Below you will find both the Legacy Curriculum (prior to SU 2025) Foreign Language requirement and options, as well as the Fall 2025 and following NEW Curriculum Global Competence requirement.
Foreign Language Requirement (Honors College SAS and RBS Students Prior to SU 2025)
All Honors College Students at the School of Arts & Sciences and the Rutgers School of Business must exhibit proficiency in a foreign language. All courses used for the Honors College Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement must be completed with a letter grade of C or better.
Phi Beta Kappa: To be eligible for Phi Beta Kappa, a student must have demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to completion of at least the second semester of the intermediate level. Only Options 1 and 4 of the Honors College Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement meet the Phi Beta Kappa requirement. For more information regarding Phi Beta Kappa, please visit pbk.rutgers.edu.
For Honors College purposes, foreign language proficiency can be demonstrated by completing one of the following options.
1. Standard
| Placement Test Results | Course(s) to Fulfill Language Requirement |
| Elementary I Placement (i.e. 01:940:101) | Prerequisite: Elementary I & II, Intermediate I & II |
| Elementary II Placement (i.e. 01:940:102) | Prerequisite: Elementary II, Intermediate I & II |
| Fundamentals / Review Placement (i.e. 420:121; 940:121) | Prerequisite: Fundamentals / Review Course, Intermediate I & II |
| Intermediate I Placement (i.e. 01:940:131) | Intermediate I & II |
| Intermediate II Placement (i.e. 01:940:132) | Intermediate II only |
| Above Intermediate / Advanced Placement | Option 4: Individualized (see above) |
| Heritage-Speaker Placements | Course(s) to Fulfill Language Requirement |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers I (01:940:139) | 01:940:139 & 01:940:201 |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers II ( dir="ltr">01:940:201) | 01:940:201 OR Option 4: Individualized (see above) |
| Beginning Chinese Reading & Writing for Mandarin Speakers (01:165:121) | 01:165:121 & 01:165:222 |
| Intermediate Chinese Reading & Writing for Mandarin Speakers (01:165:222) | 01:165:222 only |
| Beginning Korean Reading & Writing for Heritage Students (01:574:103) | 01:574:103 & 01:574:203 |
| Intermediate Korean Reading & Writing for Heritage Students (01:574:203) | 01:574:203 only |
| Elementary Russian for Russian Speakers (01:860:207) | 01:860:207 & 01:860:208 |
| Intermediate Russian for Russian Speakers (01:860:208) | 01:860:208 only |
For any questions about completing the language requirement, please meet with a School-based Honors College Advisor or Assistant Advising Dean.
For any questions regarding your placement, please contact the specific language department. For general questions related to testing, please visit Testing & Placement webpage.
The School-based Honors College Advisor or Assistant Advising Dean will fix your Degree Navigator based on what you choose to do to complete your language requirement. If your Degree Navigator needs to be updated, please contact them: School-based Honors College Advisors.
2. Reading
Complete a two-semester sequence in courses designed specifically for reading knowledge. These courses do not require any previous background in the language. The following courses are currently available at Rutgers:
French for Reading Knowledge (3, 3)
01:420:105-106
German for Reading Knowledge (3, 3)
01:470:105-106
Italian for Reading Knowledge (3, 3)
01:560:105-106
Biblical Hebrew (3, 3)
01:563:141-142
Hieroglyphic Egyptian (3, 3)
01:563:421-422 OR 01:013:421-422
* for similar courses not taken at Rutgers, pre-approval from the Honors College is required.
3. Speaking
The following courses are currently available at Rutgers:
No courses available at this time.
* for similar courses not taken at Rutgers, pre-approval from the Honors College is required.
4. Individualized
If a student places above the second semester of the intermediate level on the foreign language placement test, and/or receives AP credit for a course above that level, the student is required to take one 3- or 4-credit course either in that language or related to that language (e.g., in history, art history, anthropology, culture, etc.). The individualized option requires students to take at least one course at Rutgers after the beginning of the first year. Prior college credit or AP credit cannot be used.A student interested in this option must consult with the Director of Academic Advising. A course used to satisfy this option must be approved by the Honors College.
Global Competence Requirement (all newly entering Honors College Students beginning Fall 2025)
All students must choose to pursue one of the options, below:
a) Demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a world language.Required for Phi Beta Kappa.* Please see Option 1 in the section above. The requirements remain the same.
- If proficiency was earned outside of Rutgers, take one associated culture class or upper-level language class at Rutgers New Brunswick (3-4 credits)
b) Complete one course from the list of Global Competence courses approved for the Honors College (3-4 credits). Please see the list, which is added to frequently: Honors College Global Competence Approved Course List. (coming soon)
c) Complete 6+ credits of an approved study abroad program. Please work with your School-based Honors College Advisor or Assistant Advising Dean to learn more and follow up with Rutgers Study Abroad.
* Phi Beta Kappa: To be eligible for Phi Beta Kappa, a student must have demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to completion of at least the second semester of the intermediate level. Only Options 1 and 4 of the Honors College Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement meet the Phi Beta Kappa requirement. For more information regarding Phi Beta Kappa, please visit pbk.rutgers.edu/.
Questions
For general questions related to Honors College Study Abroad programs, please contact us at honorscollege@rutgers.edu.