<p>The CAS website states that “Successful completion of a foreign language course at the fourth semester level” is a degree requirement. Now I assume this does not mean that four semesters of foreign language courses are required, but since I have never taken any courses in foreign language before, will I be required to take three semesters of foreign language courses before I can enroll for a fourth semester level course? Since it is a course at the fourth semester level that is required, will students with no prior knowledge of a certain language be competent enough to go for the course at once? It would be of great help if anybody could clarify this.</p>
<p>You probably won’t be able to qualify if you’ve never taken a language before. 4th semester level is approaching an “I am fluent enough to go to a foreign country and not be terrified” level. 4th semester classes are almost entirely taught in the language. So if you’ve never taken anything before, expect to take 4 semesters of a language. Or at least take enough to get you fluent enough to pass the SAT II</p>
<p>One of two things generally happens. Either:</p>
<ul>
<li>You have prior knowledge of a language, take a placement test, and take classes from the level at which you place. If you place into fourth semester, fantastic. If you place below it, you must take however many are necessary until you complete the fourth semester course, usually numbered 212. If you place above it, even if you have AP credits, you must still take one semester of language at BU (there is no escape).</li>
</ul>
<p>OR</p>
<ul>
<li>You have zero prior knowledge of another language. In this case you must take four semesters, no ifs ands or buts (if you’re in CAS, at least).</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks for all your advice and for making this clear.</p>
<p>Another way to get out of the language requirement (not sure if this is the same for all schools, but it works for COM): take the SAT Subject Test in a language. If you get above a certain score, you’re exempt from the language requirement. I took the SAT Spanish Subject Test and scored above that score & was exempt from the foreign language requirement at BU. At orientation, I took the Spanish placement test just because everyone else in my group was taking it at the same time, and I didn’t get above the score needed to be exempt. So you can try both & see which one’s easier for you–the SAT was for me.</p>
<p>I did that as well…took Latin for 2 semesters and got good enough to test out of the other 2 semesters using teh SAT II</p>