All students at UNH are required to fulfill the foreign language requirement. There are some students, based on the needs related to their disability, for whom foreign language courses could present an unreasonable barrier to completing their degree. In these situations, the student can petition for a foreign language substitution. It should be noted that there is no exemption from the requirement, but students eligible for this accommodation can petition to complete the requirement in a different way. Depending on the individual circumstance, the substitution could include one of the following:
- 2 semesters of ASL
- 2 World Culture courses approved by the dean’s office within the student’s college
- 2 Linguistic courses approved by the dean’s office within the student’s college (per Dean approved alternate plan)
Since this accommodation includes a petition for academic variance, SAS does not “approve” foreign language substitutions. When requested, SAS provides relevant information to the committee that makes academic variance decisions. The information provided will include factual information shared with SAS as part of the accommodations process. SAS will not share information about a student’s disability or diagnosis with other departments or committees.
Key Things to Know
- Even with approved accommodations there are no full exemptions from the foreign language requirement. The committee can only approve substitutions.
- SAS does not “approve” the Foreign Language Substitution but instead assists the committee by providing advice about the specific student situation (excluding disability and diagnosis) as well as related student functional needs.
- Foreign Language Substitutions cannot be approved in situations where learning or demonstrating a proficiency in a foreign language is an essential requirement of the student’s major, minor or other elected course of study.
- Students who would like to file a petition should meet with their academic advisor prior to submitting the petition. It is important to understand the role that a foreign language might play within the current course of study.
- Having a disability does not automatically qualify a student for a foreign language substitution. It is the student's responsibility to demonstrate their need for a foreign language substitution. SAS can assist students in understanding what is required.
Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for…
- Meeting all student accommodation responsibilities.
- Communicating with SAS about the specific need for a Foreign Language Substitution. This should include information related to:
- Past performance in foreign language courses
- Current course of study including language requirements
- Documentation that includes diagnostic information specifically related to learning within foreign language courses
- Meeting with their academic advisor to discuss:
- Foreign language requirements within the student's major, minor or elected course of study
- How a foreign language substitution may impact overall course of study
- Completing a Petition for Academic Variance in a timely manner.
- Demonstrating the need for a foreign language substitution to the committee.
Foreign Language Substitution Process
- Student meets with their academic advisor - It is important to start the process by initiating a conversation between the student and the advisor. Not all majors at UNH require the completion of a foreign language requirement, and there may be additional flexibility within a major that the student has not previously considered. Additionally, it is important that the student understands how a substitution may impact their overall course of study.
- Student meetings with SAS to discuss the need for a Foreign Language Substitution - SAS plays an advisory role within the process, so SAS can help provide the committee with vital information related to the need for a Foreign Language Substitution. SAS recommends that students complete the interactive accommodations process (register with SAS, submit documentation, meeting with SAS). SAS can only speak to the information that we have, so it is highly recommended that students share information related to:
- Past performance in foreign language courses,
- Current course of study including language requirements, and
- Documentation that includes diagnostic information specifically related to learning within foreign language courses
- Student completes a Petition for Academic Variance - Completion of this form officially sends the request to the committee for processing. If disability or accommodations are mentioned, the committee reaches out to SAS for input.
- Committee issues a decision - The committee will review what is shared by the student and SAS as needed. They will then issue a decision indicating if the substitution was approved.
- If approved, the student works with their advisor to determine the most appropriate courses based on the approved request.
- If not approved, the student may re-petition the committee. It is recommended that if re-petitioning, the student talk with their advisor and SAS about what additional information might be needed.
No. There are no waivers issued for foreign language requirements. Students must either complete the requirements as required by their major, minor or course of study, or complete the substitution process.
If you have a need for a foreign language substitution, you should petition as soon as possible. The foreign language requirement can take 2-3 semesters to complete so it is not recommended that students wait unil their senior year to complete a petition. Late petitions may impact degree completion.
No. Not all majors require that students take a foreign language. Students should talk with their advisor about the requirements of their program.
