Please follow the procedures outlined on this page. The School of Modern Languages uses the waitlist function in OSCAR, which means nothing will be processed in person. Please do not contact language advisors or individual course instructors for registration.
Selecting a Language Class
Modern Language courses do not have official course prerequisites. In general, Modern Language courses follow this sequence: LANG 1001, LANG 1002, LANG 2001, LANG 2002, LANG 3XXX, LANG 4XXX.
- If you received AP or IB credit consult the catalog for the credit awarded by Georgia Tech and enroll in the next course in the sequence.
- If you did not receive AP/IB credit but studied the language in high school, you must take the placement test to determine where you should begin your course of study. Please note, the placement test is only an indicator of your current level and is not used to award retroactive credit. You may not enroll in a class below your placement level.
- If you are beginning the study of a language for the first time, enroll in 1001.
Waitlists
The School of Modern Languages uses the waitlist function for all of its courses. Once the registration cap has been reached for a course, the course is full. You may place your name on the waitlist by following the instructions on the Registrar’s website.
Once you have added your name to the waitlist, if a seat becomes available you will receive a notification via email. After receiving the email, you will have 12 hours to register for the course section. Notification emails may be sent at any time, including weekends and holidays. If you do not register within the allotted time, you will lose your spot and will have to add your name back to the waitlist.
Waitlisting is not registration or enrollment in the courses. Since all courses have a waitlist, NO overloads will be issued. Only students accepted into the International Plan and graduate students requesting 1000-2000 level courses may submit a permit. Any permit requests received that do not fall into these categories will be automatically denied.
Major and Minor Restrictions
During the first weeks of Phase I registration, all SPAN courses are "major and minor restricted" meaning only the following students can register:
- Students with the following majors: ALIS, ECON, EIA, GEML, HTS, IAML, INTA, LMC, and PUBP
- Students with the following minors: Spanish and International Business Language and Culture
You will NOT be able to add your name to the waitlist, even if there are available spaces, until the major and minor restrictions are lifted. In other words, you can only join a waitlist once a class is full.
Class Restrictions
Some LING 2100 courses are class-restricted. This means that ONLY freshmen and sophomores will be able to enroll.
Restrictions will only be lifted to allow seniors to register if there are still spaces available after the other classes have registered. There is nothing you can do to bypass a class restriction – please do not email us and do not submit a permit request because it will be automatically denied.
Permits
Students pursuing one or more of the following programs may request permits to enroll in restricted courses:
- Accepted into the International Plan
- Graduate Students requesting 1000-2000 level courses
Any permit requests received that do not fall into these categories will be automatically denied.
Native/Heritage Speakers
Native and heritage speakers are welcome to take courses in the School of Modern Languages. Some languages, such as Chinese, have courses designed for native and heritage speakers. Some languages also have courses for which native and heritage speakers are not eligible such as some conversation and grammar classes. Be sure to consult the course descriptions in Oscar before registering for a class.
Native and heritage speakers who place at the 3000/4000 level can take advantage of the Advanced Standing policy to get retroactive credit for one to two lower-level language courses upon completion of one to two upper-division courses.
Graduate Students
Graduate students may request a DEPARTMENT permit to enroll in 1000-2000 level language courses. These permits will NOT be processed until the end of Phase I registration and possibly not even until Phase II registration. Undergraduate Students are given first priority. If a department permit is granted, you will receive an email notification, and you must then contact the Registrar’s Office to request a LEVEL permit. You can go to the Registrar’s Office in Room 104 ofTech Tower to be manually enrolled in the course or email the Registrar’s Office at comments@registrar.gatech.edu. The email should include the student’s full name, GTID#, and the course and CRN for which they are trying to register.
Additional Information
The School of Modern Languages will NOT process any forms or inquiries related to transfer credit, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credit, or change of minor/major forms during the first two weeks of Phase I registration and Phase II registration. Please plan accordingly. Be aware that if you register for the wrong course or level, the instructor may require you to drop the class, and there is no guarantee that a seat in the correct course/level will be available to you.
Transfer Credit
If you are bringing in transfer credit from another college or university’s language program see the Transfer Credit page for details on qualifications and instructions on how to submit your records for verification.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credit
If you are bringing in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credit, please see the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit page for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to take a particular course?
For all courses besides SPAN, you do not need a permit to register. Please check OSCAR to find an open course.
What do I do if a course is CLOSED?
Once the registration cap has been reached for a course, the course is full. In order to request a seat in a closed course, you must follow the instructions for waitlisting.
Why can’t I enroll in SPAN courses?
During the first few weeks, all SPAN courses are restricted to majors and minors. Be sure to submit your change minor/major forms early!
Why can’t I add my name to the waitlist?
You cannot add your name to the waitlist until a course is full. This means you may have to wait until freshmen have been allowed to register and/or major/minor restrictions have been lifted.
Can I submit a permit request for a course?
Only students accepted into the International Plan and graduate students requesting 1000-2000 level courses may submit a permit. Any permit requests received that do not fall into these categories will be automatically denied.
What if the class and the waitlist are both full?
The only thing you can do in this situation is to wait until something opens up.
Can a professor help me get into the course?
Please DO NOT email a professor to seek permission to enroll in their course, as professors have no control over this.
What does this error message mean?
If you try to register for a course and receive an error message, please refer to the Registrar's Guide to Registration Errors for an explanation of what the message means.
My question is not listed here.
For additional questions, please contact Mirla Gonzalez.