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Proficiency in Hebrew Transcript Notation

The Proficiency in Hebrew Language Transcript Notation explicitly recognizes students who have demonstrated at least an intermediate-high level of language proficiency and cultural understanding in a world language (taught at Brandeis University) beyond the Brandeis Core requirement.

This Notation signals significant global competence in a language and culture beyond a student’s own background, or in a language and culture that are not their dominant ones. This Notation documents that students have acquired the cultural knowledge necessary not only to interact with communities that speak the target language, but also to synthesize cultural information from different perspectives.

Note: Students in any major or minor can earn the Notation.

Requirements

To receive the Notation, students must:

Study a world language at Brandeis beyond the Brandeis Core World Languages and Cultures requirement of three semesters (or the equivalent) by taking at least two more courses. Only courses taught in the target language count for the Notation.
Maintain an average GPA of 3.3 (B+) in the target-language courses.

Several Paths Lead to Completion of the Notation

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For students with no prior experience in the language (those who start from a 10-level course):

For students with prior experience in the language:

Students who have fulfilled the World Languages and Cultures requirement need to continue their study by taking at least two additional courses. For students who, upon entering Brandeis, place into a course above the 30 level, (i.e. a 40 level course or above) this course will count as the first of the two additional courses.
Heritage speakers or L2 learners who place at the 30 level or below need to first complete the World Languages and Cultures requirement and then take at least two additional language courses beyond the 30 level. Depending on the individual student, they may need to take three or four courses in total to earn the Notation.

Application and Approval Process

A student submits an application for a Proficiency in Hebrew Transcript Notation to the director of the Hebrew Program.
The Hebrew Program director reviews all requirements and approves the application.
The Hebrew Program director notifies the Office of the Registrar that the student has completed the requirements for the Transcript Notation.