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English Language Requirements

 

Every international student desiring to study at the University of Northern Colorado must receive clearance from the Center for International Education regarding English language proficiency.

How do I receive "Clearance" from the CIE regarding my English proficiency? Initial Clearance can be given before a student arrives on campus if an international student submits a passing TOEFL score AND meets one of the Exemption Criteria . The Exemption Criteria and TOEFL requirements are listed below.

  1. Final Clearance can only be given from the CIE after you arrive on the campus of UNC. All students are required to interview with the Intensive English Language Program instructors in order to verify that the paper documentation sent in during the application process was an accurate representation of the student's true proficiency level. *The Intensive English Language Program reserves the right to require Intensive English coursework if the student's proficiency level demonstrated in the Oral Interview is lower than what was initially determined from the documented evidence regarding the Exemption Criteria and/or TOEFL score.
  2. If a student does NOT meet any of the English language Exemption Criteria, then that student will be accepted to UNC under "Conditional Admission" status. The condition is that the student will be required to take the Academic English Assessment to determine whether that student will be cleared, or whether that student will be required to take Intensive English coursework in order to be cleared.
  3. Passing TOEFL scores alone no longer provide automatic clearance in terms of English language proficiency. In addition to a passing TOEFL score, a student must meet one of the English Language Exemption Criteria in order to be cleared of the requirement to take Intensive English coursework.
  4. The Academic English Assessment - The Intensive English Language Program team determines from the Oral Interviews and examination of the Exemption Criteria documentation whether a student will be required to take the Academic English Assessment. Results of this assessment are used to determine the number of Intensive English courses the student will be required to take in order to be "cleared" by the CIE in terms of English language proficiency.
  5. Any questions regarding these policies can be directed to Trisha Moya, the Intensive English Language Program Coordinator . Her e-mail address is: trisha.moya@unco.edu

 

UNC TOEFL Requirements:

Undergraduate

  • Most Programs
    • Computer-Based Test (190)
    • Paper-Based Test (520)
    • Internet-Based Test (70)
    • Intensive English Language Test Score (IELTS) - 6.0
  • Business school
    • Computer-Based Test (213)
    • Paper-Based Test (550)
    • Internet-Based Test (80)
    • Intensive English Language Test Score (IELTS) - 7.0

Graduate

  • All Graduate Programs
    • Computer-Based Test (213)
    • Paper-Based test (550)
    • Internet-Based Test (80)
    • Intensive English Language Test Score (IELTS) - 7.0

Exemption Criteria:

  1. The student is a native speaker of English.
  2. The student has received a score of 450 or better on the verbal section of the GRE.
  3. The student has received a score of 450 or better on the verbal section of the SAT if taken before April 1995, or a score of 540 or better if taken in April 1995 or thereafter.
  4. The student has completed an Associate of Arts degree from a community college within the United States , and this degree was completed within the last two years.
  5. The student has obtained the equivalent of 60 transferable semester credits with a GPA of 2.5 (for undergraduate applicants) or a GPA of 3.0 (for graduate applicants) or better from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. In addition, this criteria can be met by successful completion of a Master's Degree from an accredited university in which English was the primary language of instruction. This course work must have been within the last two years of application to UNC.
  6. The student has completed 5 years of full-time schooling with English as the medium of instruction at a middle school, high school, college, or university. Documentation of all five years is required .
  7. The student has completed full-time English study at another Intensive English program. The student must have documentation proving passing scores in all levels of the English program and must have completed the program no more than two years from the date of application to UNC.

Screening and Placement Policy

  1. Oral interview by the IELP Coordinator or Team (20 minutes)
    1. ALL New Students Must Be Screened by Oral Interview
    2. Students present any pertinent evidence concerning the exemption criteria
    3. If Oral skills support exemption criteria evidence, student is "cleared" to register for full-time coursework.
    4. All students presenting with just "passing" TOEFL scores - and no other exemption criteria - will be required to take the UNC English Assessment.
    5. The Interview Sheet serves two purposes:
      1. Speaking/listening assessment and placement recommendation
      2. Information about the student, kept in the file, and helpful for teachers

  2. Writing Sample (30 minutes)
    1. 30-minute timed essay assesses writing skills - organization, unity/coherency, content, sentence structure, vocabulary/spelling and grammar
    2. All essays are read by all three teachers - final score is the average of all three
    3. Several topics which rotate are used - chosen carefully so a wide range of students can easily develop their ideas based on their own experiences and opinions
    4. Example: "You have the opportunity to visit a foreign country for two weeks. Which country would you like to visit?" Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.

  3. ACT ESL Computerized Assessment (90 minutes - 2 hours)
    1. Listening Comprehension (score out of 100)
    2. Reading Comprehension (score out of 100)
    3. Grammar/Usage (score out of 100)

Placement Decisions:

  1. IELP team reviews all data in student folders and places students in appropriate level based on established rubric.
  2. Placement decisions will be shared with the International Admissions Committee through the Graduate School.

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Contact Person: Sue Kovitz
Last Updated: June 1, 2009
All photos courtesy of
Center for International Education staff and students.