Bridging Program for International Students

Ohio Northern University has established a Bridging Program for international students that allows students with TOEFL scores between 480-549 (paper based), 185-213 (computer based), or 54-78 (internet based) to begin taking college courses for credit while also taking ESL courses to improve academic English skills before entering into full-time regular university study in their respective majors. Students who successfully complete the three-quarter-long, three-course sequence (ESL 100, ESL 101 and ESL 102), may enter into full-time study in their academic majors, beginning the following summer or fall.

The Advantages of the Bridging Program:

• Students begin earning college credits in courses that fulfill some degree requirements while also improving their English skills.
• ESL courses focus on further development of academic listening, reading, speaking and vocabulary.
• Students enrolled in the Bridging Program in the fall quarter begin coursework in the college-composition sequence that fulfills the university's English writing requirement (English 150*, 151, 152, and 153).*

*Placement in English 150 or English 151 is determined by a writing assessment given to international students during orientation.

How does the Bridging Program Work?

Qualified students enter the Bridging Program in the fall and should plan to remain in the program for their first academic year at Ohio Northern University, taking full advantage of the opportunity to focus on improving their English proficiency in preparation for full-time regular academic study. The Bridging Program's ESL course sequence provides a solid foundation in academic English so that upon successful completion of the ESL course work, students are better prepared to meet the challenges of full-time academic studies in their chosen disciplines (majors).