Preparation in Language and University Studies (PLUS) enrolls university-admitted non-native speakers of English in academic-preparation classes that combine educational support and language instruction along with enrollment in university coursework leading to an academic degree or certificate.
PLUS students, who are otherwise academically qualified for admission, are provisionally admitted to the University through the PLUS program with the following test scores: undergraduate [TOEFL: 475 PBT, 153 CBT, 53 IBT; IELTS: 4/5]; graduate [TOEFL: 500 PBT, 173 CBT, 61 IBT; IELTS: 5].
The goal of PLUS is to help you succeed in your first trimester of university study, and establish a strong foundation for your continuing academic coursework in a professional-practitioner learning environment. PLUS participants enroll in university classes that give credit toward their academic degree or certificate, based on official evaluations by the admissions office. To support this enrollment, in PLUS, you learn how to give in-class presentations, work in groups, participate in discussions, research and write university-quality papers, analyze case studies and more.
Successful completion of a term in PLUS leads to the fulfillment of the English language proficiency admission requirement. Successful completion means achieveing or exceeding an overall 3.0 GPA for your PLUS coursework. If you do not achieve a 3.0 GPA in your PLUS classes, you are required to enroll for one trimester in a PLUS Directed Study. Most students need only one trimester in PLUS to fulfill the English language proficiency admission requirement.
PLUS classes meet daily from Monday through Thursday, and require a full-time commitment to education. Individual consultations with instructors are available for assistance with written and spoken English, as well as with university course assignments. Most university classes meet in the late afternoon and early evening, and complement the PLUS class schedule.
PLUS is offered only at Golden Gate University’s San Francisco location. Students who are admitted to other GGU regions are welcome to enroll in PLUS and arrange to live nearby for their first trimester at the university. Attendance at the PLUS Orientation, scheduled in the week prior to the first day of the term, is considered mandatory for successful enrollment in PLUS.
PLUS Course requirements PLUS students complete 15 hours of coursework per week in addition to one 3-unit university class during their first trimester of enrollment at the University.
PLUS courses:
• Culture of the US Classroom
• Case Study Methods
• Applied Critical Thinking
• Academic Communication Skills
In these classes, PLUS students gain valuable knowledge and practice in the academic skills needed to be successful in university life in the US.
PLUS+ Course Descriptions The Culture of the US Classroom – 1. 5 units (Units are not applicable to a degree or certificate program.) Provides you with the knowledge of what to expect from your US education and what US educators expect from students in a professional-practitioner environment. Specific skills include managing time effectively, using university resources, avoiding plagiarism, taking part in group work, anticipating exam questions, using educational technology and more.
Case Study Methods – 3 units
(Units are not applicable to a degree or certificate program.) Introduces you to critical analysis. You learn to read, analyze, and discuss cases in small-group and whole-class settings, take various roles in case-analysis discussion, and write up both long and short case study forms. You learn to use this valuable, hands-on approach to learning while improving your written and spoken English.
Applied Critical Thinking – 3 units
(Units are not applicable to a degree or certificate program.) Provides knowledge that is vital to the development of good research and writing skills. You learn to read critically, evaluate sources, write thesis statements, analyze ideas, organize your writing, apply new concepts and improve the grammar of your written English.
Academic Communication Skills – 1. 5 units (Units are not applicable to a degree or certificate program.) Provides you with the tools for class participation and improvement of your spoken English. You learn about and practice various types of oral presentation, group work, class discussion, listening and note-taking skills and more.
Directed Study – 3 units
(Units are not applicable to a degree or certificate program.) Provides an individualized learning plan under the supervision of a PLUS instructor, based on assessment of need for non-native speakers of English. May not be taken concurrently with any other university directed study. Prerequisite: consent of the program.
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