For New Undergraduate Students: Language Resource Center

For New Undergraduate Students

Northwestern offers nearly 20 languages. Curriculum, course numbering, class meeting patterns, contact hours, and placement and registration processes vary by language. The links below provides guidance for new undergraduate students on language study at Northwestern:

Updated 4/9/26

Step 1. Language requirements

See the Language Requirements page to find out whether your school (e.g., Weinberg, the School of Communication, Medill, McCormick, etc.) has a language requirement, or whether you can use language study to fulfill some of the core requirements. If you are a Weinberg student or if you are required to follow Weinberg's language requirement, read the Ways To Demonstrate Proficiency carefully. Also, read the following sections if applicable.

Many students study languages for other purposes as well. See major/minor and summer session information in the Languages Offered At Northwestern page. Also see the Why Learn a Language page for information on study abroad, work abroad, fellowships, and teacher licensure opportunities.

Step 2. Choose a language to study

Use the Language Study FlowChart to identify options for continuing your current language study or beginning a new language. Click orange squares in the flowchart for additional information.

You can learn about language curricula offered at Northwestern through the following resources:

Language Pathway: Course sequences and descriptions in language programs by level.
Contact Hours: Class meetings frequency and annual course offerings schedules.

If you need to take a placement test, consult the following resources:

- Language Placement Test Information: Placement procedures vary by language. Placement results may expire, and the length of validity also varies by language. Please review this page carefully.
  - AP and IB Language Credits: AP or IB scores may be used in lieu of a placement test depending on the language.
  - Language Placement Results: Students can check their placement results in this page. Advisers do not have access to placement test results.
  - Language Program Contacts: List of placements coordinators by language, link to individual language placement test information and where students can find instructions to obtain a permission number for registration if any.

Step 3. Registration

Read the New Transfer and First-Year Students' Registration page to determine whether you need a permission number to register. Instructions to where to obtain a permission number is indicated in each student's language placement results. Some language programs may also contact students directly by email. Please refer to Language Program Contacts.

Other resources

Study of Languages not Offered at Northwestern: Students may be able to study a language not offered at Northwestern through the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) CourseShare program. Please read all notes carefully and consult with your adviser before submitting a course request. The course request for fall is due May 1, and the fall option is not feasible for incoming students.
Language Programs Directory: Placement Coordinators; Program Directors (listed under"Course Offerings"); Study Abroad Adviser, the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), who serves as the major/minor adviser; and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who serves as the graduate adviser