Johns Hopkins Foreign Language Requirement
The Johns Hopkins Foreign Language Requirement is a requirement for students in the College of Arts and Sciences to fulfill the foreign language requirement in their graduation requirements. It consists of taking one year of a foreign language, as well as two semesters of another language at the same level in order to meet the four-semester requirement. There are several exceptions to this rule, including those who have already completed a language at an equivalent level, as well as those who have taken four semesters at an equivalent level.
If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for an exception, please contact your advisor or department head.
Johns Hopkins Foreign Language Requirement
Introduction
We are so excited that you are interested in learning a foreign language here at Johns Hopkins! All incoming students who began their degree program at Johns Hopkins, whether this academic year or any previous academic year, must complete the Foreign Language Requirement. This means you must demonstrate proficiency in a language through one of the following methods:
- Take an approved course for credit at or above the 102 level (the second semester of a two-semester sequence).
- You may be able to test out by taking a placement examination offered by your department. Contact your department directly to find out if this is an option. If you have completed high school or college instruction in a foreign language, then taking the placement exam may be required before registering for classes.
- You may even be able to fulfill your language requirement while abroad with us! Talk to your advisor and faculty director during the application process about whether your particular study abroad program will allow you to fulfill this requirement.
The JHU foreign language requirement is meant to ensure that students can read and understand materials written in a language other than English.
The JHU foreign language requirement is meant to ensure that students can read and understand materials written in a language other than English. Students who have not had any high school or college instruction in a foreign language but are native speakers of another language will be required to take a proficiency test.
Students who take a language course at the 102 level or above, regardless of how it is taught (in-person, hybrid, or online), need to take the placement test for that language to determine what course they are ready for.
Students who take a language course at the 102 level or above, regardless of how it is taught (in-person, hybrid, or online), need to take the placement test for that language to determine what course they are ready for.
To learn more about placing out of or into a foreign language course, please go to https://www.jhu.edu/~askforeignlanguage/placement_test_guide.html
Students who have not had any high school or college instruction in a foreign language but are native speakers of another language will be required to take a proficiency test (OPT) conducted by the Center for Educational Resources (CER).
Students who have not had any high school or college instruction in a foreign language but are native speakers of another language will be required to take a proficiency test (OPT) conducted by the Center for Educational Resources (CER).
Please note: Native speakers who have had at least two years of formal schooling in their native country are exempt from taking the OPT.
You are subject to the Foreign Language Requirement if you began your JHU undergraduate degree program at Homewood during the current school year or in any previous academic year.
If you started your JHU undergraduate degree program at Homewood during the current school year or in any previous academic year, you are subject to the foreign language requirement.
We want our students to be able to communicate with people from different cultures
We want our students to be able to communicate with people from different cultures. The Foreign Language Requirement is a way for us to ensure that our students can communicate with people from different cultures, including those who speak different languages. We believe that this will help us create a more diverse and inclusive environment on campus, which is an important part of the Johns Hopkins experience.
Conclusion
You may be wondering why we require this, or how it might impact my career goals. Let me tell you a story about one of my students who took the foreign language requirement seriously: John was an international relations major, and all of his classes required him to read academic papers in another language. He struggled with reading these papers at first, but after taking several semesters of a foreign language class, he was able to read them more easily. This led him to get an internship at an international organization where they use different languages on a daily basis — which helped set him up for success in his career!