How many credits? What is the work load?

Half Courses and Full Courses

The standard Mentored Language Program course is a half course. Courses labeled with a single level number are half courses: Swahili I, Hindi I, Turkish I, etc. In some languages, full courses are offered. Students in full courses complete two half courses during the semester. These courses are labeled with two level numbers: Swahili I-II, Swahili III-IV, Hindi I-II, Turkish I-II, etc.

Work Load

Mentored language courses require a significant time commitment. Students spend less time in structured classroom settings and more time in independent study. Students in half courses need to devote at least one hour per day (seven hours per week) to independent study, plus the time required for conversation sessions and tutorials. Students in full courses need to commit at least two hours per day to independent study, plus conversation sesssion and tutorial time. Students need to arrange a schedule which allows for regular daily study and not try to cram language study into a few days a week.

Credit Varies by Campus

• Amherst College: A Mentored Language half course equals an Amherst half course; a Mentored Language full course equals an Amherst full course. Amherst students are reminded that two half-courses do not necessarily make a full course; students should consult the registrar for how this policy applies to their courses.
• Hampshire College: A Mentored Language half course equals a Hampshire half course; a Mentored Language full course equals a Hampshire full course. Hampshire students who run into issues with limits on Five College interchange registration during the pre-registration period should consult with a FCCSWL staff member about how to work this out.
• Mount Holyoke College: Most Mentored Language half courses are worth 2.0 Mount Holyoke credits, and most full courses are worth 4.0 Mount Holyoke credits. For Hindi for Hindi-Urdu Speakers, Urdu for Urdu-Hindi Speakers, and Written Persian, half courses are worth 1.5 Mount Holyoke credits and full courses are worth 3.0 Mount Holyoke credits. Mentored language courses cannot be used to meet the Mount Holyoke language requirement.
• Smith College: Most Mentored Language half courses are worth 2.0 Smith credits, and most full courses are worth 4.0 Smith credits. For Hindi for Hindi-Urdu Speakers, Urdu for Urdu-Hindi Speakers, and Written Persian, half courses are worth 1.5 Smith credits and full courses are worth 3.0 Smith credits. It is a Smith policy that at the elementary level (levels I through IV) the equivalent of two FCCSWL half courses must be completed to receive credit.
• University of Massachusetts-Amherst: Most Mentored Language half courses are worth 2.0 credits, and most full courses are worth 4.0 credits. For Hindi for Hindi-Urdu Speakers, Urdu for Urdu-Hindi Speakers, and Written Persian, half courses are worth 1.5 credits and full courses are worth 3.0 credits. Mentored Language courses cannot be used to meet the College of Humanities and Fine Arts language requirement. In some cases, the courses can be part of an indivdualized plan to meet the Global Education Requirement for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (which applies to students who entered UMass prior to the Fall 2018 semester). SBS students who need to meet this requirement should consult their academic advisor about this option.