I want to enroll in a class, but it's full. What should I do?
To get on the waitlist for a course, email the department's main office and plan to attend the first day of class. You can also continue to check the registrar's page throughout the add/drop period.
What are some other resources on campus I can use to improve my language skills?
- Student Accessibility Services provides Accommodations, Consultation, Collaboration, and Educational Support Services to students with documented disabilities.
- The Tutoring Center offers regular tutoring or review sessions with other UVM students - and subject area tutoring is free!
- Check out our Student Opportunities and Resources page for more helpful department-specific information.
Do I need to take the language placement test before I can sign up for my first language class at UVM, even if I have never taken the language before?
Even if you have never taken French or Spanish before you need to take the test so that the system can place you into the beginner (001) level. There is no placement test for Italian. Visit our Foreign Language Placement page for more information about the test and placement.
I am returning from studying abroad and want credit for the courses I took. What do I need to do now?
Welcome back! If you are returning from abroad and need to have your materials reviewed so that your credits can be transferred:
- Assemble your course materials so that one can easily understand which course materials relate to which course. Do not hesitate to add notes of explanation if necessary.
- Get the "blue form" from Transfer Affairs (Registrar's Office, 360 Waterman).
- Deliver the course materials to our main office in 517 Waterman or to the mailbox of the professor.
| French | Professor Ching Selao |
| Italian | Professor Cristina Mazzoni |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Professor Yolanda Flores |
| Spanish (Spain) | Professor John Waldron |
Can I double major?
Yes! In fact, many students choose to do so. Our majors pair very well with a wide variety of other fields and our major requirements have enough flexibility built in to accommodate a second major. Explore our programs to see how well they pair with other majors... and with each other!
Do I need two advisors if I am pursuing two majors? Do I need a minor advisor?
All UVM students should have an academic advisor in their major, but you can request a secondary advisor in your minor (or second major). If you are majoring or minoring in one of our programs and need an assigned advisor, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Student Services Office to be assigned an academic advisor in that program.
Read more about our faculty advisors and how they can help you.
What are the courses in the School like?
"Our curriculum covers the full extent of the areas of the world where our languages are spoken. We offer a full range of language, literature, and culture classes. In a major or minor in one of the languages, you'll have advanced courses in literature and culture as well as in the language. All courses are conducted in the language you are studying." [no link]
Can I count online courses towards my major or minor?
The department encourages in-person formats for courses that count toward our majors because interpersonal communication is essential for what we do; in-person courses are thus the norm.
If there is a case where a student, due to extraordinary circumstances, is unable to complete a course for the major or minor in that format, the student may request the approval of a professor to enroll in a class offered at UVM and then arrange to “meet” with the professor via internet chat to discuss the material assigned for each week. This option is dependent on the approval of the professor and must be discussed with the professor and approved well in advance of the start of the term.
Students in extraordinary circumstances may also petition the department to count one 3-credit online course toward the major or minor, along with an explanation and justification. Faculty will review the petition and communicate a decision about whether the circumstance merits an exception.
For purposes of transfer review, upon completion of the course, students should submit a syllabus and relevant course work along with an indication that the course was offered in an online format. The transfer credit will be evaluated, as all transfer credits are, by the department's transfer advisors and a decision communicated to the student.
Can I study abroad?
Absolutely! We encourage it and do our best to facilitate it. You'll work with a study abroad advisor from the Office of International Education and a professor from our department to choose the kind of program that's best for you and to arrange transfer of credits back to UVM. You can find more information on our Student Opportunities and Resources page.
Why should I study a foreign language?
You can do so many things with a foreign language degree! Check out career ideas on each of our program pages or find out what some of our Elementary II students had to say about the benefits of learning a foreign language . Because of the broad interdisciplinary focus of the College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate program, language majors are equipped with a broad range of transferable skills that enable them to succeed in virtually any profession.
