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First-Year Focus

Fulfilling the language requirement


SPANISH
To fulfill or satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish or to enroll in Spanish classes for the first time, please follow these instructions.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language AND Spanish Literature Exams:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You may register for Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language OR Spanish Literature Exam and you are a heritage language speaker:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You have fulfilled the prequisites to now take Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language OR Spanish Literature Exam and you are a second language speaker:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. Please register for Spanish 204-0 Advanced Spanish II: Artivism in The Spanish-Speaking World. If you have questions, email Claudia Quevedo-Webb (204-0).

If you have a score of 4 on the AP Spanish Language and/or Literature Exam:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. To continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern, you will need to register for Spanish 200-0 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Language Learners: Claiming Our Stories (for heritage language learners) or Spanish 201-0: Advanced Spanish I: Contemporary Latin America (for second language learners). First-year students are advised to take this course in Fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Julia Oliver Rajan (200-0) or Wilmar López-Barrios(201-0).

If you have a score of 3 on the AP Spanish language Exam or are placed in Spanish 125-0 through the Placement Test:

You will satisfy the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish by taking Spanish 125-0 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish or SPANISH 127-0 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Language Learners: Finding Our Voices and passing the course with a C- or better. These classes only offered in the fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Irene Finestrat Martinez (125-0) or Julia Oliver Rajan (127-0).

If you are placed in Spanish 121-1 through the Placement Test:

You will need three courses (Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 121-1 is offered only in Fall quarter. Students may not begin Spanish 121 in the middle of the sequence. If you have any questions, email Estilita Cassiani Obeso and Tasha Seago-Ramaly.

If you are placed in Spanish 115-1 through the Placement Test:

You will need five courses (Accelerated Elementary Spanish 115-1, 2 and Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 115-1 is offered only in Winter quarter. You may not enroll in 115-2 without having completed 115-1. If you have any questions, email María Teresa Villanueva.

If you have had just two years of High School Spanish or never learned any Spanish before:

You may place yourself into 101-1 Elementary Spanish. You will need six courses (Elementary Spanish 101-1, 2, 3 and Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 101-1 is offered only in Fall quarter. If you have any questions, email Eider Etxebarria.

For student without AP scores of 3, 4, or 5, you must take the Spanish placement test. Students can access the online Spanish placement test AND results here.

Requires NU network id ("NetID") and password to take the test. Results will be available in the same portal as the placement test. Spanish placement test results are valid for 1.5 years.

For more information, contact Elisa Baena at e-baena@northwestern.edu


PORTUGUESE
If you have previous knowledge of Portuguese and wish to fulfil the Northwestern Language Requirement, or if you want to advance your studies in the language toward a minor degree or other interest, you must take the online placement test. The test is based on the material covered in introductory Portuguese courses: PORT 101-1, 2, 3 and PORT 115-1, 2.

The exam tests your written and oral comprehension and written expression in Portuguese. If a reassessment is needed, you will receive an email with instructions for an oral interview on Zoom. All results will be available online: https://placement.madstudio.northwestern.edu/results/

If you have never studied Portuguese or have had one year or less of high school Portuguese, you DO NOT NEED to take a placement test. Instead, start with a beginner course (Port 101 sequence or Port 115 if you have knowledge of Spanish or other Romance language). The completion of Port 115-2 with a grade of C- or better satisfies the WCAS Language Proficiency requirement. 

Take the online Portuguese placement test here.

For more information, contact Ana Williams at ana-williams@northwestern.edu