Documentation and procedures for requesting a foreign language substitution:

  • A student may appeal for substitution of the foreign language requirement based on prior testing for a learning disability or by referral of a foreign language professor because of unusually severe difficulties in a college‑level foreign language course. For entering students with prior documentation of a learning disability, the appeal may be filed prior to matriculation or at any time thereafter.
  • In order to be allowed to substitute courses to fulfill the College's language requirement, the student must submit diagnostic test scores administered by an appropriate professional external to the College and the Office of Disability Services. The College's learning disabilities consultant will evaluate all scores and make a recommendation to the Disability Services Coordinator and the student. The tests necessary for a language‑based disability are found under the College's Procedures for Learning Disability Documentation. Testing must have taken place within three years of the date of application for the language substitution and the results must be based on tests using adult norms. The College reserves the right to require additional testing if deemed necessary by its consultant.
  • If the test scores indicate a severe foreign language disability, as outlined in the College's policy on learning disabilities, the student may appeal to the Executive Committee of the Faculty in writing requesting a substitution of courses for the foreign language graduation requirement.
  • The student's letter should be accompanied by documentation of the disability, a letter from the student's foreign language professor (if the student is or has been enrolled in a language class at Hampden‑Sydney), and a letter from the Disability Services Coordinator summarizing the findings of the College's consultant. Depending on the circumstances, the Disability Services Coordinator may also recommend that the student be granted a late drop from a language course or the removal of the grade received previously in such a course.
  • To ensure timely completion of graduation requirements, barring extenuating circumstances, appeals for a substitution to Core Requirement I. B. (Foreign Language) must be received before the conclusion of the semester immediately preceding the student's final in-residence year.  For typical students, this will be the spring semester of the student's junior year.

The Executive Committee of the Faculty has complete discretion to determine whether or not to grant the language substitution request.   

Course Substitutions for Students with Foreign Language Learning Disabilities

  Students with Documented Language Learning Disabilities may fulfill their language requirement in one of two ways:  

I. Option One

To fulfill their language requirement, students must satisfactorily complete a pair of courses, one from each of two different departments, in one of the eight categories below.  Students taking these classes to fulfill their language requirement may not use them to fulfill any other core requirements.  

I. Classical Studies, with emphasis on Greek cultures         
Select two courses from two different departments:                   

Classical Studies 202-Classical Mythology                   
Classical Studies 203-Greek Literature in Translation                   
Classical Studies 301-Humanism in Antiquity                   
Classical Studies 303-Life in the Ancient World                   
Government and Foreign Affairs 310--Classical Political Philosophy                   
History 271-Greek History                   
Philosophy 210-Ancient and Medieval Philosophy  

2. Classical Studies, with emphasis on Roman culture:         
Select two courses from two different departments:                   

Classical Studies 202-Classical Mythology                   
Classical Studies 204-Latin Literature in Translation                   
Classical Studies 301-Humanism in Antiquity                   
Classical Studies 303-Life in the Ancient World                   
History 272-Roman History  

3. Postcolonial History and Cultures:         
Select two courses from two different departments:                   

English 228-Postcolonial Literature                   
Government and Foreign Affairs 228-Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa                   
Government and Foreign Affairs 322-Political Development                   
History 322-History of the Caribbean                   
History 324-Early Modern Atlantic History  

4. History and Cultures of the Middle East:            
Select two courses from two different departments:                         

Government and Foreign Affairs 225-Govemment and Politics of the Middle East                         
History 207-Middle East from Muhammad to the Mongols
History 208-Emergence of the Modern Middle East                  
Religion 201-Judaism                         
Religion 204-Islam                         
Religion 210-Biblical Archaeology  
History 261-Ottoman History

5. History and Cultures of Asia:            
Select two courses in two different departments:                   

Theatre 201-Asian Theatre                    
Government and Foreign Affairs 226-Government and Politics of Asia                   
History 205 or 206-East Asia                   
History 325-East Asia in the Age of Imperialism                   
History 326-East Asia in Revolution
History 345-The Mongol Expansion
History 346-Samurai Culture in Japanese History
Religion 202-Religions of South Asia
Religion 203-Religions of East Asia  
Religion 306-Saints, Yogis, and Madmen in India

6. History and Cultures of Latin America:            
Select two courses in two different departments:                         

Government and Foreign Affairs 227-Government and Politics of Latin America                         
History 209 or 210-Latin American Survey                         
Spanish 310-Latin-American Literature in Translation  

7. History and Cultures of Continental Europe
Select two courses in two different departments:

Government and Foreign Affairs 223-Government and Politics of Western Europe
Government and Foreign Affairs 224-Government and Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
History 222-Modern France and its Empire
History 230-Twentieth-Century Europe
History 304-Medieval Civilization
History 305-Age of Enlightenment
History 308-Renaissance Italy
History 322-Age of Napoleon
History 328-The French Revolution
History 332-Russian and Soviet Modernization
History 333-Nazi Germany
Philosophy 211-Modern Philosophy: Rationalists
Religion 221-History of Christian Thought I
Religion 321-Reformation Thought
Visual Art 201-History of Western Art I: Ancient to Medieval
Visual Art 205-Medieval Art and Architecture

II. Option Two

Students may satisfy their language requirement by satisfactorily completing six hours of course work in a non-English speaking country, either in May term or in an approved international studies program. Students using this experience to fulfill their language requirement may not also use it to fulfill their international studies core requirement. Course work may be taken in English.

Updated 7/26/22