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The American Language and Culture Program

The American Language and Culture Program (ALCP) serves international students from many different backgrounds who need to develop their English language skills in order to successfully pursue academic studies at UDM. The ALCP provides English-proficiency testing and placement services to newly-arrived UDM nonimmigrant students and offers a structured program of classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) to those who lack sufficient proficiency. Prospective students do not need to submit a TOEFL (or other standardized test) score in order to be admitted to UDM.

Please note: The ALCP is an academic preparation program. Although we do not require a TOEFL or IELTS, we expect students to possess Basic English communication skills related to immediate needs, for example, by completing the ESL placement test.

English Proficiency Testing and Placement

The ACT Compass® ESL test, which UDM uses in place of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), will be administered to first time and transfer students. It is a computerized test that students will take at the McNichols campus of UDM. Based on test results, students will be assigned accordingly.

All nonimmigrants in F-1 (student) status (or a dependent status such as H-4 or L-2) must take the ACT Compass® ESL test unless they meet one of the following conditions:

  1. They come from a country where English is the primary language.
  2. They have completed a four-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree at a college or university in the U.S. or in another country where English is the primary language.
  3. They have a TOEFL score of at least 80 with a sub-score of 21 on the Internet-based test, or a Paper-based test score of 550 and a score of 5 on the writing test.
  4. They have an IELTS minimum score of 6.5.

The ACT Compass® ESL test is composed of four sections: grammar, reading, listening and writing. Questions in the grammar, reading and listening sections are multiple choice. The writing section requires the student to respond in writing to a question or topic. The entire test takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Download sample test questions online:

1)      Grammar          http://www.act.org/compass/tests/esl/grammar1.html 

2)      Reading            http://www.act.org/compass/tests/esl/reading1.html 

3)      Listening           http://www.act.org/compass/tests/esl/listening1.html 

If students do not pass the ACT Compass® ESL test (allowing for full academic study), the following illustrate placement based on test results:

ALCP 1010/5101 Intensive English (22 hours per week) is a lower level comprehensive English program that includes writing, reading, speaking and listening. Students who are placed in ALCP 1010/5101 can register only for English classes. Registration in ALCP 1010/5101 constitutes full-time enrollment. At the end of ALCP 1010/5101, if you are in good academic standing (as designated by the professor at the start of the course), you will be retested using the ACT Compass® ESL test and placed accordingly.

ALCP 2010/5201 Intermediate English (9 hours per week) is an intermediate-level course which emphasizes writing, reading and listening. Students who are placed in ALCP 2010/5201 are required to register for both English classes and academic courses in order to meet the full-time enrollment requirement. Graduate students must register for at least 3 academic credits and undergraduates for 6 academic credits in addition to their English course. At the end of ALCP 2010/5201, if you are in good academic standing (as designated by the professor at the start of the course), you will be retested using the ACT Compass® ESL test and placed accordingly.

ALCP 3150/5315 Academic Writing and Culture (3 hours per week) teaches academic writing skills. Students who are placed in ALCP 3150/5315 must also register for academic credits in order to meet the full-time enrollment requirement. Graduates need at least 6 academic credits, undergraduates need 9 academic credits in addition to their English course. At the end of ALCP 3150/5315, if you are in good academic standing (as designated by the professor at the start of the course), you will be retested using the ACT Compass® ESL test and placed accordingly.

Students exiting the program are deemed to be sufficiently proficient in English to successfully engage in a program of academic study at the undergraduate or graduate level.

CREDITS

Students taking ALCP 1010/5101 receive no credit. Students receive a letter grade on their transcripts. No points for the grade are factored into the grade point averages.

Undergraduate students receive 4 credits for ALCP 2010 or 3150. These 4 credits are not counted toward graduation requirements.  Students receive a letter grade on their transcripts. Points for the grade are factored into the grade point averages of undergraduate students.

Undergraduate Post-Degree students receive 0 credits for ALCP 2010 or 3150. Students receive a letter grade on their transcripts. No points for the grade are factored into the grade point averages of undergraduate post-degree students.

Graduate students receive 0 credits for ALCP 5201 or 5315. Students receive a letter grade on their transcripts. No points for the grade are factored into the grade point averages of graduate students.

NOTE: If you are required to take supportive ESL coursework at UDM (referred to as ALCP), you may have to defer starting your academic degree Program by a semester or longer until you attain a satisfactory level of English proficiency to enroll in academic coursework. Prices for ESL/ALCP coursework may be ascertained here.