Language Placement Testing and Missouri Seal of Biliteracy

Students who have already earned Dual Credit for high school language courses are automatically placed in the course right above the class they received credit for. 

Students who received Dual Credit can take the placement test to determine if they are ready for university-level language courses beyond their advanced placement level; students will then be placed according to their language placement test results. Students will receive back credit free-of-charge for the courses they have not completed through ACP after completing a language course at UMSL of at least three credits, with a C- or above. Back credit will not be granted for any course above 2101. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Credit Program website.

The Seal of Biliteracy is a high school credential granted by Missouri and other states that certifies proficiency in a language other than English. In Missouri, the Seal is granted when students attain certain benchmarks on state-approved standardized assessments of language proficiency. UMSL recognizes the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy.

Students who wish to waive their language requirement must: 

• Submit their scores on the AAPPL or STAMP4S assessments to the Office of Admissions.

Students who wish to receive language back credit from UMSL must:

• Submit their scores on the AAPPL or STAMP4S assessments to the Office of Admissions, and contact Sandy Trapani, Chair of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies (trapani@umsl.edu) for placement;  
• Complete a course at UMSL of at least three credits, with a C- or above, in the language the Seal was received.

Students who receive a Seal of Biliteracy can receive up to 15 credits of back credit in Japanese, up to 16 in French, and up to 16 or 17 in Spanish. 

Students who received a Seal in a language that is not currently taught at UMSL can still receive back credit by taking a three-credit Foreign Language course taught in English or a course in one of the languages offered at UMSL.

All students must submit the official Seal score reports to the Office of Admissions and contact the Chair of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies for placement purposes within three academic years of high school graduation. Missouri Seal of Biliteracy official scores can be found on high school transcripts; if not, the students must request their high school that their official scores be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Students who received the Seal of Biliteracy more than three years ago can still receive a language requirement waiver but no college credit. In order to continue language study at UMSL, those students must take the Department’s Language Placement Test.

The number of UMSL credits received will be awarded according to the chart below. 

Standardized Testing Scores and Back Credit

According to university policy, Advanced Placement (AP) examinations may count for UMSL language credit if the exams and scores are acceptable. In order to receive AP credit, students must have their official AP score report sent directly to UMSL from the College Board. Visit the College Board’s website to learn how to send your scores to UMSL.

AP exams will grant you credit for one or two specific courses, but no back credit. The credit received through AP examinations can count toward your language requirement, a minor or major in French, Spanish, or Japanese. Students may then continue with coursework leading to the Modern Language major or minor. 

The number of UMSL credits received will be awarded according to the chart below. 

IB credit is generally accepted if you meet the required minimum score for Standard-Level or Higher-Level exams listed below. Visit the International Baccalaureate’s website to learn how to send your IB transcript to UMSL.