English as a Second Language (ESL)
Ready for college, but still building your academic English? ESL courses at MVU help you strengthen your grammar, conversation, reading, and writing so you can succeed in degree courses taught in English.
At a glance
Two levels, one goal
- Levels: Intermediate and Advanced
- Length: one semester per level when you pass each course the first time
- Placement: TOEFL, IELTS, or MVU’s English Placement Test
- Goal: ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition
Is ESL right for you?
Build the English you need for your degree.
ESL is for students whose first language is not English. If your English test scores show you’re not quite ready for college writing, you’ll start in ESL courses that prepare you for it.
- Practice the grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure used in college classes.
- Gain confidence in conversation, presentations, and class discussion.
- Read academic texts and write well-organized paragraphs and essays.
- Learn about campus life and living in the U.S. in GNST 101, a course for first-semester international students in ESL.
Applying as a freshman?
Life @ MVU Pathway Program
International freshmen who don’t yet meet the standard English requirement may qualify for admission through the pathway program with one of these scores:
- TOEFL 40–67
- IELTS 5.5–6.0
- Duolingo English Test 60 or higher (you’ll take an English placement test after you arrive)
You also need to have completed high school with at least a 2.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Finished high school outside the U.S.? Send an InCred evaluation of your credentials.
Your path through ESL
Two levels, then college writing.
Earn a C or better in each ESL course to move to the next step. Pass every course the first time and you’ll finish each level in one semester.
01
Intermediate ESL
CEFR B1–B2. A semester of full-time ESL coursework.
- ESL 060 Intermediate Grammar
- ESL 063 Intermediate Conversational English
- ESL 064 Intermediate Reading
- ESL 065 Intermediate Writing
- GNST 101 Introduction to Academia, Culture and Society
02
Advanced ESL
CEFR C1. One semester of ESL alongside regular college courses.
- ESL 072 Advanced Grammar III: Academic Syntax
- ESL 073 Advanced Conversational English
- ESL 075 Advanced Writing
- GNST 101 Introduction to Academia, Culture and Society
03
ENGL 130
CEFR C2. With a C or better in ESL 075, you’re ready for ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, the first college writing course in your degree.
Strong TOEFL or IELTS scores can place you here directly.
Each ESL course is 3 credit hours. Read full course descriptions in the catalog ↗ (opens in a new tab).
How placement works
Your test scores decide where you start.
Every student whose first language is not English takes an approved English placement test. Your result sets your first English course.
| Where you start | TOEFL iBT | IELTS | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 130 (no ESL needed) | 68–120 | 6.5 | C2 |
| Advanced ESL: ESL 072, 073, 075 and GNST 101 | 54–67 | 6 | C1 |
| Intermediate ESL: ESL 060, 063, 064, 065 and GNST 101 | 40–53 | 5.5 | B1–B2 |
No TOEFL or IELTS score?
You’ll take MVU’s English Placement Test on campus with an ESL instructor when you arrive. Until your results come in, you’ll be placed in Intermediate ESL, which can delay your class schedule.
If you place into Intermediate ESL, you’ll also take the placement test on campus before the first day of class.
Check the Academic Calendar for the next ESL testing date.
Take the TOEFL or IELTS before you arrive. Having your scores early means you’re placed right away and can start classes on time. Duolingo scores count for admission, but not for English course placement.
Before you start
Good to know.
A few rules shape how ESL fits into your degree and your bill.
Credits
ESL courses count as institutional credit hours, but they don’t count toward the hours you need to graduate.
One-time program fee
Intermediate ESL has a one-time $1,000 fee; Advanced ESL has a one-time $500 fee. It’s added to your student account after the drop/add period. GNST 101 has a $105 course fee.
Moving up a level
Earn a C or better in each ESL course to move forward. You need a C or better in ESL 075 before you can take ENGL 130.
Get help early
Students who fail all of their ESL courses in a semester may face academic dismissal. If a class feels hard, talk with your instructor or Student Success right away.
ESL courses are only open to students whose first language is not English. See the full policy in the 2026–27 catalog ↗ (opens in a new tab).
Questions?
We’re here to help you plan.
Have a question about placement or your ESL classes? Email Sera Chun. For admission and English test scores, contact the International Office.
Interested in teaching English?
The TESOL minor prepares you to teach English language learners, with courses in curriculum, instruction, and second language acquisition.
ESL contacts
Questions about ESL?
International Office
Admission and English test scores · Ferguson Center, First Floor
Ready to start your degree at MVU?
Apply, send your English test scores, and we’ll help you find the right place to begin.