The Department of Modern Languages offers two certificates to current students and to non-degree seeking students/students-at-large: intermediate (low, mid, or high) language proficiency and advanced (low, mid, or high) language proficiency. Upon completion of the required classes and Written Proficiency Test, the student's certificate will be posted to their DePaul transcripts. Language proficiency certification will allow students to show future employers they are ready to compete in today’s global workplace.
To declare the certificate, students must contact Anna Souchuk.
Students will register and pay a fee to complete the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) through Language Testing International, proctored by the Department of Modern Languages, and will receive a nationally recognized level of proficiency based on the standards developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Please refer to the Department of Modern Languages website for more information.
The department offers certificates in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Certificates require a varying number of courses, depending on the student’s incoming language placement and desired level of proficiency.
Test credit and transfer credit are not applicable toward the certificate. All courses to be applied toward the certificate must be completed at DePaul.
Intermediate
- Students are required to successfully complete a minimum of three courses at DePaul (level 104 and above - no transfer or test credit; DePaul study abroad program credit will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis) in order to earn the certificate.
- Student readiness for intermediate level (104 and above) courses will be established by the language placement exam, transfer credit, or test credit.
- The number of courses necessary to achieve an intermediate level certificate of proficiency (low, mid or high) will depend on the student's entering proficiency level (based on previous study/knowledge; courses required may be determined by the language placement exam, transfer credit, ACTFL Written Proficiency Test (WPT), or test credit) and student effort (time spent studying the language, the following recommendations for language proficiency development outside of the classroom, how well students perform in their language classes, etc.).
- At the end of the required number of courses, students must register and pay to take the ACTFL Written Proficiency Test (WPT) or the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview to certify proficiency level. The level of proficiency, per ACTFL test results (Advanced low, or higher), will be posted onto the student's DePaul transcripts.
- If students test below an intermediate level certificate, they may opt to
- take additional language courses,
- work with the free language tutors through the Language Learning Center until the desired level of proficiency is achieved, and then retake the test, or
- drop the certificate program by emailing their advisor or college advising office.
- Students should familiarize themselves with the ACTFL proficiency standards for intermediate-level speakers in order to better understand how much time they may need to dedicate to language study for the certificate.
Advanced
- Students are required to successfully complete five courses at DePaul (200 and 300 level language courses - no transfer or test credit; DePaul study abroad program credit will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
- Student readiness for advanced level courses will be established by the language placement exam, transfer credit, or test credit.
- Degree-seeking students taking the certificate may also complete one of several minors in the language simultaneous to the certificate.
- The number of courses necessary to achieve an advanced level certificate of proficiency (low, mid or high) will depend on the student's entering proficiency level and student effort (time spent studying the language, the following recommendations for language proficiency development outside of the classroom, how well students perform in their language classes, etc.).
- At the end of the required number of courses, students must register and pay to take the ACTFL Written Proficiency Test (WPT) or the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview to certify proficiency level. The level of proficiency, per ACTFL test results (Advanced low, or higher), will be posted onto the student's DePaul transcripts.
- If students test below an advanced level certificate, they may opt to
- change their certificate program (intermediate low, mid, or high),
- take additional language courses,
- work with the free language tutors through the Language Learning Center until the desired level of proficiency is achieved, and then retake the test, or
- drop the certificate program by emailing their advisor or college advising office.
- Students should familiarize themselves with the ACTFL proficiency standards for advanced-level speakers in order to better understand how much time they may need to dedicate to language study for the certificate.