Second Language and Writing Requirements

As part of our Liberal Studies Curriculum, Saint Michael's requires demonstration of the following skills:

Writing Proficiency Requirement

All students at Saint Michael’s College must demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly in written English. The College defines the level of writing proficiency necessary to graduate as the ability to formulate a thesis statement and to validate it in a clear, well-organized essay.

This requirement is ordinarily met by demonstration during the First-Year Seminar. All students at the College take two writing-intensive courses which are intended to develop critical thinking and compositional skills: the First-Year Seminar and a writing-intensive course in the major.

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For further information contact:

Elizabeth Inness-Brown 
Professor of English
Director of the Writing Center

Saint Edmund's 335
Phone: 802.654.2441
E-mail: einness-brown@smcvt.edu


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Second Language Requirement

All students are required to achieve the low-intermediate level of a second language in order to graduate from Saint Michael's College.

Fulfillment of this second language requirement may be demonstrated by:

  1. placing above the second-semester language course level on the college’s language test;
  2. passing a second-semester language course at Saint Michael’s College;
  3. passing a second-semester language course at another institution (the course has to be pre-approved);
  4. passing an Advanced Placement test offered by the College Board with a score of three or higher (four or higher for Latin);
  5. passing an SAT II language test at the level specified by the College for that language;
  6. submitting a record showing that the student received at least partial secondary education outside the United States in a language other than English

Students who choose a), b) or c) and have studied Spanish or French in high school or at home will be asked to take an on-line language placement test early in the summer. Then, during a summer registration day, students will take the written portion of this test.

All other students who choose a), b) or c), but want to take a test in a language other than Spanish or French, must take the test on campus during a summer registration day. There is no online option available.

Further information on the second-language proficiency requirement is available online, and from the program’s coordinator:

Hideko Furukawa
Second Language Requirement Coordinator

Durick Library 334
Phone: 802.654.2760
Box 374
E-mail: hfurukawa@smcvt.edu