Special Academic Programs

English as a Second or Other Language Program

The English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) is designed to help students who are non-native speakers of English raise their language skills to a level of competence necessary to function and succeed in American colleges and universities. The program also provides support for international students as they adapt to an unfamiliar cultural environment.

Students who enter Columbia College with a score below 500 (paper-based) or 173 (computer-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) enter the ESOL program at one of two proficiency levels (Intermediate or Advanced). Placement is determined by in-house diagnostic testing administered to ESOL students when they arrive on campus. TOEFL scores are also considered.

International students who enter Columbia College with a TOEFL score of 500 or above on the paper-based or 173 or above on the computer-based exam take the English Diagnostic exam to determine initial placement in English courses.

Intermediate (below 500/173 TOEFL)

ESOL 100 Academic English I (3)

ESOL 101 ESL Grammar and Composition I (6)

ESOL 102 Speaking and Listening (3)

Advanced (below 500/173 TOEFL)

ESOL 103 Academic English II (3)

ESOL 105 ESL Grammar and Composition II (6)

(500/173 or above TOEFL)

ENGL 107N Developmental English Composition (Special section for non-native speakers) (3)

Advanced ESOL: 15 hours of classroom instruction in English per week, 9 semester hours per semester. Students may be allowed to take one or two additional courses per semester, with advisor consent.

EngL 107N: 6 hours of classroom instruction in English per week, 3 semester hours per semester. Students may be allowed to take a full academic schedule, with
advisor consent.

Center for Academic Excellence

The Center for Academic Excellence offers a wide range of educational support services to students enrolled for credit at Columbia College on the home campus. Services are offered at no additional cost to the student.

The Center offers the following services, as available, in a one-to-one or small group format:

• Study sessions in subjects such as English, mathematics, and many introductory courses that meet general education requirements
• Study skills improvement
• Note-taking strategies
• Exam-taking strategies
• Effective time management skills
• Textbook reading strategies and highlighting techniques
• Mathematics skills improvement
• Use of calculators
• Computer tutorials for basic math skills
• Writing skills improvement
• Techniques for planning and writing research papers
• Help with documentation of sources according to MLA and APA guidelines
• Peer tutoring for students learning English as a second or other language

All services at the Center for Academic Excellence are offered on a walk-in basis or by appointment. The Center is staffed by experienced professionals committed to helping students broaden their educational opportunities and achieve excellence in their academic careers at Columbia College.

Cooperative Cross-Enrollment Programs with the University of Missouri-Columbia and Stephens College

Columbia College participates with the University of Missouri-Columbia and Stephens College in a cooperative cross-enrollment program. The intent of the program is to facilitate students' educational needs when a desired course or its equivalent is not available at the home institution during the semester of enrollment. Students must meet the course prerequisites prescribed and all coursework must be for academic credit.

Enrollment is on a space-available basis on the first day of classes during the Fall and Spring/Winter semesters on the Columbia, Missouri campuses of the respective institutions. Each institution reserves the right to close courses in certain programs to cross enrollment and to prohibit its students from enrolling in courses in designated programs at the other institutions. Tuition will be paid at the student's home institution at the home institution rate. Each institution will waive the admission application fee.

To be eligible to enroll in the Cooperative Cross-Enrollment Program, Columbia College students must:

1. Be enrolled as full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students during the semester of cross-enrollment.
2. Be in good academic standing. Students who are dismissed for low academic achievement from one Cooperative institution and subsequently accepted at another Cooperative institution may not cross-register at the institution of dismissal until they are eligible for readmission.
3. Receive the approval of the appropriate faculty advisor.
4. Receive the approval of the Registrar or Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.

Students shall be subject to the rules, regulations, and standards of conduct of the institution offering the course during the time of actual attendance.

See the Registrar for additional information about cooperative cross-enrollment courses and to obtain the required form for enrollment.

Students may also request library privileges at Ellis Library on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus, participate in University of Missouri-Columbia study abroad programs, and may use Education Career Service at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Intersession

A session scheduled between semesters or sessions, usually two weeks long, Intersession is administered by the Evening Campus. Students may not enroll in more than three semester hours of credit. Classes may be offered during the day or in the evening. Students enrolling in Intersession classes are expected to complete, prior to the beginning of class, certain reading assignments made by the instructor. Reading lists are available from Evening Campus offices.

Study-Abroad Programs

Columbia College provides a variety of study abroad opportunities through a cooperative agreement with the University of Missouri-Columbia. Students from one institution may participate in selected study abroad programs for credit or not for credit at the other institution. Study abroad fees/charges will be the same as each institution charges its own students. Information is also available regarding study abroad opportunities sponsored by other organizations and institutions.
To help defray costs to study abroad, students may apply for financial aid through the Columbia College Financial Aid Office. Federal financial aid, such as the Pell Grant or student loans, can be used to help finance study abroad. Institutional grants and awards cannot be used for study abroad. Students who are interested in obtaining more information about these opportunities should inquire at the International Programs Office.

Summer Sessions

An eight-week term and two four-week terms held during the months of June and July are administered by the Evening Campus. Students may enroll in both day and evening hours. Students may not enroll for more than 9 semester hours of credit in any combination of summer sessions without written permission from the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. Students will be charged $195 per semester hour for all hours enrolled if the overload request is approved. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 before they are eligible for an overload.