For language-by-language information:
Special Programs
Extension Program
The University of California Extension is a statewide, year-round continuing education service that links the university with the people and the communities of the state. Extension programs vary in length and format from one-day conferences and short lecture series to courses of two or more quarters and certificate programs requiring several years to complete. The programs provide opportunities to pursue education for professional career advancement, intellectual and cultural interests, knowledge of current research, and personal growth. In addition to regular fall, winter, and spring quarter offerings in the foreign languages, the Extension Program in coordination with the Languages and Applied Linguistics department offers summer foreign language courses in two formats: either in an intensive eight-week program, in which students complete the equivalent of three quarters of study in a foreign language or a quarter’s study in five weeks.
Extension Program
Many UCSC students complement their major programs with field experience or off-campus internships, which also provide a wide variety of opportunities to become involved in public service activities in the local community and throughout the world. In recent years, students have worked in Mexico, various countries in South and Central America, France, Nairobi, etc. Students have been placed in health centers, radio and television stations, newspapers, city planning departments, and many other fields where they have used and further developed the foreign language skills acquired in the Languages and Applied Linguistics courses.
Extension Program
Study abroad is an important component of language study at UCSC. Language students have various opportunities to study abroad, for a summer, quarter, semester, or year. Students may choose to study abroad through the Office of International Education (OIE), through the UCSC Summer Abroad Program, or through affiliate programs around the globe. OIE offers programs in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. There are programs available for students of all levels of language ability, including Language and Culture programs for beginner or intermediate speakers, to full immersion programs for students with advanced language skills. For a list of current programs and requirements, visit their web site, http://oie.ucsc.edu.
Other Special Programs:
Placement Information
Placement assessments are designed to place students in the appropriate level of a language based on their current skill level. If you have any prior knowledge of a language, you must take the placement assessment for that language. If you have no prior knowledge of a language, you may enroll in level 1, with the exception of Spanish, which always requires a placement assessment.
Enroll in the Canvas Placement Module
The Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics uses Canvas to record and post placement scores in the MyUCSC portal. This score will update your Degree Progress Report and will allow you to enroll in the requisite course. Students taking a placement assessment in Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Spanish for Heritage Speakers MUST enroll in the canvas module in order to receive the score and be able to enroll in the appropriate language course. You may enroll in the module using the button below and clicking “Join this Course” when the module opens.
Taking your Assessment
Foreign language placement assessments are designed to assess your abilities in the language and place you in a course that is appropriate for your skill level. Placement assessments are given in a variety of modalities including online modules, oral or written exams, or other canvas modules. Some placement exams will give you a score and placement upon completion. Your score will only be recorded in your MyUCSC portal through the Canvas Placement module.
Placing into a higher level of language via placement assessment does not grant credits toward graduation, rather it waives any required courses below your placement.
Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Spanish for Heritage Speakers
- Enroll in the Canvas Placement Module using the button above. Once you’ve navigated to the module, click “Join in Course.” You must enroll in the Canvas Placement Module.
- Once you’ve enrolled in the Canvas module, select the language you wish to take a placement assessment in to the left, and follow the instructions on the page.
Arabic, Hebrew, Punjabi, and Yiddish
Select the language in the left hand navigation to find out more information about the assessment. Students do not need to enroll in the Canvas Placement Module for these languages.