American Culture and English (ACE) Program
Announcement
Beginning with students who enroll for fall 2025, the American Culture and English (ACE) Program will be discontinued and replaced with the ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ English Language Program.
The American Culture and English (ACE) Program is ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ's conditional admission program. It is intended for international students whose English language test scores fall just below the admissible level for admission to ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ, but who otherwise meet the requirements for admission.
Unique Advantages
- Enroll in 3-4 courses and earn 12-17 academic credits toward graduation in one semester (about 4 months).
- Receive conditional admission to ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ-Oxford campus. ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ-Oxford campus will issue an admission letter and I-20.
- Live in a residence hall on the Oxford campus with ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ students, participate in all aspects of college life, and have all the privileges and rights of other ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ students.
- Participate in programs only available to ACE Program students, such as excursions, special events, tutors, peer mentoring, and specialized advising.
- No need to retake the TOEFL or IELTS test after enrollment, and the ACE Program is designed to enable undergraduate ACE students to graduate in 4 years, the same as other ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ students.
- Pay the same tuition, fees, housing, and meals rates as other international and out-of-state students at ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ plus a one-time program fee of $1000. This fee covers all textbooks and course materials, as well as special excursions and other co-curricular activities unique to ACE students.
- Offer of ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ's Tuition Promise: Upon completion of ACE, tuition, housing and meals, special purpose fees, and course fees will be frozen over the four years of a student's ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ experience.
- RedHawk International Grant: This grant is available to undergraduate students in the ACE program who complete ACE and then enroll as full-time undergraduate students on ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ's Oxford campus. After completing ACE, students will receive $2000 each semester that they maintain a 2.5 GPA. The grant is renewable for a maximum of eight undergraduate semesters, as long as students maintain the eligibility requirements.
ACE Courses
ACE 051: Academic English - Structure and Application (placement based on English proficiency at the start of the program).
ACE 112*: Advanced Communications Strategies
ACE 113*: Reading and Writing in Academic Contexts
American Culture Course: Introduction to American culture and cultural diversity (AMS 205, ATH 185, or equivalent)
To move from conditional admission to full admission:
- ACE students must earn a B- or higher in each of the two required English language courses (ACE 112, ACE 113).
- ACE students must earn a C or higher in the required American Culture course.
*These courses are part of the ACE core curriculum.
English Proficiency Requirement for ACE Program
The ACE program accepts students with strong academic credentials who have English language scores in the following ranges:*
- TOEFL (Internet-based): 60-79
- IELTS overall band: 5.0-6.0 (no subject requirement)
- PTE Academic: 44-52
- ACT English: 18-20 (ACT is not required for international students.)
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-540 (SAT is not required for international students.)
- ELS 109 EAP
- Gaokao English Subject: 115-124/150 or 95-99/120
- Suneung English Subject: 75-79
- Duolingo: 90-109
Application Process
To apply to the ACE program, prospective students should apply via the regular ¾Ã¾ÃË®ÃÛÌÒ application process for undergraduate international students. If you are admitted to the ACE program, you will follow the regular processes and procedures to enroll and accept your offer of admission.
