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About the Program - English Language Program

English Language Program

CSUSB’s English Language Program (ELP) offers intensive English instruction for international students and professionals seeking to improve their English proficiency. The program effectively prepares students for undergraduate and graduate programs at CSUSB, or for professional careers in business and other skill-driven industries.

Each ELP class includes a minimum of 23 hours of academic instruction per week, typically in 15-week semesters during Fall, Spring, and Summer. CSUSB also offers an accelerated (one-semester) ELP Level 3 Program, a fast-track option to help students start their undergraduate degree program.

Program Dates
Semester Program Dates Application Deadline  Pre-Arrival Orientation
Spring 2025 January 21 - May 9 December 10 December 19
Summer 2025 May 20 - August 7 April 8 May 1
Fall 2025 August 26 - December 5 July 15 August 7


Program Benefits
  • Qualified Level 3 (Advanced I) and Level 4 (Advanced II) students can take CSUSB courses for academic credit at no additional cost.
  • Completing ELP fulfills CSUSB's English language proficiency admission requirements. Level 3 is required for undergraduate degrees. Level 4 is required for most graduate degrees. 
  • Accelerated (one-semester) ELP Level 3 Program is a fast-track option to help students start their undergraduate degree program. 

ELP Level 1 (Beginner)

Level 1 is for nonnative speakers of English with beginner understanding of academic English. Students in this level take noncredit academic courses designed to improve student competencies in pronunciation, listener comprehension, grammar form and meaning, reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and beginner writing. 

Courses Offered in Level 1
  • Beginner Oral Communication
    • Beginner Pronunciation Skills
    • Beginner Listening/Speaking Skills
  • Beginner Grammar
  • Beginner Academic Reading
  • Beginner Academic Writing

ELP Level 2 (Intermediate)

Level 2 is for nonnative speakers of English with intermediate understanding of academic English. Students in this level take noncredit academic courses designed to improve student competencies in pronunciation, listener comprehension, grammar form and meaning, reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and academic writing.

Courses Offered in Level 2
  • Intermediate Oral Communication
    • Intermediate Pronunciation Skills
    • Intermediate Listening/Speaking Skills
  • Intermediate Grammar
  • Intermediate Academic Reading
  • Intermediate Academic Writing

ELP Level 3 (Advanced I)

Level 3 is for nonnative speakers of English with a high-intermediate to low-advanced understanding of academic English. Students in this level take noncredit academic courses designed to improve student competencies in intelligibility, speech monitoring abilities, reading comprehension and strategies, grammar, and academic writing. 

Courses Offered in Level 3
  • Advanced I Presentation Skills
    • Advanced I Pronunciation Skills
    • Advanced I Listening/Speaking Skills
  • Advanced I Grammar
  • Advanced I Academic Reading
  • Advanced I Academic Writing

ELP Level 4 (Advanced II)

Level 4 is for nonnative speakers of English with an advanced understanding of academic English. Students in this level take noncredit academic courses designed to improve student competencies in speech intelligibility, academic writing, critical thinking, academic reading comprehension, and analysis.

Courses Offered in Level 4
  • Advanced II Presentation Skills
    • Advanced II Pronunciation Skills
    • Advanced II Listening/Speaking Skills
  • Advanced II Advanced TOEFL Preparation
  • Advanced II Critical Thinking
  • Advanced II Academic Writing

Students Holding Sign

Apply Online

Students may also apply by mail or fax by downloading and printing the application form.

International Extension Programs application requirements:

  1. Completed application form. Be sure to indicate your program.
  2. Bank or Financial Statement with a minimum balance equivalent to $15,084 (US) funds
  3. Copy of passport
  4. $120 application fee: credit card, check, or money order. Payable to CSUSB
  5. Applicants to Graduate Preparation (Level 4) must attach official TOEFL or IELTS score results

Mail completed application materials, along with application fee, to:

International Extensions Program
College of Extended and Global Education
Center for Global Innovation, 3rd Floor  
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407-2393 USA
Fax: (909) 537-5907