Topics Map > Student Academic Policies > Courses/Enrolling
Topics Map > Student Academic Policies > Degrees
L&S BA/BS Language Substitution
The following information is mean for the College of Letters & Science undergraduate students who are seeking to fulfill the L&S BA or BS language requirement but believe they have documentation to support getting a substitution for this College requirement.
The College of Letters & Science (L&S) Language Substitution package (FLSP) is for degree-seeking candidates in the College of Letters & Science (L&S) only who are seeking to fulfill the L&S foreign language requirement and also have a documented disability in language acquisition. More specific information about the BA/BS Language Substitution Package for L&S undergraduate students can be found in the Guide under Foreign Language.
Students are encouraged to file the application early (for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, no later than the fourth week of their third semester in residence; for senior transfers, no later than the fourth week of their first semester in residence, excluding summer sessions). The Disability Curricular Accommodations Committee (DCAC) meets once during the fall term and once during the spring term only. Students will be notified in writing within four weeks after submitting their completed application to the DCAC for review. The committee does not meet to review applications in the summer.
**Please note that students who apply in their senior year may delay graduation. Students should submit application materials only in the semester/term they wish their application to be considered.
The deadlines to submit a completed application with all required documentation for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 are:
-
Fall 2023 Deadline: Friday, September 29, 2023 before 11:59 pm CDT. Students can start submitting completed applications for fall 2023 on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
-
Spring 2024 Deadline: Friday, February 16, 2024 before 11:59 pm CST. Students can start submitting completed applications for spring 2024 on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
The application process will consist of two (2) parts for Fall 2023:
-
Please send an email with the following information to L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans Services at lsdeans@saa.ls.wisc.edu starting on Wednesday, September 6, 2023:
-
Your full name
-
Your UW-Madison ID number
-
Your UW-Madison @wisc.edu email address
-
Your request to apply for the Fall 203 L&S Undergraduate Foreign Language Substitution Package (FLSP)
-
Please make sure you submit your email request no later than 12:00 pm CT on Monday, September 25, 2023, so you will still have sufficient time to complete the second part of this process. Instructions on how to complete part two of the application process will be sent to you via your campus email address once we receive your request.
-
Upload your required documents to the Box folder by 11:59 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023. You will be sent an email with directions on how to upload your completed application and supporting documentation to the Foreign Language Substitution Package Box folder once we receive your request via the LSDEANS@SAA.LS.WISC.EDU e-mail address.
All students who submit a completed application by the deadline should hear back from the Disabilities Curricular Accommodations Committee (DCAC) regarding the status of their application approximately four weeks after the application deadline. All answers to questions in application must be typed and not handwritten.
A completed application must include all required items below:
-
High school transcript and transcripts from other post-secondary institutions you may have attended prior to UW-Madison (you will need to contact original high school or other institution of higher learning for these records if you do not have copies)
-
UW-Madison transcript
-
Copy of your most recent DARS ( See DARS for students for more information about requesting a DARS.)
-
Student application form (see p. 7 of Foreign Language Substitution Package application below)
-
Copy of McBurney Faculty Notification Letter (or confirmation letter of accommodations received) if you have one
-
Other relevant and current disability documentation assembled in consultation with McBurney Center staff
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed so make sure you submit all of the required documentation for consideration.
Application for the L&S BA/BS language substitution can be found at foreign language substitution package.
What are the requirements for a Language Substitution?
1. General Language
If approved for an L&S language substitution package, both B.A. and B.S. degree candidates must complete one (1) course having to do with language in general (selected from an approved list of classes). If a student's official UW-Madison records has at least one unit (year) of a high school foreign language, this requirement is fulfilled. If a student has not taken a foreign language in high school, please select one (1) course from either a, b, or c listed below:
A. LINGUIS 101 (Linguistics)
B. CS&D 240 (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
C. ENGL 201, ENGL 207, ENGL 304, ENGL 307, ENGL 400, ENGL 407, ENGL 408, ENGL 409 (English)
2. Cultural Context
B.A. students must complete the following:
Three (3) courses related to a country, region, or a group of countries sharing a common language in the following areas:
a. Literature
b. History or Culture
c. General elective
- If a student has a second unit (year) in the same high school foreign language, it can fulfill the History or Culture (b) requirement for the B.A. degree. Students must then also take a Literature course and General elective in the same language area to complete the requirement. If a student has not taken a foreign language in high school, please must complete items a, b, and c above. All coursework taken for the foreign language substitution package must be approved by an academic dean in L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans' Services.
B.S. students must complete the following:
Two (2) courses related to a country, region, or a group of countries sharing a common language in the following areas:
a. Literature
b. History or Culture
- If a student has a second unit (year) in the same high school foreign language, it can fulfill the History or Culture (b) requirement for the B.S. degree. Students pursuing a B.S. must also take a Literature course in the same language area to complete the requirement. If a student has not taken a foreign language in high school, please must complete items a and b above. All coursework taken for the foreign language substitution package must be approved by an academic dean in L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans' Services.
Contact L&S Student Academic Affairs with further general questions:
Phone: (608) 262-0617
Email: LSDEANS@SAA.LS.WISC.EDU