Placement Guidelines: Initial placement in French lower division language classes (French 1-4) at UC Berkeley is determined by a set of guidelines. Please contact French Undergraduate Advising with any additional questions regarding placement in French at UC Berkeley. Transfer Students intending to declare a major in French should consult the Undergraduate Advisor in French.
No auditing is permitted in French language courses. Berkeley faculty and staff members interested in participating in French language program courses should consult the Coordinator of the First-Year French Language Program, Daniel Hoffmann
Get the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding French 1-14 enrollment.
| Students who have… | Place initially in… |
|---|---|
| 0 - 2 years of HS French | French 1 at Cal |
| 3 years of HS French | French 2 at Cal |
| 4 years of HS French, or AP score of 3 | French 3 at Cal |
| AP score of 4 or 5 | French 4 at Cal |
Language Prerequisites for French 1-103A-B:
French 1
If you have never taken French before, or you have taken 2 years or less of high school French, sign up for French 1. Course is not open to native or heritage speakers of French. Enrollment is limited.
French 2
Sign up for French 2 if you have a passing grade in French in a first-semester or second-quarter college French course, or three years of high school French. Course not open to native or heritage speakers of French.
French 3
Sign up for French 3 if you have a passing grade in French 2 at UC Berkeley or four years of high school French. New students who have taken second- or third-semester, or third or fourth quarter college French courses elsewhere or received an AP score of 3, should also enroll in French 3; they will be screened for appropriate placement during the first week of classes. Course not open to native or heritage speakers of French. If you are unsure of your ability to take this course, contact the Second Year Coordinator, Vesna Rodic.
French 4
Open to students with a passing grade in French 3 at UC Berkeley. New students who have taken a fourth-semester or fifth quarter college French courses elsewhere or received an AP score of 4 or 5, should also enroll in French 4. They will be screened for appropriate placement during the first week of classes. If you are unsure of your ability to take this course, contact the Second Year Coordinator, Vesna Rodic.
French 13
Open to students with a passing grade in French 2 at UC Berkeley or four years of high school French. Students with native fluency are not eligible to enroll in this course.
French 14
Open to students with a passing grade in French 3 at UC Berkeley or the equivalent. Students with native fluency are not eligible to enroll in this course.
French 35
Open to students with a passing grade in French 3 at UC Berkeley, or the equivalent. Students with native fluency are not eligible to enroll in this course. Offered Spring only.
French 102
Open to students with a passing grade French 4 at UC Berkeley. Students who have taken the equivalent of a third-year college-level French course elsewhere may enroll in French 102 via CalCentral and should contact the Undergraduate Advisor to schedule a 102 placement exam.
French 103A-B
Open to students who have completed French 102 at UC Berkeley or who are enrolled in that course concurrently. See above information for French 102.
Sign up early via CalCentral
Staffing commitments for French 1-4, 13, 14, 35, and 102 are based on preliminary enrollment reports. Students who wait until the beginning of the semester to decide that they want to take French may find it more difficult to get into sections.
Students are responsible for checking the online schedule for information during the week before classes start, and during the beginning of the semester.
Attendance is Mandatory Every Day of First Week
Attendance in French 1-4, 13, 14, 35, and 102 is mandatory every day of the first week of classes. Students who do not attend class the whole first week will be dropped from the class and any coursework not turned in on time during that period will not be counted.
Students are responsible for verifying their correct enrollment in, or dropping from, French courses on a timely basis via CalCentral.
If you wish to add a French language course or change into a different section, attend the course. All adds and waiting list sign-ups are done on CalCentral by the student.
Questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions regarding Enrollment in French 1-14