Language Requirement
M.A. AND MA/JD LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
l What is the language requirement?
1) Two full years (no fewer) of language courses at the undergraduate level (no graduate or high school courses), or pass a proficiency exam at UCLA.
2) The language requirement is necessary in order to obtain an Afro-Am M.A. degree.
3) Students may select from a range of languages.
4) Students must schedule an appointment with the Afro-Am Office to report and confirm their language status. Please bring an undergraduate transcript if you have taken two full years of language courses.
l What if a student was placed in advanced language courses, but did not take a full two years of courses?
1) Each student’s case must be evaluated on an individual basis because university standards vary.
2) Students may be required to get verification from their university registrar’s office to confirm their course equivalency.
l What should be done to prepare for the language proficiency exam?
1) If necessary, students may take one or two language courses to prepare for the exam.
2) Please note, these additional courses will not satisfy the Afro-Am M.A. degree requirements and should not be taken for a letter grade.
3) Students may also opt to take language courses during the summer at another institution, these courses must be taken for a letter grade however they will not satisfy the Afro-Am M.A. degree requirements.
4) Once you have graduated, these additional courses can not supplement previous language courses taken at the undergraduate level.
5) Copies of previous exams are available through the UCLA History Department Graduate Advisors Office (310 825-3269).
l Where and when is the exam offered, and how may I sign-up?
1) The exam is offered twice a year during mid November and mid April.
2) Since Afro-Am is a small program, students take the same exam that is administered by the UCLA History Department.
3) Students should notify the Afro-Am Office regarding which language they have chosen to be tested on and which quarter they would like to take the exam. Then students must sign-up at the History Department Graduate Advisors Office (310 825-3269).
4) Students are allowed up to three chances to pass the language proficiency exam.
l What forms must be filled out in connection with the language requirement?
1) If already completed 2 full years of a foreign language, submit an official undergrad transcript (sealed) to the Afro-Am Office (310 825-9821), and fill out the appropriate petition to be submitted to the grad division.
2) If students take the exam, they will receive a letter from the History Department indicating whether or not they passed. If they passed they need to bring the letter to the Afro-Am Office, in which case a copy will be made and submitted to the grad division with their petition.
