclair in Florence.
[22] Please contact Dr. Rogelio Zapata, the advisor for the M.A. program.
[23] Please contact Dr. Anne Edstrom, post B.A. and M.A.T. advisor.
[24] Please contact Dr. Anne Edstrom for the CRI program in Spanish and Dr. Enza Antenos-Conforti for the CRI program in Italian.
[25] Please contact Dr. Anne Edstrom for information about the Alternate Route in Spanish and Dr. Enza Antenos-Conforti for the Alternate Route in Italian.
[26] Please consult Dr. Anne Edstrom for information regarding certification in Spanish and Dr. Enza Antenos-Conforti for information regarding certification in Italian.