French Language Placement

When taking French, you may be placed in a language class based upon your prior high school language instruction.

If you are a native or heritage speaker of French and wish to be exempted from the language requirement at College of Charleston, or to continue the study of your heritage language, please contact Dr. Lisa Signori at signoril@cofc.edu  to schedule a short written/oral test for proper placement.

Quick Guide to French Placement

Depending on your years of studying French in high school, use the following guide to determine which College of Charleston French course you should take.

0-1 year of high school French = placement in FREN 101 (Beginning French Through Culture I)

2 years of high school French = placement in FREN 102 (Beginning French Through Culture II)

3 years of high school French = placement in FREN 201 (Intermediate French Through Culture !)

4 years of high school French = placement in FREN 202 (Intermediate French Through Culture II)

5 years of high school French = placement in FREN 313* (French Composition in Cultural Context)


* A placement into FREN 313 does not in itself fulfill the foreign language requirement. The French Department requires a proficiency exam for students who place into 313 but do not wish to continue with French. Students should contact the Department Chair of French, Francophone, and Italian Studies for a proficiency exam. If, however, a student places into FREN 313 and passes the course, the General Education language requirement is fulfilled.

A student may also request a placement exam or oral interview, if they believe that they should be placed into a higher level than permitted by the number of years French has been formally studied. Students should contact the Department Chair of French, Francophone, and Italian Studies for a placement exam or to schedule an interview.

For questions regarding placement, please contact:

Lisa Signori, Department Chari
843.953.0872
signoril@cofc.edu