English for Academic Purposes
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses at Michigan State University seek to help international students improve their English language abilities through credit-bearing language courses taught by English Language Center faculty.
EAP courses
- help prepare international students for the demands of university-level work in English.
- allow qualified students to take academic coursework while enrolled in this program.
- are credit-bearing courses.
EAP Curriculum
For a detailed description of each EAP course, please see the EAP Curriculum Document.
EAP students include
- advanced students who are not seeking a degree at MSU, but who want to improve their academic English skills.
- already enrolled, degree-seeking international students at MSU students who have not met MSU’s minimum proficiency requirement in English.
Students cannot apply directly for English to Academic Purposes courses. To apply, students must apply to the Intensive English Program.
Once accepted, students take a placement test, the MSU English Language Test. Students are then placed into either Intensive English Courses (not credit-bearing) or advanced English for Academic Purposes courses (credit-bearing) based on the results of that test.
For application information, visit the Intensive English Program page.
AAE 220 – English Grammar and Composition for Non-Native Speakers of English (6 credits)
The goal of the AAE 220 English Grammar and Composition course is to help students write coherent, unified, thesis-driven multi-paragraph essays of increasing complexity and analysis. Students will also develop a greater understanding of their own individual vocabulary and grammar weaknesses and strategies for editing and improving their writing in terms of word choice/form and sentence accuracy and variety.
AAE 221 – English Composition for Non-Native Speakers of English (3 credits)
The goal of the AAE 221 English Composition course is to help students write coherent, unified, thesis-driven multi-paragraph essays of increasing complexity and analysis and to develop self-monitoring and editing skills as needed.
AAE 222 – Listening and Speaking for Academic Purposes for Non-Native Speakers of English (3 credits)
The goal of the AAE 222 Listening and Speaking course is to help students to become more fluent speakers and listeners of English by providing them with interaction strategies and academic skills that will help them to develop their listening comprehension and speaking skills in a variety of academic and some non-academic contexts. Special attention is given to the academic skills of lecture comprehension and note-taking.
AAE 223 – Reading for Academic Purposes for Non-Native Speakers of English (3 credits)
The goal of the AAE 223 Academic Reading course is to help students develop the skills needed to tackle academic text efficiently and effectively. Special attention is given to strategies for coping with unfamiliar vocabulary and interpreting, paraphrasing, and synthesizing ideas from texts.
What’s the difference between IEP and EAP?
The IEP is an Intensive English Language Program; students are enrolled in a full-time program. IEP classes are non-credit bearing. The EAP is comprised of 4 credit-bearing courses, at the academic level. Sequentially, the EAP level can be considered the final level of classes offered at the ELC for students who seek to satisfy the MSU minimum proficiency requirement for English, for admission into an academic degree program.
Can I enroll in EAP courses?
Students cannot apply directly for English for Academic Purposes courses. To apply, students must apply to the Intensive English Program. Once accepted, students take a placement test, the MSU English Language Test. Students are then placed into either Intensive English Courses (not credit-bearing) or advanced English for Academic Purposes courses (credit-bearing) based on the results of that test.
Can I take academic classes while I am enrolled in EAP courses?
Students who are admitted to MSU degree programs under provisional admission status for English can enroll in academic coursework concurrent to enrollment in the required EAP classes, as credit allotment restrictions allow.
More Questions
Contact us at elc@cal.msu.edu or by filling out the form below.