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Canon Law is an international law. The official texts of the law and of many documents with canonical importance are in Latin. Other texts appear from time to time in various modern languages. Many of the significant commentaries on the law, and studies about canon law topics, appear in languages other than English.
In order to understand this law more accurately, to interpret and apply it more fully, and to instruct others more effectively as to its meaning and proper application, it is important to have access to more than the limited amount available in English translations or studies concerning canon law. The development of an ability to use canonical Latin or the canonical literature in a modern language is an integral dimension of formation as a canon lawyer and subsequent professional work.
The following policy of the School of Canon Law is designed to facilitate this formation
within the licentiate program in canon law:
1) Students are to demonstrate an ability to use canonical literature in Latin and in one of the following modern languages: French, German, Italian, or Spanish in the following manner:
a) satisfactory completion of a written examination in French, German, Italian, or Spanish, administered by the School of Canon Law;
b) satisfactory completion of a credit course in canonical Latin offered by the School of Canon Law during the regular academic year.
3) The purpose for the examination is to demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the material to be able to use it reliably in addressing a canonical issue. The material of the examination will usually be taken from a commentary on the code, or from an article or monograph dealing with some aspect of the current law of the Church. The material from which the examination is to be taken will be indicated in advance. You may provide your own dictionary for the examination.
4) The emphasis in the examination is on your comprehension of the material. The examination is on a pass/fail basis. If you fail to pass, the language examination may be retaken. No grade is reported on your permanent record, only the report that the language requirement has been satisfied. | 
