Frequently asked questions
Language study broadens your career choices and gives you a competitive edge in an increasingly global job market. Gaining advanced proficiency in a world language offers a gateway to countries that trade with the United States. Major industries, multinational corporations, government departments and small businesses all seek multilingual employees.
Contact one of the undergraduate advisors or schedule an appointment with the Liberal Arts Student Center. If you fill out the major or minor from the Department of World Languages and Literatures and one of our advisors will contact you.
Yes! Most of our students are double majors. You can add a language major to any degree at the University.
The University partners with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) to offer a range of programs in dozens of countries. You may also contact one of our academic advisors to learn about additional opportunities in your language of study.
Many degree programs have a language requirement that is satisfied with coursework in a world language. If you already speak another language, there are additional ways to meet the requirement. For more information, visit our language requirement page.
If you are continuing your study of a world language from high school or another institution, for Spanish and French, you are required to complete a placement exam to be placed in the appropriate language course. For all other languages offered at the University of Nevada, Reno, please contact the appropriate advisor for placement information.
If the language is offered by the department, contact the advisor for the language you would like to waive. If the language is not offered (Bulgarian, Hindi, Vietnamese, etc.), email the department chair at wll@unr.edu.
A student may waive their foreign language requirement by Demonstrating proficiency in a second language through means determined by the Department of World Languages and Literatures, including, but not limited to, providing standardized test scores (CBAPE, SAT II, or IB), test scores from an accredited foreign language proficiency test (e.g., Avant), or transcript evidence of a high school or equivalent diploma in which English was not the language of instruction. Only standardized test scores carry academic credit.
Place yourself on the waitlist for the course and check MyNevada often. If you do not get off the waitlist before classes begins, come to class on the first day. Many students change their minds about courses during the first week, and students on the waitlist are added to courses automatically during the first week of class. Speak with the instructor about the likelihood of adding the class during the first week.
If an instructor wants to add a student to a full class, they will need to work with the department’s administrative assistant. The administrative assistant will verify the room capacity. If there is room, the student may initiate the Class enrollment request form.
As a rule, CBEs are not offered. However, exceptions can be made. The student will ​need ​first work with a faculty member to determine if credit by exam (CBE) is offered. Currently, CBEs are not offered for first-and-second-year language courses. Once the student has been given approval, go to admissions and records to pick up the form. They need to obtain all required signatures (it is their responsibility to take the form to each department). Once they have the signatures, they need to go to the cashier's office and pay the $25 fee. At that time, they can arrange to take the exam with ​the instructor who approved the CBE. The instructor will return the form with the grade and exam to Admissions and Records.
Students may not take CBEs for any course lower than those for which they have received credit. Also, CBEs may not be attempted in a particular course more than once and may not be earned in a course the student has failed or audited until after one calendar year has passed. Test credits are applicable toward meeting graduation requirements but are excluded when calculating the grade point average.
Though the University of Nevada, Reno does not directly award credit for prior experiential learning, students may use their prior experience to earn credit via the approved examinations listed in the University catalog under "Admission, Transfer and Examination credit."
As a rule, independent studies are not allowed. However, exceptions can be made. The student needs to talk with the instructor. The instructor will contact the administrative assistant with approval of the student taking the class and the number of credits of the class. The administrative assistant will then give the call number to the student to enroll.