Spanish (Latin American, Latino and Iberian Studies)

Online Placement Testing in Spanish

If you have studied Spanish and plan to continue your study at the University of Richmond, you must take the online Spanish placement test before you register for a class. Submit your details on the online test request form to receive access instructions that will then be provided via email. If you have questions about LAIS courses, consult the links on the Latin American and Iberian Studies page. If you have questions about your placement, you can contact Prof. Ted Peebles or Prof. Corrado Corradini for help.

Students with no Spanish language background do not need to take the placement test. Contact Prof. Peebles for approval to enroll in LAIS 121.

Is Spanish spoken in your home? If yes, contact Prof. Peebles or Prof. Méndez for placement.

You must take the placement test:

  • if you want to use Spanish to satisfy your COM2 language requirement and you do not have a test score (AP, IB, SAT) that exempts you from the requirement, or
  • if you have studied Spanish and want to continue.

After Completing the Online Placement Test

Use this chart to place yourself into a Spanish (LAIS) course. If you place into 121, you must contact Prof. Peebles or Prof. Corrado Corradini for permission to enroll. Students who place into 151 may choose to enroll in 221, but they should know that they may have difficulty keeping up with the work of 221. Only students at the upper end of the scoring range for 151 should consider this option. Students who place into 221 must not enroll in 151.

Placement Score

Placement Level

Notes

Below 100

LAIS 121

Contact Prof. Peebles or Prof. Corrado Corradinifor approval to register for this course

100 – 324

LAIS 151

325 – 464

LAIS 221

Do NOT register for 151.

465 and above

LAIS 300-level

A qualifying score on the placement exam allows one to take a written/oral supplement for exemption; but students cannot place out of COM2 by the placement exam alone; see instructions below.

Students Whose Placement Scores Suggest Exemption From COM2 Must Do the Following:

Note: During the summer registration period, students with placement scores of 465 and above may choose to register for a 300-level course if they are interested in continuing their study of Spanish beyond the COM2 requirement. However, they will not be able to remain in the course unless they complete the following steps during orientation:

  1. Once you are on campus bring a print-out of your placement test score with a picture ID to Ms. Sarah Helen Studebaker, Administrative Coordinator of Latin American and Iberian Studies, in INTC 334.
  2. Under Ms. Studebaker's supervision, complete a brief (15 minute) written composition on an assigned topic to demonstrate your proficiency in written Spanish.
  3. After evaluation of your composition, complete a brief oral interview in Spanish. Ms. Studebaker will explain how to arrange this.

If Prof. Peebles or Prof. Corradini approve your exemption, they will notify the Registrar of your exemption. Keep your test score and any e-mail about your exemption in a safe place until you graduate.