Professional Communication Advancement (PCA) Program
To help ensure students' success both in their studies and their future careers, IIT Stuart offers a unique Professional Communication Advancement (PCA) program designed specifically for international students.*
PCA offers a customized and targeted approach to communications skill-building that: 1) develops writing and speaking skills, 2) helps students transition from classroom English to real-world English and 3) helps students make a great first impression when talking with potential employers. PCA gives students the language support they need to obtain the maximum benefit from their program of study, prepare for their careers and develop the language skills needed to function successfully in today’s global business environment.
Upon arrival at IIT Stuart, students participate in an in-person assessment of their English language skills to determine whether those skills are in need of improvement. If the assessment indicates the student's English is deficient, their academic advisor then prescribes a sequence of PCA courses designed to build English-language proficiency and enhance the student's professional marketability, and these courses become a graduation requirement.
The PCA program offers a wide variety of eight-week course modules, each targeting specific English-language or communications competencies. Through this extensive set of offerings, we are able to tailor students’ language advancement studies to meet their own personal needs. Read complete PCA program details and frequently asked questions.
Each half-semester PCA course is worth 1.5 credit hours. These courses are graded and appear on the student's transcript, but do not count toward the total number of courses required by their academic program. The cost for each PCA course for the 2011-12 academic year is $1488 (subject to annual increases). Note that the tuition estimate on an admitted student's I-20 will not include the cost of PCA courses because it is impossible to know before the student's arrival whether he or she will need any PCA courses.
No matter what their English proficiency level, we strongly urge students to study and use English as much as possible before arrival in Chicago.
For questions or concerns about the Professional Communication Advancement program, please email stuartadvising@iit.edu. If you would prefer to speak with an Academic Advisor by telephone, please send an email first so that they can arrange a mutually convenient time for the call.
*Note: The PCA assessment is required of all students whose native language is not English. United States citizenship or permanent residency do not exempt students from the PCA assessment and possible course requirement. However, applicants with four or more years of undergraduate education in the United States are exempt from the PCA assessment and any English courses.
PCA offers a customized and targeted approach to communications skill-building that: 1) develops writing and speaking skills, 2) helps students transition from classroom English to real-world English and 3) helps students make a great first impression when talking with potential employers. PCA gives students the language support they need to obtain the maximum benefit from their program of study, prepare for their careers and develop the language skills needed to function successfully in today’s global business environment.
Upon arrival at IIT Stuart, students participate in an in-person assessment of their English language skills to determine whether those skills are in need of improvement. If the assessment indicates the student's English is deficient, their academic advisor then prescribes a sequence of PCA courses designed to build English-language proficiency and enhance the student's professional marketability, and these courses become a graduation requirement.
The PCA program offers a wide variety of eight-week course modules, each targeting specific English-language or communications competencies. Through this extensive set of offerings, we are able to tailor students’ language advancement studies to meet their own personal needs. Read complete PCA program details and frequently asked questions.
Each half-semester PCA course is worth 1.5 credit hours. These courses are graded and appear on the student's transcript, but do not count toward the total number of courses required by their academic program. The cost for each PCA course for the 2011-12 academic year is $1488 (subject to annual increases). Note that the tuition estimate on an admitted student's I-20 will not include the cost of PCA courses because it is impossible to know before the student's arrival whether he or she will need any PCA courses.
No matter what their English proficiency level, we strongly urge students to study and use English as much as possible before arrival in Chicago.
For questions or concerns about the Professional Communication Advancement program, please email stuartadvising@iit.edu. If you would prefer to speak with an Academic Advisor by telephone, please send an email first so that they can arrange a mutually convenient time for the call.
*Note: The PCA assessment is required of all students whose native language is not English. United States citizenship or permanent residency do not exempt students from the PCA assessment and possible course requirement. However, applicants with four or more years of undergraduate education in the United States are exempt from the PCA assessment and any English courses.
Last modified: 01/18/2012 14:25:33
