Language Examinations
The
following departments and programs have language requirements:
- Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology;
- Greek, Latin and Classical
Studies
- French
- History of Art
- Mathematics
- Russian
Language
proficiency is tested by written translation examinations,
which are set and administered by the six departments named
above. Students should consult their department chair
or graduate advisor about fulfilling their language requirement(s)
and about scheduling their exam(s). Every exam is read
by two faculty members in the student's department or a related
discipline.
Passages
to be translated are selected by the faculty of the student's
department or program. Examinations are two hours long
and should require translation of no more than 700 words.
The word count should be indicated at the bottom of each
passage to be translated. Departments should specify
which translation tools students are permitted to use (i.e.,
bound dictionaries, online dictionaries, no tools at all),
and these specifications should be uniform for all examinations
within that department. Students must be explicitly informed
of these specifications in advance of any examination.
Departments
should determine when and where language examinations may
be taken, and convey this information to students in a timely
manner. Examinations may be set as often as a department wishes.
There is no limit to the number of times a student may take
an examination.
Outcomes and Actions
- SATISFACTORY: if the department readers find the examination satisfactory, the chair or graduate advisor shoud inform the student and the GSAS office. The GSAS office will list satisfactory outcomes on the student's transcript.
- UNSATISFACTORY: If the department readers find the examination
unsatisfactory, the chair or graduate advisor should inform
the student of this outcome in a timely manner.
- UNDECIDED: If both department readers find the examination to be marginal OR if there is a split decision on whether the examination is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, the examination should be forwarded to the GSAS office. The GSAS office will engage the services of a third reader in the Language Department. In general, the vote of the language faculty member
is final. In the event of a departmental challenge to
this verdict, the outcome will be determined by the Dean.
Students will be notified of the verdict of the language faculty
reader by the GSAS as soon as it is received. The deadlines for faculty wishing to submit examinations to the GSAS office for third party evaluation are:
- Semester I - October 22, 2012
- Semester II - March 22, 2013
- Examinations received after these deadlines will be held by the GSAS office until the next reading period.