Placement Process
Interested in taking French? Please complete a placement survey, which the Department will use to recommend the appropriate course for you to begin your study of French at 含羞草研究室. All incoming first-year students with prior experience in French take this survey in the summer before course registration. In addition to the placement survey, when making their recommendation, Department faculty also consider any AP score you may have earned in French and consult with you as needed. You are warmly invited to attend Department open houses and encouraged to reach out to any member of the department with questions. You may also consult our “Information for Incoming Students.”
Students who received scores of 4 or higher in the AP exam, or 6 or higher in the upper-level IB exam, will be awarded one AP/IB credit upon the successful completion of a course, level 2305 or higher, with a grade of B- or higher. Please remember that all students, regardless of AP/IB score, should take the placement survey.
- Credit will not be given if a student places into, or elects to take, a course lower than 2305.
- Only one AP credit may be earned per person per language.
How to take the placement survey and obtain your course recommendation:
1. Login to Canvas at and select the Placement Surveys “course.”
2. Then select Modules in the left-hand menu to access the survey for French (Francophone Studies).
3. If you’re completing the placement survey outside of the summer registration period for incoming students, please be sure to email a department faculty member to let them know you have completed it. If you’re an incoming first-year student completing the survey during summer registration, you’re all set! You will receive your placement automatically prior to Part II of registration.
Typical Placement Recommendations
Prior Experience in French |
Recommendation |
| Students who have never taken any French | Enroll in Francophone Studies 1101 in the fall semester |
| Students who have had fewer than two years of high school French | Enroll in Francophone Studies 2203 or Francophone Studies 1101 in the fall semester, as placed |
| Students who have taken two or more years of high-school French but have not earned a 5 on the French AP | Enroll in Francophone Studies 2203 or Francophone Studies 2305 in the fall semester, as placed |
| Students who have earned a 5 on the French AP | Enroll in Francophone Studies 2409 or 2410 in the fall semester to begin the introduction to cultures and literatures series. Your placement will also qualify you to enroll in 2407, 2408, 2409, or 2410 in the spring semester. Students who feel they need to improve their mastery of grammar and writing prior to continuing in French may choose to enroll in Francophone Studies 2305 in the fall semester upon consultation with the Francophone studies section, these students will then enroll in a 2400-level course in the spring. |
| Native or near-native speakers of French | Consult with the Francophone studies section regarding placement |
Choosing Courses
During course registration, all incoming students will receive a course recommendation. Your placement is available through the registrar’s electronic system (), from your advisor,or from Francophone studies faculty.
Students should enroll in the recommended course. Students may move between course levels during the first weeks of classes in consultation with their instructors.