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Language Requirement Substitution
Students who believe that they have a documented disability that precludes learning a foreign language should contact the Student Disabilities Services Office (SDS). A member of their professional staff will explain the assessment procedure, which requires up-to-date neuropsychological testing.
If a student’s disability is verified by SDS and course substitution is approved, this student should meet with Dr. Alice Kelley in the College Office to select appropriate substitute courses. The number of courses each student will require will depend upon the number of foreign language classes he or she has completed before applying for the substitution. A full substitution will require four substitute courses. If a student has completed one or more Penn language classes, which is the norm, the remaining courses, up to the number of four will be selected as follows: Each student will choose one geographical area in the world, where English is not the primary language, and will take at least one course in literature in translation from that country or region and one class in linguistics or anthropology of language. The remaining courses will focus on the culture or literature of that same geographical area. All classes for the language substitution must be approved by Dr. Kelley.
