Intensive English Program (IEP)

​​​​​ The Inte​nsive English Program (IEP) offers five levels of academic English. New students receive a thorough English proficiency evaluation to ensure proper level assignment. Students entering the Intensive English Program should have at least low-intermediate English skills. Classes for this program meet for 18 hours each week.

Five Levels of Proficiency

1. Foundations Level (the most beginning level*)
2. Intermediate Level
3. High Intermediate Level
4. Advanced Level
5. University Bridge Level (the most advanced level)

*Please Note: Our Foundations Level (beginning) classes are for students who have studied some English. Before they begin our classes, these students can use or understand 200 to 400 words in English, have successful conversations in English, and write in paragraph form.

Continuing English Language Academy (ELA) students who pass their classes move to the next higher level of course work in the following term.

Students who complete all four courses in University Bridge level will receive the University Bridge Certificate from DePaul University. Conditionally admitted students can use this certificate to prove their English language proficiency to move into their degree program at DePaul University. ​

Courses Offered at Each Level

Full-time students take all four courses:

1. Writing
2. Reading and Vocabulary Development
3. Grammar
4. Spoken English and Listening

Class Schedule

All ELA courses are held during the day. Classes meet for 18 hours each week, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Monday though Thursday.  There are no classes on Fridays, but some ELA Club activities will be held on Fridays.

Here is the current ​class schedule for ELA students at all levels, Foundations through University Bridge: 

IEP Placement Tests

New students take an initial placement test online to estimate their proficiency level. Additional diagnostic tests are given during the first week of the term, and the new student placement is finalized based on those results.