English for Academic Purposes

International Student Support

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Academically qualified students who need support to become fluent in English reading, writing and speaking can be offered full admission to Salve Regina University with our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.

To qualify, students must achieve these English proficiency test scores:

How Does EAP Work?

Students don't apply to EAP, they apply for admission to Salve. If they meet the academic criteria and need English language support, their letter of admission will place them in EAP.

EAP is a sequence of four courses, two in each of the first two semesters, taken alongside other undergraduate courses. Small class sizes and committed faculty help create a friendly environment and promote learning.

Students complete projects that foster cross-cultural awareness and critical thinking. They also participate in social, cultural and educational events on campus that ease the transition into American culture and the campus community.

EAP is not a full-time ESL program or conditional admission. Students are enrolled full-time in courses that earn credit toward a bachelor's degree. They can live on campus, join clubs, use the gymnasium and fitness center and receive a Salve Regina ID for free bus transportation. There is no extra charge for EAP and students can work with their advisors to graduate on time.

Individual Tutoring

Students in EAP have access to a variety of resources, including one-on-one language tutoring. Experienced, supportive tutors are also available for regularly scheduled academic assistance or short-term help with projects and assignments.

Conversation Partners/Language Tables

This popular program is a fun way to practice cross-cultural communication. Conversations can be individual or group and cover any topic - music, sports, math, food, whatever you’d like. 

EAP Courses

All EAP courses earn three credits and fulfill the University's foreign language requirement or qualify as elective credit. Courses are taken alongside 2-3 other credit-bearing undergraduate courses.

The course strengthens students' English language skills, primarily in listening and speaking in academic settings; however, reading and writing skills are also integrated into the course. The goal is to increase fluency in English in order to be successful in academic studies and social interactions. Students enhance their study skills, cross-cultural awareness and conversation skills by completing various in-class activities and homework assignments. The course is open to undergraduate students who are non-native speakers of English.

  • Fulfills foreign language requirement or elective credit for EAP students.
  • Prerequisite: TOEFL iBT scores of 60-79, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo English 90-105 or PTE Academic 46-52

The course focuses on strategies for academic research and varieties of expository writing for different audiences and situations. Students improve their proficiency in the English language by developing effective styles of writing paragraphs and essays, culminating in a final research project. They also expand their understanding of grammatical structures and academic vocabulary. Weekly individual work with a tutor in the EAP program or at the Writing Center is required.

  • Fulfills foreign language requirement or elective credit for EAP students.
  • Prerequisite: TOEFL iBT scores of 60-79, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo English 90-105 or PTE Academic 46-52.

The course strengthens students' oral communication skills in English that are essential to academic success in higher education. Students increase fluency by preparing for and participating in academic and cultural discussions, completing listening and speaking projects and reflecting on ways to increase intercultural communication. Students also enhance their study skills, cross-cultural awareness and conversation skills by completing assignments. The course is open to undergraduate students who are non-native speakers of English.

  • Fulfills foreign language requirement or elective credit for EAP students
  • Prerequisite: EAP103: Academic Communication Skills or permission of the EAP coordinator 

The course focuses on strategies for research, reading and writing in various academic disciplines. Students improve their proficiency in the English language by developing effective styles of writing essays, analyzing texts and using appropriate forms of MLA/APA citations. They also expand their understanding of grammatical structures and academic vocabulary. Weekly individual work with a tutor in the EAP program or at the Writing Center is required.

  • Fulfills foreign language requirement or elective credit for EAP students.
  • Prerequisite: EAP111: Academic Research and Writing or permission of the EAP coordinator.

Sample Plan of Study

Fall Semester
  • EAP111: EAP Writing (3 credits)  
  • EAP103: EAP Communication (3 credits)  
  • ACC101: Financial Accounting (4 credits)  
  • ECN101: Introductory Macroeconomics (3 credits)  
  • FYT100: First Year Transitions (1 credit)  

Total credits: 14

Spring Semester  
  • EAP112: EAP Advanced Writing (3 credits)  
  • EAP104: EAP Advanced Communication (3 credits)  
  • ACC104: Managerial Accounting (4 credits)  
  • MGT120: Management and Organization Behavior (3 credits)  

Total credits: 13

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have been accepted into the EAP program, it is mandatory. Successful completion of all four EAP courses over two semesters (grade of D or higher) is a condition of your entrance into an academic schedule of 12 credits or more of regular, non-EAP undergraduate courses, unless you have been waived from one or more EAP courses by the program coordinator.

Students who successfully complete one semester of EAP courses and who have an overall GPA in the first semester of 3.4 or above may choose to retake the TOEFL exam externally. Scores of 80 or above may allow you to waive one or both of the second-semester EAP courses, at the discretion of the program coordinator.

EAP courses are credit-bearing (three credits each). Upon successful completion of the EAP program, you will earn 12 total credits. Six EAP credits satisfy the foreign language requirement that is part of Salve’s Core Curriculum, and the other six credits can be used toward general electives. With careful planning, taking EAP courses in the first two semesters generally does not delay graduation.

Students who fail one or more EAP courses (grade of F) or who initiate a withdrawal (W) from a required EAP course will be academically suspended from the University. Re-admission will require:

  • Submission of documents showing additional intensive English language studies.
  • Submission of a new official TOEFL score.  

You may transfer your I-20 to a U.S.-based language program of your choice or study outside the U.S. The new TOEFL score will be used to determine placement in EAP or regular academic courses. The program coordinator will determine placement upon return.