Students in the School of Arts and Sciences must fulfill a foreign language requirement.  Parts I and II of this requirement are fully explained in the Tufts Bulletin.  Although there is no foreign language requirement in the School of Engineering, engineers can use foreign language courses as electives. Students may determine their placement and/or exemption from all or part of the requirement in the following ways.

Placement Tests

The best ways to determine proper placement for continued study of a foreign language is to take the placement test offered during orientation.  Our language departments emphasize that this test provides the most accurate assessment of students' proficiency.  Proper placement in courses will prevent students from taking a course that is too easy or too difficult for the for them.

Advanced Placement and Acceleration Credit

If students have taken Advanced Placement examinations in a foreign language, they can refer to Advanced Placement and Acceleration Credit for an explanation of their placement and possible credit.  Students who speak, read, and write a foreign language other than those taught at Tufts may be exempt from all or part of the foreign language requirement.  These students should see Sheila Bayne in Undergraduate Education for testing.

Download the Foreign Language Placement information.