Foreign Language Requirement

DSPT MA (Philosophy) and (Theology) Thesis Option students, and concurrent DSPT program participants must show foreign language proficiency.

Requirement Overview

Students in the DSPT MA (Philosophy) Thesis Option, in the DSPT MA (Theology) Thesis Option, or in the concurrent MA program must demonstrate reading proficiency and comprehension skills in a foreign language. Students in the concurrent DSPT MA option with a concentration in Thomistic Studies must demonstrate reading and comprehension proficiency in Latin. There is no language requirement for any of the other DSPT degree programs.

Always refer to the DSPT Student Handbook for details. Work with the DSPT Academic Dean to use your language studies toward certification.

Fulfilling the Requirement

Students are expected to fulfill the language requirement by October 1st of the third semester in the program. This requirement must be fulfilled before
students may submit a thesis proposal.

In general, language certification may be obtained by any of the following means:

Pass the foreign language certification exam, such as those offered by the GTU each September, February and May. See the GTU website for what exams are available and how to register. All students must register for language examination at least three weeks in advance.
Within the last five years, having completed four semesters (12 units) of a language at an undergraduate level with a grade of B (3.0) or better in the final semester. Students must petition the Academic Dean to use this work for language certification.
Having studied/lived/worked in a foreign country in an immersive experience, in which the foreign language is used daily, e.g. in lectures, written work. Students must petition the Academic Dean to use this experience for language certification.

Students enrolled in a DSPT MA program who wish certification in a language other than Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Greek, or Spanish must submit a written petition to the Academic Dean. The mode of certification is as for other languages.

Foreign students whose native language is not English may fulfill the language requirement by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, scores of at least 600 for the paper-based exam or 250 for the computer-based exam) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS, total score of at least 6.5) examination.

Using Foreign Languages Courses for Credit

As a general policy, foreign language courses in European languages (French, Italian, German, etc.) taken to fulfill the language requirement, including courses taken to prepare a student for a language exam, cannot be counted as electives toward fulfillment of course requirements of a degree program. However, certain advanced-level language courses designed to equip MA students for future research may be counted as electives in some circumstances. Students must submit a written petition to the Academic Dean for approval of such coursework as graduate electives.

Types of language courses can be counted as electives toward a degree program, such as specialized languages (Hindi, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Aramaic, etc.) and classical languages (Greek, Hebrew, Latin).

GTU Summer Intensive Language Courses

The GTU offers summer intensive language courses designed to equip students to certify proficiency in French, German, or Spanish. Enrolled students must complete the course and pass the exam, which is equivalent to the GTU Modern Foreign Language Examination. Courses are typically 4 weeks long during the last two weeks of July and first two weeks of August; and meet 5 days a week, Mon - Fri, for three hours/ day (60 contact hours). Read more on the GTU website.

Planning for the GTU Language Certification Exam

Register for the exam at least three weeks in advance through the GTU.
Exams are offered in Sept, Feb and May.
Students will be asked to summarize a chosen passage with some specific words to translate.
The student’s summary must illustrate understanding of the main point as well as knowledge of the supporting evidence behind the author's argument.
Translation must pay attention to proper spelling, verb tense, and context. A literal translation may not suffice.
Students may use their own dictionary or one provided from the GTU Library.
Refer to the Language exam info on the GTU website for the latest information on taking the exam.