English as a Second Language Program and International ADVANCE Program

Return to: University College

Coordinator: Lauren Boone, M.A.

Harding University offers a concentrated curriculum for international students whose academic English skills need to develop before they enroll in courses for their college-entry academic program. Students admitted into the program are enrolled in 12-15 hours of language work in their first semester. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are offered to prepare students for entry into college-level courses. These courses are not intended for transfer and do not count in earned hours for graduation. Students are expected to show progress and meet exit requirements within two semesters. Students may be promoted to the International Advance Program when they have a GPA of 2.5 and no grades lower than a C.

In addition, an International ADVANCE Program (IAP) is offered for high proficiency ESL students to get experience in university-level academic classes and acquire academic credit while continuing to work on their English skills. This program allows ESL students who are admitted to the University with test scores of institutional TOEFL 500/IELTS 5.5/IBT of 61 to take two or three University classes while receiving language and academic support.

To successfully complete the International ADVANCE Program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. have an overall GPA of 2.0 (ESL and University classes combined), an A or B in ESL 0995, and
2. meet all IAP Program requirements, some of which include regular class attendance, pre-school orientation attendance, academic coach meeting attendance, providing academic progress reports (if required) from the professors of their academic classes, and maintaining good academic standing.

Students will begin their academic program of study in the subsequent term after these requirements are met. The IAP semester may be repeated once for GPA remediation. In addition, students can qualify for full admission to the University by providing official evidence of passing the IELTS with a 6.0, the institutional TOEFL with 550, or the IBT with 70.

Students may take no more than 16 credit hours while in the IAP unless there are extenuating circumstances approved by the program director. Students’ schedules will be created in conjunction with the ESL Program coordinator and/or the student’s academic advisor. Classes in which students make a “D” or “F” should be retaken for GPA remediation in order for students to meet the GPA requirement to exit the program.

Students should understand that IAP eligibility is a privilege, not a right, and can be revoked for not meeting program requirements. Excessive absences, a WF in any class, low GPA, and/or dropping a class results in exclusion from the IAP. In that case, the University is no longer obligated to the IAP contract and the student will no longer be considered an IAP student.

This program is overseen by the University College . For further information, e-mail esl@harding.edu.