Credit by Examination for Native Spanish Speakers

For SPAN 300

A. You must meet both of the following requirements to be able to take the exam (If you are an International Business or Affairs major and do NOT want to declare a Spanish minor/major, skip to part B)

- JMU placement test score of at least 650 and placed DIRECTLY into SPAN 300 (did NOT take SPAN 232 or the equivalent)

- declare a minor or major in Spanish before taking the exam

Once both of those requirements are met:

1. Go to Keezell 301. Ask about taking Credit by Examination for SPAN 300. Your placement test score will be verified and you will be given a form to fill out. Your advisor’s signature is not necessary. The Foreign Language Department Academic Unit Head will sign the form before it is submitted to the Registrar.

2. Pay the non-refundable $25 fee in person to the University Business Office, in the Student Success Center. They will stamp it PAID. You can also pay online through M3 (Madison Money Manager) through your MyMadison account.

3. Return to Keezell 301 when you are ready to take the exam. Bring a picture ID and the form. If you paid online, have proof of payment with you. You will then be added to a Canvas site. You will need to accept the invitation to be added to the site in order to take the exam.

4. You will take the test through Canvas with LockDown Browser in Keezell 103 if space is available. If not, you can take somewhere else.

5. After the test results have been reviewed, Professor Elizabeth Castro will notify you by email.

6. Credit will be awarded for SPAN 300 if you pass with 70% and higher.

If credit is awarded, you will be able to view it via MyMadison.

Once you have decided to take the test, and want to take another Spanish class in its place, you may want to contact professors of other classes. Let them know you are taking the SPAN 300 Credit by Examination and that you would like to be in their class. An override number will still be necessary to enroll if SPAN 300 is the prerequisite even after passing the test since it will take a while for the credit to post. Ask to begin attending that class while waiting for the results so you don’t get behind. Make sure you have another class to take its place if you are in need of the credit hours to stay full time. If you pass the exam, you need to drop SPAN 300. You will not be automatically dropped.

B. If you are an International Business / Affairs major you may not take the exam for credit unless you declare a Spanish minor (ie. Spanish Business minor). You must retake the placement test in the language lab again and if you score 650 or higher, you will receive a waiver for SPAN 300.  If you declare a Spanish minor, you follow the steps for part A.

To retake the placement test and receive a waiver for SPAN 300:

  1. Print your first score result from MyMadison which shows a score of 650 or higher.
  2. Retake the placement test once in the language lab in Keezell and score 650 or higher.
  3. Print the results and take both the 1st and 2nd test results to Keezell 301.

The Academic Unit Head will notify the Business Department that you have placed out of SPAN 300.
You will be required to take another 300 level course to take its place to fulfill your major requirements. You will not get credit for SPAN 300 but a waiver to substitute a different course.

 

For SPAN 320

A. You must meet both of the following requirements to be able to take the 300 exam before taking the one for 320

- JMU placement test score at least 650 and placed DIRECTLY into SPAN 300 (did NOT take SPAN 232 or the equivalent)

- declare a minor or major in Spanish before taking the exam

Follow the steps above for SPAN 300 part A if you are eligible to take the exam. You then must take and pass the Credit by Examination for SPAN 300 in order to be eligible to take the Credit by Examination for SPAN 320.

B. If you are an International Business / Affairs major you may not take the exam for credit unless you declare a Spanish minor (ie. Spanish Business minor). You must retake the placement test in the language lab again and if you score 650 or higher, you will receive a waiver for SPAN 300. Follow the steps above for SPAN 300 part B if you want a waiver.  If you declare a Spanish minor/major you will follow part A.

After completing the requirements, and passing the exam for 300 or retaking the placement test, make arrangements in Keezell 301 to take the Credit by Examination for SPAN 320. The professors in charge of that exam, which includes both written and oral components, are professors Dr. Jennifer Lang-Rigal and John Tkac.

***In special circumstances, questions should be directed to the department head, Dr. Giuliana Fazzion.

 

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