Messiah University Language Placement Test (LPT) information
QuEST (General Education) Language Requirement:
All students at Messiah University must satisfy a second language requirement. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking courses in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew or Spanish. If you have already studied one of these languages, we encourage you to continue the study of that language during your first year at Messiah, and we would like to help you in the registration process.
Language: How to Register: French, German and Spanish LPT
QuEST (General Education) Language Requirement
Students with a background in French, German or Spanish may register for the appropriate level of language per the chart provided below.
Self-Placement Guidelines:
Competencies |
Years of Language Instruction |
Suggested Action |
No knowledge of the language or very basic vocabulary and grammar. |
Up to 1 year |
Register for 101 level |
Able to communicate in present tense; speak of self in short sentences and in informal conversations. |
1-3 years |
Register for 102 level |
Able to communicate in present and past tenses; speak of self and events in past and present tenses. |
3+ years |
Complete On-Campus Language Placement Test |
All students are invited to take the language placement test. Per the self-placement chart, students who meet the competencies and/or have 3+ years of language instruction, are especially encouraged to take the language placement test. Students may only take the language placement test once at Messiah. Contact the Language, Literature and Writing Department Chair Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks with general questions.
French, German, or Spanish:
For students interested in taking the placement test for French, German, or Spanish, there are two options:
- Attend the testing session scheduled during New Student Orientation. No pre-registration required.
- During the semester, contact the Language, Literature and Writing Department Administrative Assistant Denise Brown to schedule an appointment and to request any additional information.
Chinese:
For students interested in taking the placement test for Chinese, contact Associate Professor of Chinese Dr. Stella Ye to schedule an appointment and to request any additional information.
Hebrew or Greek:
For students interested in taking the placement tests in Hebrew or Greek, contact the Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies Department Chair Dr. Shelly Skinner to schedule an appointment and to request any additional information.
If you are a student with a documented disability and you qualify for extra time on exams, please arrange to take your language placement test with the Office of Academic Accessibility by emailing Amy Slody, in Murray Library 115, by phone (717-796-5382) or email (aslody@messiah.edu).
Students with advanced language proficiency in a language not offered at Messiah can opt to take a language placement test at their cost. Please note, proficient scores on some of these tests earn academic credit at Messiah, and proficient scores on other tests waive the general education language requirement but do not earn academic credit. While not every language is available for testing, many are. Language testing options include:
NYU (eligible for academic credit)
to find which languages are offered at NYU. Students may contact NYU directly (212-998-7030) or complete an on-line registration to take the 12-point exam at Messiah University or remotely. See the Testing Process for off-site exam information. Students may contact Kerry Hasler-Brooks khasler@messiah.edu requesting the required letter to submit to NYU to have an exam proctored at Messiah University and to make on-campus exam arrangements.
LTI (eligible for waiver of general education language requirements)
to find which languages are offered through LTI. You may order LTI tests directly through their website. Students must have a proctor for the exam, either through LTI or through the department of Language, Literature, and Writing. Contact Kerry Hasler-Brooks khasler@messiah.edu to request exam proctoring.
Native-like language proficiency
International Students
If English is your second language, you may be eligible for a Languages and Cross-Cultural Waiver. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information,Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information.