<p>I just had lunch with some girlfriends and one of them was lamenting that her h.s. freshman S has never taken a foreign language because he had an IEP in middle school. Not really sure what an IEP is, but I know he has a bunch of issues related to learning. He is (in my guestimation), doing so-so in h.s. She is worried that he will not be able to go to a 4 yr. college because he has not had a foreign language and is not planning to in h.s. either. I think he is taking electives related to IEP.</p>
<p>Can you guys on CC tell me how I can find a list of 4 yr. colleges (probably third tier, something like that) that do not require a foreign language, so I can help her out a bit?</p>
<p>Thank you so much in advance for all your help! :)</p>
<p>heychoc chip: what I learned on CC is that a student with an IEP for foreign language exemption will sometimes, I repeat, sometimes be exempt from FL instruction for college…</p>
<p>others can chime in on schools with no requirement…</p>
<p>An IEP in middle school (let alone high school) does not necessarily translate into allowing a kid to waive a language requirement in college. It depends, of course, what the underlying cause/diagnosis is that results in the IEP.</p>
<p>A smaller state university in your state or states with reciprocity to yours might be a possibility. Both to get into without foreign language, and graduating without taking more. Look at admissions on their website to see if they have a recommendation on this. If you look for graduation requirements on their websites, you can see their graduation requirements. And sometimes it depends on the major. For example, at some colleges in the past, business majors did not need a foreign language (that was ‘back in the day’, so the globalization of the business world may have changed this recently!).</p>
<p>It does depend on the school and its graduation requirements. I know of a small private college whose Bachelor of Science degree does not require a foreign language.</p>
<p>Thanks, intparent. I guess when the time comes, she can sit with her gc and figure out which colleges will not need a h.s. or college foreign lang. requirement. I should probably have her discuss this with the gc now, to see if she can get the exemption, as rodney suggests. I will definitely suggest to her to look at all the state colleges. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>My question to you, John, would be did that small, private college require the student to have foreign language in h.s.? Where is it located in the U.S.? This child is only a freshman, so she has plently of time, but I thought I’d guide her with some info. if it can help her out.</p>
<p>Actually, plenty of colleges don’t require a foreign language within certain degree plans…primarily engineering and majors of that sort. MIT doesn’t require a foreign language, for example. So it really depends on what your friend’s son is interested in studying.</p>
<p>You raise a good point–a college may require or prefer a certain number of years of foreign language for admission, but not require it for graduation. I’d rather not mention the college I am thinking of, because its admissions requirements make it irrelevant to this discussion.</p>
<p>My kids both had to have a foreign language in high school to be admitted to their school but neither one has to take a foreign language in college, one because it’s not required (engineering) and one who tested out of it. I found this question interesting so I looked up a couple of schools that local kids who aren’t high achievers go to and both of them require two years of foreign language OR fine arts/music. Is he taking any art, band, choir, etc.?</p>
<p>I guess, to be more specific in what I’m asking, is what colleges would you know of that do not require a foreign language in h.s. or college.</p>
<p>Maybe this is a moot point, because I have no idea what the nature of my friend’s IEP is, but I will make sure to ask her to work with the h.s. gc to be sure that her S is either exempt from taking the language requirements & that the gc guides her to colleges where this will not be an issue.</p>
<p>Thanks for your post Izzie. I do know that this child is taking a full year art course in 2D/3D art design this year…wow, if art counts, that would be super!
I guess the best advice would be to have this mom talk to her gc just to make sure he takes the requisite courses needed, thanks for your reply! :)</p>
<p>Where I live the community colleges have open enrollment. There is NO requirement that the student take a foreign language in high school to enroll in a community college program here. Most community colleges have articulation agreements with some four year school(s)…whereby IF the student completes their course of study at the CC successfully, they will be admitted to the four year school and most courses will transfer as well. NOW the thing you need to find out is if your community college has an articulation agreement with a COLLEGE that does not require foreign language study to graduate.</p>
<p>Neither of my kids had to take a foreign language in college for their majors (engineering and music)…but at both universities, other majors DID require foreign language study on the college level. Sign language can fulfill this at some colleges and some students find this to be a better choice than a spoken foreign language.</p>
<p>Illinois State, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois Carbondale all show that you can use Art for that requirement so I’m sure there are plenty of other lower tier state schools in other states that have the same requirements. Is foreign language not required to graduate from high school? I feel like my kids had to have it although having an IEP might exempt you from it. </p>
<p>It probably depends on the major if he needs to take it in college. My older son luckily tested out of it although he is in the College of Arts and Sciences. He went in cold to the placement test after not having Spanish since junior year of hs and I think surprised himself by doing well. If he had realized what a big deal it was to not have to take college spanish, he would have brushed up on it before orientation.</p>
<p>I think most colleges require at minimum 2 yrs of HS language. With the IEP the student can apply to colleges and explain the lack of Foreign Language. I think the colleges will make their own decisions on whether to admit them or not. It is something the counselor will have to explain.
Regarding community colleges- like Thumper our CC has no requirements. But we are in California and I just pulled out the transfer to a 4 yr worksheet from our local CC. One of the requirements for a transfer to a UC are Proficiency equal to two years of HS study in the same language. So if you took 2 yrs in HS you already meet the requirement or you must take 1 college course. In Ca American Sign Language counts. It doesn’t list a foreign language requirement for transfer to a Cal State.
At my son’s university some languages are exempt from taking language in college. He is a fine arts major.</p>
<p>An IEP, or Individual Education Plan, can be made for a student for any number of reasons. Different high schools have different requirements for graduation. An IEP would only exempt the student in the case of a Modified Diploma. Your friend should talk to her son’s case manager and find out what the current requirements are. Our high school actually has two possible diplomas, one with and one without a foreign language requirement. Neither of these are a ‘modified’ diploma.</p>
<p>As you have correctly pointed out, this does not address the need for foreign language for entrance in college. A good guidance counselor could help give your friend a definitive answer. The option to go to community college and transfer to a four year university is a good one. Regardless of the foreign language requirement, if the student has an IEP, attending a community college as a first step towards more academic independence can be a good idea.</p>
<p>Having said this, the parent should not automatically assume that a foreign language will never be an option for her son. I have seen many students with IEPs successfully take foreign language given the right program. If her student is a freshman he is making a huge transition. He will be a much different student the fall of his jr year. Boys especially can make great strides in maturity.</p>
<p>I think the place to start will be the Admission page of whichever schools they are interested in when he is further in his high school career.</p>
<p>Some schools (like Ball State and U Minn-Morris) only recommend having foreign language in high school. Others don’t even list a recommendation for hs foreign language. Some that I know of are U North Dakota, U South Dakota, U Wyoming and both U Wisconsin Platteville and Whitewater. These schools list other electives that can take the place of foreign language. I’m sure at these schools having 2 years of a foreign language helps but it also doesn’t seem like they will reject someone for not having it.</p>
<p>I’m more familiar with the midwest but I’m sure if your friend looks in your area of the country she will find schools for her son that don’t require foreign language.</p>
I’m curious to know from others too…</p>