M.A. students:  By the end of the second semester of graduate work, every candidate for the M.A. degree must demonstrate reading knowledge of a modern foreign language (i.e. French, German, Russian, or Spanish).  The language requirement may be satisfied by an examination given by the appropriate language department of the University or by such persons as the Graduate Dean may specify, or by passing with a grade of A or B one of the accelerated courses especially designed for this purpose (French 011, German 011, Spanish 011).  The student who completes the fourth semester of a modern foreign language with a grade of “B” or better at an accredited college or university may use this to satisfy the graduate foreign language requirement if the advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School approve.

Ph.D. students:  Doctoral students who have not satisfied the language requirement in the M.A. program may satisfy the requirement according to the methods described above.  Students in pre-modern European history must demonstrate a competency in two modern languages as well as pertinent primary source languages.  Doctoral advisory committees in any field may specify additional language training.  These requirements must be satisfied before the student may ask to sit for the qualifying examination.