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Heidi A. Beck, MA, Interim Director
Objectives
The Culture and Language Bridge Program is designed to prepare non-native speakers of English for a productive academic career at Seattle University. The primary goal of the program is to provide admitted Seattle University students a background in American academic culture and language skills that are essential for success in their studies. The courses offered in the program are highly advanced, with a specific focus on university-level reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Description of Courses
Graduate students are expected to take courses that advance their strategic reading and writing (CLBR 090), and academic speaking skills (CLBR 091) essential for success in their disciplines. The course work for graduate students concentrates on American academic culture and specific preparation for requirements at Seattle University. Graduate students enrolled in the Albers School of Business attend a supplemental course in conjunction with a five-credit-hour class, BCOM 280 Business Communication. These students are also required to take Advanced Academic Discourse (CLBR 091) during their first quarter at Seattle University and have the option of taking Advanced Academic Writing (CLBR 090) in the same or the subsequent quarter.
The Program Schedule
The program is offered during the fall, winter and spring quarters. Courses are not offered in the summer.
English Proficiency Admission Requirements (Policy 2008-01)
All non-native speakers of English whose TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score (or a MELAB/IELTS equivalent) is between 227/567/87 and 233/577/91 (inclusive) are required to take the Placement Essay Test upon their arrival at Seattle University. Results of the Placement Essay Test combined with their English proficiency scores at admission may require that students be enrolled in the Culture and Language Bridge Program to ensure their academic success at Seattle University.
Placement Essay Test
The purpose of the Placement Essay Test is to allow students an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their writing. Placement Essay Tests are evaluated by the university faculty and the staff of the Culture and Language Bridge Program based on such considerations as language fluency, rhetorical development, logical organization, and sentence structure.
Students whose writing skills require additional improvement need to take courses in the Culture and Language Bridge Program. On the other hand, students whose writing abilities are deemed sufficient for success in their academic studies do not need to enroll in the program.
Students whose TOEFL scores are 237/580/92 or above are not expected to take the Placement Essay Test or enroll in the Culture and Language Bridge Program. However, they have the option of taking classes in the program.
Program Requirements
In the Culture and Language Bridge Program, students’ work is evaluated with the goal of preparing non-native speakers for success in their studies at Seattle University. In keeping with this objective, a student must earn a grade of C or better in all CLBR courses required based upon the individual’s TOEFL score and Placement Essay Test. Grades below C are considered to be insufficient for progression and thus must be repeated until a grade of C or better is achieved. |