Organization
Florida Tech’s Division of English and Languages is operated by the School of Arts and Communication. The division determines the incoming student’s competence in English and establishes the most beneficial program of study, and administers the ESL Bridge Program that provides training in English for students whose home language is not English.
English language proficiency is required of all students whose home language is not English and who are taking academic courses at Florida Tech. English proficiency is not required for admission, however, submission of a test score is required for the issuance of immigration documents and enrollment.
Demonstrating Proficiency
Students whose home language is not English are considered to have demonstrated English language proficiency if they have accomplished any of the following:
1. Passed an English test no more than two years before attendance at Florida Tech:
- an Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) with an earned score of at least 79; or
- an IELTS with an earned score of at least 6.0; or
- a PTE Academic with an earned score of at least 58; or
- a Cambridge English: Advanced with an earned score of at least 180 (Grade of C); or
- a Duolingo English Test with an earned score of at least 100; or
- a China National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao) English portion with an earned score of at least 120/150 (96/120).
2. Earned an official score of four or higher on an English examination:
- the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Language A examination in English, or
- the College Board Advanced Placement examination in English Language and Composition.
3. Successfully completed an English language program:
- ELS English for Academic Purposes level 112; or
- Embassy English level B2; or
- International Education Exchange Association PEAP level 6; or
- Kaplan International English level Higher Intermediate; or
- Open Hearts Language Academy level Elite; or
- UCF English Language Institute level 8 with a grade of B or better.
4. Studied at an institution in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Anglophone Canada, Anglophone Caribbean, Anglophone Africa, or a secondary school overseas where English is the primary language of instruction,
- attending for three consecutive years and graduating from an accredited high school; or
- completing a total of 20 semester credit hours at an accredited university or college, including three semester credit hours of English that qualify as transfer credit for Florida Tech’s COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric; or
- earning a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited university or college.
ESL Bridge Program
Both undergraduate and graduate students whose home language is not English with scores in the following ranges are invited to enroll in the ESL Bridge Program:
- Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT): 61–78
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 5.5
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 51–57
- Cambridge English Advanced: 169–179
- Duolingo English Test: 90
- Embassy English: Level B1
- China National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao) English portion: 105/150 (84/120)
The ESL Bridge Program combines in-person classes required to earn a degree along with English instruction taught by Florida Tech faculty. All students are full-time, requiring enrollment in at least 12 credit hours of classes per semester.
Students who score below the ranges specified above may enroll in lower-level English training courses at the ELS Language Center on campus.
Language Requirements for Graduate Assistantships
(Graduate Policy 4.11)
International students are eligible for graduate assistantships in some academic units. In addition to specific academic unit requirements for service as a graduate assistant, any student whose home language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination with a minimum score as listed in the table below. Students also must pass the International Teaching Assistant Speaking Assessment (ITASA) to serve as a graduate teaching assistant.
A score of at least one of the following must be submitted for a teaching assistantship:
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): 100
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 7.0
- Florida Tech Institutional TOEFL (paper-based): 600
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 70
- Cambridge English Advanced: 193 (Grade of B)
- Duolingo English Test: 120
- Embassy English: Level C1
A score of at least one of the following must be submitted for a research assistantship:
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT): 79
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
- Florida Tech Institutional TOEFL (paper-based): 550
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 58
- Cambridge English Advanced: 180 (Grade of C)
- Duolingo English Test: 100
- Embassy English: Level B2
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