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Getting Started

  • Why Study French?

    French is spoken on five continents by over 200 million people in 43 countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. It is an official working language of the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, the Council of Europe, and European Union, and other international organizations.

    Moreover, it is an indispensable vehicle for understanding the literature and culture of France, Belgium, Québec, Haiti, North Africa, West Africa, and many other regions. French is the second most studied foreign language in the United States and Europe.

    The study of French, therefore, not only allows entry into a community of speakers endowed with a rich and diverse culture, but also it enhances employment opportunities in such fields as international business, international agencies, the diplomatic service, hotel management, travel and tourism, international law, education and many more. Many French Studies majors opt as well to pursue their passion for language, literature and culture at the graduate level.

  • Why Study Spanish?

    Spanish is the primary language for millions of people in Europe and Latin America. As a result, it is an indispensable vehicle to understand the literature and culture of Spain, México, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador, and many other countries.

    In addition, during the last fifty years, Spanish has rapidly evolved into this country's second language. Spanish is used on a daily basis in almost every state of the union. The study of Spanish, therefore, not only allows entry into a community of speakers endowed with a rich and diverse culture, but also it enhances employment opportunities in such fields as business, social work, the health professions, hotel management, travel and tourism, international law, communications, public administration, law enforcement, education, and many more. Many Spanish majors opt as well to pursue their passion for language, literature, and culture at the graduate level.

  • Why Study Chinese?
    Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over 1 billion people worldwide. Studying Chinese gives you access to the rich history and culture of China. Familiarity with Chinese also provides you with the professional advantages that come with speaking the language of a nation that plays a central role in today’s international economic and political systems.
  • Beginning Students
    Students who wish to study French or Spanish for the first time should enroll in FRE 1120, Beginning French I, or SPAN 1120, Beginning Spanish I.
  • Students with Foreign Language Exposure

    Those students who have had some contact with French or Spanish, either through high school coursework or through other experiences, should take the French or Spanish online placement examination and then register according to their test results. 

    Students may contact the department for information to take the placement test. The test is free for UNF students.

  • Native/Heritage Foreign Language Speakers
    Native or heritage speakers of French or Spanish seeking to enhance their writing skills or to expand their cultural and literary knowledge should meet with the department chair to determine an appropriate first class at UNF.
  • Retroactive Credit

    Students who enroll in Chinese, French or Spanish at the University of North Florida are eligible to receive up to 6 credit hours of retroactive credit as determined by course placement and satisfactory completion of specific language courses. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students place at the appropriate level of instruction in a foreign language sequence.

    • If a student places at the intermediate I level, s/he may receive a maximum of four (4) hours of retroactive credit for Beginning Language II upon completion of the intermediate-level sequence I and II.   
    • If a student places at the Intermediate II level, s/he is eligible for three (3) hours of retroactive credit (equivalent to Intermediate I) pending completion of Intermediate Language II with a grade of C or above.
    • If a student places at the 3000-level, s/he will be eligible for a maximum of six (6) hours of retroactive credit upon completion of upper-level foreign language courses.

    *A student will receive three (3) credits of Intermediate-level (I) language upon completion (with a grade of C or above) of a 3000-level class in Chinese, French or Spanish. Students will receive an additional three (3) credits of Intermediate-level (II) language after completing a second 3000-level language class with a grade of C or above.

    Students who wish to receive retroactive credit must apply for the credits in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures after their final grades have been assigned and recorded in the relevant courses. The UNF Registrar will add the retroactive credits to the student’s transcript with no grade assigned. These credits will not be computed into the GPA, but they will count toward degree requirements as appropriate.

    **Students will pay an administrative fee of $20.00 per 3-4 credit hours course for which retroactive credit has been awarded.

    Please Note: The retroactive credit policy applies only to language courses taken at UNF. (Transfer courses from another university and study abroad courses are not eligible to earn retroactive credits).