UMD Support Courses
The goal of English programs and courses for UMD students is to provide them with the academic language skills they need to succeed in university classes. The instructional focus is on academic reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Placement of students into this program is determined by the Admissions Office. Your specific placement will be written in your admission letter.
Semi-Intensive English Program/English Bridge Program
| Advanced English as a Foreign Language (UMEI 005) |
|---|
| Most sections meet 4 days per week, 2 hours per day Develops all four academic English skills Separate sections for graduate and undergraduates Does not carry degree credit Special course fee required Undergraduates – $4,812 Graduates – $6,515 |
Academic Writing
| Advanced Writing for International Students (UMEI 507) |
|---|
| Meets 2 days per week, 2 hours per day Develops academic English writing skills Only offered to graduate students Tuition is charged at the standard graduate credit rate: Graduate Tuition & Fees |
Course Registration
The amount of credits you can register for in addition to the UMEI courses depends on the placement listed on your admission letter, and whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
Undergraduates:
- You can register for two courses that total 6-8 credit hours in addition to UMEI 005
Graduates:
- UMEI 005 counts as 36 graduate units (6 units per credit hour x 6 credit hours)
- UMEI 507 counts as 15 graduate units (5 units per credit hour x 3 credit hours)
- You can add another 12-16 (UMEI 005) or 33-37 (UMEI 507) graduate units to reach full-time status
How to Satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement
To satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement, UMEI 005 students in the English Bridge Program must successfully complete the course with a final grade of 75% or higher. This grade is calculated from Coursework (65%), the TOEFL ITP (25%), and the Maryland English Writing Test (MEWT) (10%) administered during the course.
TOEFL ITP
The University of Maryland uses the Level 1 TOEFL ITP® as part of your UMEI 005 course grade. It consists of three sections: Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, and Structure and Written Expression. A fourth section, a 45-minute Timed Writing, complements the TOEFL assessment. Test details can be found at here.
A TOEFL ITP exam will be offered twice: once mid-semester and once at the end of the semester. The exam is offered over two days, with Listening, Reading, and Structure (on computer) on one day and Timed Writing (paper and pencil) on the other. Your highest score for each sub-section on either the mid- or end-of-term TOEFL test will count as your final score.
Standardized Test Grades: Your test scores are converted to a grade percentage as follows. There are four scores: one for each of the TOEFL sections, and one for the writing grade:
| TOEFL Score | Listening | Structure | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 and above | 10.0% | 5.00% | 10.0% |
| 57-59 | 7.5% | 3.75% | 7.5% |
| 54-56 | 5.0% | 2.50% | 5.0% |
| 51-53 | 2.5% | 1.25% | 2.5% |
| 50 or below | 0.0% | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| Writing Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 6.0 or above | 10.00% |
| 5.0-5.99 | 8.33% |
| 4.75-4.99 | 6.67% |
| 4.50-4.74 | 5.00% |
| below 4.5 | 0.00% |
Please note the one-to-one correspondence between the values shown in these tables and the values listed under the weight distribution of grades. You can think of the percentages in both cases as points out of a possible 100 for the course. You need a total of at least 75 points to pass the course.
If you have successfully completed the English Bridge Program, ISSS will contact you shortly after the semester to let you know when your new I-20 reflecting your degree program change is ready.
You will take the Maryland English Writing Test (MEWT Test) at the end of the semester. It has two writing parts:
| Part | Time | What You Have To Do | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing #1 | 45 min. | Write a 3-5 paragraph essay | 0-8 |
| Writing #2 | 45 min. | Write a second 3-5 paragraph essay | 0-8 |
To successfully complete UMEI 507, you need to satisfy the requirements of the UMEI 507 course as outlined in the course syllabus. You also must reach the following scores on the MEWT test at the end of the semester: 5.0 or higher on one essay and 4.5 or higher on the other. If you do not meet these standards, you will need to repeat UMEI 507.