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Language Placement

Fulfilling the language requirements

To fulfill or satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish or to enroll in Spanish classes for the first time, please follow the instructions.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language AND Spanish Literature Exams:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You may register for Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language OR Spanish Literature Exam and you are a heritage language speaker:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. You have fulfilled the prequisites to now take Spanish 205-0, 206-0, 208-0, 250-0, 251-0, 260-0, 261-0, 280-0, 281-0, or 302-0. If you have questions, please consult any departmental undergraduate adviser.

If you have a score of 5 on the AP Spanish Language OR Spanish Literature Exam and you are a second language speaker:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. We encourage you to continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern. Please register for Spanish 204-0 Advanced Spanish II: Artivism in Times of Political Change. If you have questions, email Denise Bouras (204-0).

If you have a score of 4 on the AP Spanish Language and/or Literature Exam:

You have satisfied the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. To continue your Spanish studies at Northwestern, you will need to register for Spanish 200-0 Advanced Spanish for Heritage Language Learners (for heritage language learners) or Spanish 201-0: Advanced Spanish I: Contemporary Latin America (for second language learners). First-year students are advised to take this course in Fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Julia Oliver Rajan (200-0) or Reyes Moran (201-0).


If you have a score of 3 on the AP Spanish language Exam or are placed in Spanish 125-0 through the Placement Test:

You will satisfy the Weinberg language requirement in Spanish by taking Spanish 125-0 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish or SPANISH 127-0 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Language Learner and passing the course with a C- or better. These classes only offered in the fall quarter. If you have any questions, please email Irene Finestrat Martinez (125-0) or Julia Oliver Rajan (127-0).

If you are placed in Spanish 121-1 through the Placement Test:

You will need three courses (Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 121-1 is offered only in Fall quarter. Students may not begin Spanish 121 in the middle of the sequence. If you have any questions, email Shannon Millikin.

If you are placed in Spanish 115-1 through the Placement Test:

You will need five courses (Accelerated Elementary Spanish 115-1, 2 and Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 115-1 is offered only in Winter quarter. You may not enroll in 115-2 without having completed 115-1. If you have any questions, email María Teresa Villanueva.

If you have had just two years of High School Spanish or never learned any Spanish before:

You may place yourself into 101-1 Elementary Spanish. You will need six courses (Elementary Spanish 101-1, 2, 3 and Intermediate Spanish 121-1, 2, 3) to satisfy the Weinberg Language Proficiency Requirement in Spanish. Spanish 101-1 is offered only in Fall quarter. If you have any questions, email Eider Etxebarria.