6 G6.4 Language Requirements
Knowledge of other languages is essential for doctoral research. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in either one or two languages appropriate for their area of research, to be decided in consultation with their advisor. Students are urged to fulfill the language requirements as early as possible in their doctoral studies. In any event, these must be fulfilled prior to the Preliminary Examination.
While any language may be used to fulfill the language requirement, the ones most commonly used are those with regular course offerings or reading knowledge exams like Portuguese, French, Italian, Latin, German, Arabic, Hebrew, Quechua and Yucatec Maya. Proficiency is defined as the level reached in any of the courses or pairs of courses listed below (or their equivalent), with the grades indicated, or a score of “Advanced High Pass/High Pass” on the UW Continuing Studies Reading Knowledge Exam if it is offered. For information on the French, German or Italian exams offered by UW Continuing Studies and to register for any of them, visit: https://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/classes/language-reading-exam/.
Requirements for specific languages
Arabic: Arabic 321-322 or its equivalent with a grade of B or better.
French: French 391, “French for Reading Knowledge” with a grade of A, or a score of “Advanced High Pass” on the UW Continuing Studies French Reading Knowledge Exam.
German: A score of “High Pass” on the UW Continuing Studies German Reading Knowledge Exam.
Hebrew: Hebrew 103-104 or its equivalent with a grade of B or better.
Italian: A grade of A in either Italian 301 or Italian 201, with the understanding that Italian 201 does not count for graduate credit or a score of “Advanced High Pass” on the UW Continuing Studies Italian Reading Knowledge Exam.
Latin: Latin 391-392 “Latin for Graduate Reading Knowledge” or 2 college semesters of Latin (e.g., Latin 103 and 104 or the equivalent), with a grade of B or better.
Portuguese: A grade of B or better in Portuguese 301 and one advanced course above P302 or a departmental examination to confirm advanced proficiency. (Courses taken to fulfill the language requirement cannot count toward the minor in Portuguese.) Portuguese 301 is considered a graduate course for the purposes of load requirements but may only be used to satisfy language requirements.
Quechua: A grade of B or better in Anthropology 364 (Advanced Quechua)
Spanish: A grade of AB or better in a graduate-level Spanish course, or a score of “Advanced High Pass” on the UW Continuing Studies Spanish Reading Knowledge Exam.
Yucatec Maya: A grade of B or better in Anthropology/LACIS 376-377
In the event that proficiency has been attained in a way not specified in the list above, or for a language not included in the list, students are asked to send a petition to the Graduate Studies Committee with relevant documentation (i.e. transcripts from another university) so it can ascertain compliance with the requirement. In general, six college semesters of language practice with a grade of B or better (or the equivalent) is considered to be the minimum for compliance.