Course Substitution Foreign Language

The University of Rhode Island provides a course substitution petition process for students with qualifying disabilities. Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI) acts as the liaison between the student and the degree granting college in recommending the course substitution as a reasonable accommodation.

The following programs and colleges at the University of Rhode Island require foreign language study for graduation:

College of Business-all degrees;
Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies: School of Education degrees (reflecting the BA of Arts and Sciences); and
College of Environment & Life Sciences – Marine Affairs, Bachelor of Arts

Petitions for foreign language course substitutions are relevant only to these colleges and programs; please confirm your foreign language/foreign culture requirements with your dean’s office. As of Fall 2016 the General Education requirements allow for greater flexibility with the Global responsibilities requirement, but many programs still count Foreign Language as a core requirement. Please check with your academic advisor for more information.

Follow this procedure if you believe you have a qualifying disability and are seeking a substitution for the Foreign Language degree requirement:

1. Please visit the New To DAI page to get started.
2. In addition to your documentation, please provide a written Student Statement describing your history of difficulty learning a foreign-language from high school to the present, with or without accommodations.
3. The DAI Accommodation Committee will review your case, and make a determination.
4. If approved, DAI will forward a formal petition on your behalf, to the Academic Standing Committee of the respective College for their review and final determination of eligibility.
5. Upon the approval of the Academic Standing Committee, you will be expected to complete the substituted Foreign Culture General Education requirement recommended by your Dean’s office.