Special Academic Programs

This section lists a number of programs and services which are available and may be of interest or use to graduate, professional and transfer students in any college.

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    American Language and Culture Program

    Director: Weihong Sun
    Office: Reno Hall, Room 16
    McNichols Campus
    Phone: (313) 993-3323
    Fax: (313) 993-1192
    Email: sunwe@udmercy.edu

    Through assessment, placement, and instruction, the American Language and Culture Program equips students with language skills and cultural understanding necessary for them to meet their educational and professional goals in an American university setting. The program collaborates with University partners, providing English language evaluation, consultation and intercultural exchange to foster a diverse international community.

    Assessment

    Assessment of language skills is made during the week prior to the first official class day.

    Placement

    After assessment testing, students are placed in one of the following courses of study:

    • Intensive English - 22 hours of instruction per week.
    • Intermediate English - 9 hours of instruction per week.
    • Academic Writing and Culture Seminar - 3 hours of instruction per week.
    • Full-time degree-directed study.

    Instruction

    Regular ±«Óãtv students are provided instruction on the McNichols campus. Students attending ±«Óãtv programs at the Macomb University Center may take ALCP 5201 or ALCP 5315 at the Macomb Center if there are sufficient numbers of registrants. Course schedules coincide with the regular University academic calendar which has three 15-week terms beginning the first week of September, January and May.

    Course Offerings

    • ALCP 5101 Intensive English (0 credits)

    An intensive course of 22 hours of concentrated study each week. Students study grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, pronunciation, conversation skills, listening, note-taking, writing and American culture.

    • ALCP 5201 Intermediate English (0 credits)

    Reading

    The main objectives of the intermediate reading course are vocabulary development, reading speed, and text analysis with emphasis on knowledge of facts, inference, and evaluation skills. Practice is given in test-taking, close techniques and context clues.

    Listening and Speaking

    Included in this intermediate level oral/aural course is training in the skills of lecture comprehension, note taking, oral presentation and group task-solving techniques.

    Academic Writing

    This class prepares students for the writing tasks they will be asked to perform in their academic programs. Academic writing involves summarizing information, writing descriptions, making observations and explaining processes.

    • ALCP 5315 Academic Writing and Culture Seminar (0 credits)

    This class provides an advanced ESL student with the composition skills necessary for undergraduate coursework. Cultural and anthropological topics provide integrated reading, speaking, thinking and writing practice.

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    International Services

    Director: Weihong Sun
    Office: Reno Hall, Room 16
    McNichols Campus
    Phone: (313) 993-3323
    Fax: (313) 993-1192
    Email: sunwe@udmercy.edu

    The International Services Office is the University’s immigration compliance and risk management center and serves as the liaison between the University and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and other government agencies. In alignment with the greater ±«Óãtv mission, the ISO also serves the ±«Óãtv community and the Detroit area by enriching the quality of life of all ±«Óãtv students, providing immigration and academic support to non-immigrant students and faculty, fostering cultural understanding and awareness through practical and creative experiences, and advancing a campus culture that admires and celebrates ±«Óãtv’s rich global diversity.

    • We provide admitted and current students as well as scholars and University Departments with information, advice and assistance in matters of immigration.
    • We provide current non-immigrant students with ongoing orientation to the University and American society.
    • We administer the University’s health insurance program for international students.
    • We work with other areas of the University to ensure that the academic and social needs of non-immigrant students are met.
    • We sponsor a broad range of on- and off-campus recreational, educational, and cross-cultural programs and events for both international and domestic students.
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    Languages

    Director: Lara Wasner, M.A., MATESOL
    Office: Reno Hall, Room 40
    McNichols Campus
    Phone: (313) 993-1191
    Email: wasnerle@udmercy.edu

    Through its offerings in more than 10 languages and ESL, the Language and Cultural Training Department seeks to imbue students with linguistic and cultural knowledge of modern foreign countries. Because today's students live in a multicultural and multilingual world, the curriculum provides the tools, competence, and cultural orientation to enable them to do so successfully. Certificates in Language Studies are available at two levels: Certificate I (Introductory - Intermediate) includes 4 semesters of study in the target language: 1100, 1110, 1120 or 1150, 2100. Certificate II (Intermediate - Advanced) consists of 4 more courses in the target language: 2110, 2120, 3100, and 3110 or higher. Placement test determines entry. However, no placement test is required to take introductory-level coursework at the 1100 level. Coursework is available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and more.

    ±«Óãtv's language courses are also available for dual high school and college credit. Please visit ±«Óãtv's High School Dual Enrollment Program page for more information.

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    Study Abroad Programs

    Director: Lara Wasner, M.A., MATESOL
    Office: Reno Hall, Room 40
    McNichols Campus
    Phone: (313) 993-1191
    Email: wasnerle@udmercy.edu

    ±«Óãtv provides students with opportunities to gain global perspective and experience by encouraging them to study abroad. Through its various schools and colleges, the University expands its curricula through study programs in other parts of the world. Interested students should consult with the departments sponsoring the programs for more information. Please refer to the University's page for the many opportunities available as semester-study and short-term programs.