Requesting a Foreign Language Substitution

Documentation and Procedures

  • A student may appeal for substitution of the foreign language requirement based on prior testing for a learning disability or by referral of a foreign language professor because of unusually severe difficulties in a college‑level foreign language course. For entering students with prior documentation of a learning disability, the appeal may be filed prior to matriculation or at any time thereafter.
  • In order to be allowed to substitute courses to fulfill the College's language requirement, the student must submit diagnostic test scores administered by an appropriate professional external to the College and the Office of Disability Services. The College's learning disabilities consultant will evaluate all scores and make a recommendation to the Disability Services Coordinator and the student. The tests necessary for a language‑based disability are found under the College's Procedures for Learning Disability Documentation. Testing must have taken place within three years of the date of application for the language substitution and the results must be based on tests using adult norms. The College reserves the right to require additional testing if deemed necessary by its consultant.
  • If the test scores indicate a severe foreign language disability, as outlined in the College's policy on learning disabilities, the student may appeal to the Executive Committee of the Faculty in writing requesting a substitution of courses for the foreign language graduation requirement.
  • The student's letter should be accompanied by documentation of the disability, a letter from the student's foreign language professor (if the student is or has been enrolled in a language class at Hampden‑Sydney), and a letter from the Disability Services Coordinator summarizing the findings of the College's consultant. Depending on the circumstances, the Disability Services Coordinator may also recommend that the student be granted a late drop from a language course or the removal of the grade received previously in such a course.
  • To ensure timely completion of graduation requirements, barring extenuating circumstances, appeals for a substitution to Core Requirement I. B. (Foreign Language) must be received before the conclusion of the semester immediately preceding the student's final in-residence year.  For typical students, this will be the spring semester of the student's junior year.

The Executive Committee of the Faculty has complete discretion to determine whether or not to grant the language substitution request.   

The course substitutions for students with foreign language learning disabilities depend on the Academic Catalogue the student is using to complete graduation requirements.   

Course Substitutions for Students with Foreign Language Learning Disabilities

for students using the 2024-2025 or later Academic Catalogue

Students with Documented Language Learning Disabilities may fulfill their language requirement in one of two ways: 

  1. Option One
    To fulfill their language requirement, students must satisfactorily complete a pair of courses, one from each of two different departments, in one of the six categories below.  Students taking these classes to fulfill their language requirement may use one, but not both, of these courses to fulfill no more than one other core requirement. 
    1. Classical Studies (Greek and Roman)
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      Classical Studies 202—Classical Mythology
      Classical Studies 203—Greek Literature in Translation
      Classical Studies 204—Latin Literature in Translation
      Government and Foreign Affairs 310—Classical Political Philosophy
      History 271—Greek History
      History 272—Roman History 
      Philosophy 210—Ancient and Medieval Philosophy 
    2. Postcolonial History and Cultures:
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      English 228—Postcolonial Literature
      Government and Foreign Affairs 228—Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
      Government and Foreign Affairs 322—Political Development
      History 322—History of the Caribbean 
      History 324—Early Modern Atlantic History 
    3. History and Cultures of the Middle East:
      Select two courses from two different departments: 
      Government and Foreign Affairs 225—Govemment and Politics of the Middle East
      History 207—Middle East from Muhammad to the Mongols
      History 208—Emergence of the Modern Middle East 
      Religion 201—Judaism
      Religion 204—Islam
      History 261—Ottoman History
    4. History and Cultures of Asia:
      Select two courses in two different departments: 
      Theatre 201—Asian Theatre
      Theater 230—The Noh Training Project
      Government and Foreign Affairs 226—Government and Politics of Asia   
      History 205 or 206—East Asia 
      History 325—East Asia in the Age of Imperialism  
      History 326—East Asia in Revolution
      History 345—The Mongol Expansion
      History 346—Samurai Culture in Japanese History
      Religion 202—Religions of South Asia
      Religion 203—Religions of East Asia 
      Religion 305—Art and Architecture of India
      Religion 306—Saints, Yogis, and Madmen in India
    5. History and Cultures of Latin America: 
      Select two courses in two different departments: 
      Government and Foreign Affairs 227—Government and Politics of Latin America  
      History 209 or 210—Latin American Survey
      Spanish 310—Latin-American Literature in Translation
    6. History and Cultures of Continental Europe
      Select two courses in two different departments:
      Government and Foreign Affairs 223—Government and Politics of Western Europe
      Government and Foreign Affairs 224—Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
      History 222—Modern France and its Empire
      History 230—Twentieth-Century Europe
      History 304—Medieval Civilization
      History 305—Age of Enlightenment
      History 308—Renaissance Italy
      History 330—Age of Napoleon
      History 328—The French Revolution
      History 332—Russian and Soviet Modernization
      History 333—Nazi Germany
      Philosophy 302—Modern Philosophy: Rationalists
      Religion 221—History of Christian Thought I
      Religion 321—Reformation Thought
      Visual Art 201—History of Western Art I: Ancient to Medieval
  2. Option Two
    Students may satisfy their language requirement by satisfactorily completing three hours of course work in a non-English speaking country, either in May term or in an approved international studies program. Students using this experience to fulfill their language requirement may not also use it to fulfill the IIB Cultures in Context (two courses from different departments with a non-U.S. focus) requirement. Course work may be taken in English.

for students using the 2023-2024 or prior Academic Catalogue

Students with Documented Language Learning Disabilities may fulfill their language requirement in one of two ways:  

  1. Option One
    To fulfill their language requirement, students must satisfactorily complete a pair of courses, one from each of two different departments, in one of the eight categories below.  Students taking these classes to fulfill their language requirement may not use them to fulfill any other core requirements. 
    1. Classical Studies, with emphasis on Greek cultures
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      Classical Studies 202-Classical Mythology 
      Classical Studies 203-Greek Literature in Translation 
      Classical Studies 301-Humanism in Antiquity
      Classical Studies 303-Life in the Ancient World 
      Government and Foreign Affairs 310--Classical Political Philosophy
      History 271-Greek History 
      Philosophy 210-Ancient and Medieval Philosophy 
    2. Classical Studies, with emphasis on Roman culture:
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      Classical Studies 202-Classical Mythology
      Classical Studies 204-Latin Literature in Translation
      Classical Studies 301-Humanism in Antiquity 
      Classical Studies 303-Life in the Ancient World 
      History 272-Roman History 
    3. Postcolonial History and Cultures:
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      English 228-Postcolonial Literature
      Government and Foreign Affairs 228-Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
      Government and Foreign Affairs 322-Political Development
      History 322-History of the Caribbean
      History 324-Early Modern Atlantic History 
    4. History and Cultures of the Middle East:
      Select two courses from two different departments:
      Government and Foreign Affairs 225-Govemment and Politics of the Middle East
      History 207-Middle East from Muhammad to the Mongols
      History 208-Emergence of the Modern Middle East 
      Religion 201-Judaism 
      Religion 204-Islam
      Religion 210-Biblical Archaeology 
      History 261-Ottoman History
    5. History and Cultures of Asia:
      Select two courses in two different departments:
      Theatre 201-Asian Theatre 
      Government and Foreign Affairs 226-Government and Politics of Asia
      History 205 or 206-East Asia 
      History 325-East Asia in the Age of Imperialism
      History 326-East Asia in Revolution
      History 345-The Mongol Expansion
      History 346-Samurai Culture in Japanese History
      Religion 202-Religions of South Asia
      Religion 203-Religions of East Asia 
      Religion 306-Saints, Yogis, and Madmen in India
    6. History and Cultures of Latin America:
      Select two courses in two different departments: 
      Government and Foreign Affairs 227-Government and Politics of Latin America 
      History 209 or 210-Latin American Survey 
      Spanish 310-Latin-American Literature in Translation 
    7. History and Cultures of Continental Europe
      Select two courses in two different departments:
      Government and Foreign Affairs 223-Government and Politics of Western Europe
      Government and Foreign Affairs 224-Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
      History 222-Modern France and its Empire
      History 230-Twentieth-Century Europe
      History 304-Medieval Civilization
      History 305-Age of Enlightenment
      History 308-Renaissance Italy
      History 322-Age of Napoleon
      History 328-The French Revolution
      History 332-Russian and Soviet Modernization
      History 333-Nazi Germany
      Philosophy 211-Modern Philosophy: Rationalists
      Religion 221-History of Christian Thought I
      Religion 321-Reformation Thought
      Visual Art 201-History of Western Art I: Ancient to Medieval
      Visual Art 205-Medieval Art and Architecture
  2. Option Two
    Students may satisfy their language requirement by satisfactorily completing six hours of course work in a non-English speaking country, either in May term or in an approved international studies program. Students using this experience to fulfill their language requirement may not also use it to fulfill their international studies core requirement. Course work may be taken in English.

Updated 7/17/24