Academic Options >> Language Study >> Language Certificate

Policies Governing the Language Certificate

Courses used for the language certificate must be at a level beyond that required for the Foreign Language Requirement by the relevant department. The courses must be taught in the original language.

Study abroad courses may be used with departmental approval.

Completion of three courses of language study, courses in "Foreign Language Across the Curriculum," or courses in literature and culture taught in the original language, after the student establishes competency according to the standards established for the language in question.

Students must earn a minimum average grade of B+ in the three courses used for the language certificate.

Students who would like to obtain a language certificate should apply to the department in which that language is offered. If it is not offered in any department, they should apply to the Director of the Penn Language Center. The appropriate language departments will verify completion of the requirements for the certificate.

Completion of the certificate will be noted on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.