Requirements and Placement Testing

Foreign Language Requirement

How can I meet Bethel's language requirement?

• Taking a language class at Bethel at the Introductory II level or higher
• Transferring in a language class from another college/university at the Introductory II level or higher
• Receiving a score of 3 or higher on a language Advanced Placement exam
• Demonstrating language proficiency equivalent to an Introductory II language class or higher

How do I know which language class to register for?

If you think you might enroll in a French, German, or Spanish class during your first semester and you have already studied that language in high school, you must take a placement test before you can register for a language class.

Please go to the Modern World Languages website to take the placement test online before coming to a New Student Welcome or mailing in your registration materials.

If you want to take French 101, German 101, or Spanish 101 and have not had a high school course in that language, you must fill out the 101 Request Form. You may fill out this form online or at the Language Testing table during the April New Student Welcome weekends.

Can I test out of the language requirement?

If you want to try to test out of the language requirement and not take any language classes at Bethel, you may take the Language Skills Test in French, German, or Spanish at one of the Saturday New Student Welcomes or the first week of October. (Language Skills Tests in other languages can be taken during the fall or spring semester and can be arranged through the Department of Modern World Languages.)

Only students who have completed three or more years of language in high school with a grade of C or better, students who are native speakers of a language other than English, or students who have had a significant experience in a non-English speaking community in the U.S. or abroad are eligible to take the Language Skills Test.

If you would like to take the Language Skills Test at one of the Saturday New Student Welcomes, you must sign up at cas.bethel.edu/admissions/events/.

Math Placement Exam

Do I need to take the math placement exam?

Students planning to take Precalculus (MAT123M) or Calculus 1 (MAT124M) during the fall 2009 semester must take a math placement exam to enroll or maintain enrollment (if pre-registered) in the course. Precalculus and calculus courses are offered at the same time to allow an easy switch between these courses if needed. Bethel also offers a college algebra course in the fall semester.

Students planning to take Math for El. Ed. 1 (MAT201M) must have completed one of these options:

• scored 23 or higher on the math portion of the ACT,
• scored 519 or higher on the math portion of the SAT score, or
• passed the Bethel math placement exam

When is math placement testing offered?

For new freshmen, math placement testing will take place during Welcome Week.

The testing schedule for current students is provided by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences.

You will need to set up your Bethel Community Account before taking the math placement test. To set up your account, go to the Bethel Community Account page, click on the Sign Up for a New Account link, and follow the instructions to set up a new account.

Questions about the math placement exam? Contact the director of testing, Professor Patrice Conrath, at conrath@bethel.edu or 651.638.6348 (toll-free: 800.255.8706, ext. 6348).