Certificate of Proficiency in French

The Certificate of Proficiency in French at Mount Saint Vincent University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, gives university students who are not specializing in French a coordinated program in French as a second language. All courses counted toward the certificate are also degree courses, so students already enrolled in a degree that includes French courses can credit the same courses toward both; students are not required to be enrolled in a degree to pursue the certificate. Candidates must complete 3.0 units of French courses, at least 2.0 of which are at the 2000 level or above, and maintain an average GPA of 2.7 in those courses to become eligible for the certificate's comprehensive examination, which tests oral comprehension, oral expression, reading, and writing and is held annually in the April examination period. A grade below C- on any of the four skills means the certificate is not awarded, and up to 1.0 unit of transfer credit from another institution may count toward the requirement with departmental approval. The certificate suits students in other degree programs who want formal recognition of French-language proficiency.