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Language Requirement - effective for students matriculating with the class of 2026 and beyond

The Arts & Science faculty have approved an expanded language requirement, effective for students matriculating with the class of 2026 and beyond. Students in the class of 2025 and earlier follow the requirement, as outlined in the ORC/Catalog published during the year they matriculated at Dartmouth.

• Policy Summary
• Summary of New Requirements Chart
• Frequenty Asked Questions

Policy Summary

Beginning with the class of 2026, as well as students matriculating with the class of 2026 and beyond, all students will be placed into one of the following Language Requirement Paths and must satisfy the Language Requirement with coursework taken at Dartmouth, applicable to their Path:

1. Big Green Path: Students who did not demonstrate competency at matriculation in a language other than English must complete language courses up to and including a third-level language course (e.g., FREN 3). This may be completed on a Language Study Abroad (LSA) program.
   
   
2. Bema Path: Students who demonstrated competency (defined as the equivalent of completing a third-level language course) at matriculation in a language taught at Dartmouth may complete the requirement with one of the following options:
   1. Complete a more advanced course in their language of competency (e.g., GERM 10, HEBR 21)
   2. Complete coursework in a different language through the second-level (e.g., ITAL 1 and ITAL 2)
   3. Complete an accelerated-beginning language course, such as ITAL 11.
      1. The above courses may be completed on an LSA program. 
3. Lone Pine Path: Students who demonstrated competency (defined as the equivalent of completing a third-level language course) at matriculation in a language not taught at Dartmouth, or students who demonstrated full proficiency as a native or near-native speaker at matriculation in a language taught at Dartmouth (e.g. a bilingual English-Russian student whose high school education was conducted in Russian) may complete the requirement with one of the following options:
   1. Complete coursework in a different language through the second-level (e.g. ITAL 1 and ITAL 2)
   2. Complete an accelerated-beginning language course, such as ITAL 11.
      1. The above courses may be completed on an LSA program.
   3. Complete a Language Requirement for Proficient Speakers (LRP) course.
      
      1. LRP courses build metalinguistic or cross-linguistic awareness in students with appropriate language experience.   in at least one of the following areas: (a) the widely different structural features through which meaning is conveyed, (b) the irreducible differences between languages, and/or (c) the ways that linguistic diversity adds depth, insight, and value to the human experience.
      2. The LRP may include courses that analyze the structure of a single language at a deep level, thinking in a theoretical way about how the structures of that language manage to convey meaning, may qualify. Courses that do not look as deeply at the structural features of any one language, but that do look at difficulties and opportunities arising from differences between multiple languages, may also qualify. Courses that study cultural difference but do not engage specifically with linguistic difference and/or diversity do not qualify.
      3. LRP courses are reviewed and approved by the Committee on Instruction (COI). Students must follow the decision that has been made by the COI; there is no appeal of this decision, nor may students petition (then or later) to have a course count for the LRP if not previously approved by the COI. In cases where the LRP status of a course has been changed, the status in effect for the term in which the course was taken will be used.

1. Students with a documented disability may seek a waiver of the language requirement from the Language Waiver Committee. Students granted a waiver are required to complete the course assigned by the committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which path I have been placed onto for the Language Requirement?

Students may find their Language Path placement on their degree audit. Your degree audit will display one of the following under the Language Requirement section:

• Language Requirement – Big Green Path
• Language Requirement – Bema Path
• Language Requirement – Lone Pine Path

I think I have been placed onto the wrong path. What can I do?

Students are placed onto the different Language Requirement paths based on their prior knowledge of a language. If you believe you qualify for a more advanced language path, you may contact the relevant language department(s) for the language(s) you have experience with. If you have experience with a language not taught at Dartmouth, you may contact Language.Exemption@dartmouth.edu for assessment.

How can I tell which language courses are “more advanced”, “accelerated-beginner”, or “Language Requirement for Proficient Speakers Course”?

These courses will be identified on the Timetable of Class Meetings for the term under the “Lang Req” Column (see screenshot below). They are represented by the following codes:

• LADV - Advanced Language Course
• LACC - Accelerated-Beginner Course
• LRP – Language Requirement for Proficient Speakers Course

Can I get a waiver from this requirement?

Effective for students matriculating with the class of 2026 and beyond, all students must engage with language study coursework at Dartmouth. Students with a documented disability may seek a waiver of the language requirement from the Language Waiver Committee, however, students granted a waiver are required to complete an alternative Dartmouth course assigned by the Committee. 

My AP/A-Level/IB language credit does not show on my degree audit, what do I do?

If you still do not see your score, please contact the College Board or the International Baccalaureate to request your scores be sent to Dartmouth. Once scores are received by Dartmouth, allow 24 hours for the score to be reflected on your audit. If appropriate, your Language Requirement Path placement may also update at that time.

Can I complete the Language Requirement on a transfer term?

The Language Requirement may not be completed on a transfer term. However, students may complete the requirement on a Dartmouth Language Study Abroad (LSA).

My prematriculation credit exempted me from a language course, but I think it would be more beneficial for me to start with a lower-level language course. How can I take a lower-level language course?

Contact the language department directly to discuss your concerns. If they agree that this is the appropriate plan for you, then you may contact the Registrar’s Office to request to relinquish your prematriculation credit. Note that since your language path placement is determined by your prior-knowledge of a language, relinquishing your language prematriculation credit may also alter which language path you are placed into.