Graduate Communications Pathway – REAL Certificate

Graduate Communications Pathway – REAL Certificate

Program Description

The Graduate Communications Pathway is an accelerated version of the REAL Intensive English Program (REAL IEP). In the final semester of the candidate’s REAL IEP, they concurrently enroll in two graduate-level courses. Candidates take COM 505 and REAL 400 followed by REAL 401 and another graduate level elective or core course approved by their Academic Advisor and Graduate Program Chair. The REAL Graduate Communications Pathway prepares students for a prospective graduate program.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Provide students English language instruction to gain the necessary language skills for academic purposes.
  2. Help students become more familiar with higher education culture.
  3. Prepare students for the demands of online or on-ground university-level study in English, especially in an institution of higher education.

Admission Requirements

For acceptance into the Graduate Communication Pathway – REAL Certificate program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

  • An applicant with a Bachelor-level degree and a 2.5 GPA from a regionally- or nationally-accredited institution can apply to Westcliff University. Undergraduate degrees obtained outside of the United States will only be accepted if they have been evaluated by a member in good standing with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or another nationally recognized credentialing service. In this case, the listed U.S. degree equivalency will be used.

AND

  • Submit official English proficiency test scores to determine level of proficiency (A1 – C2 accepted).

Graduation Requirements

Students’ current English proficiency levels determine their starting placement in the Graduate Communication Pathway – REAL Certificate program. Upon acceptance, students must complete an accepted English proficiency exam to evaluate their English proficiency level. Prospective graduate students who complete REAL 400/401 and the concurrent graduate-level courses may use their REAL 400/401 level certificate to meet English proficiency admission requirements at Westcliff University to continue the desired graduate degree program.

Program Requirements

Students concurrently enroll in the graduate degree program during the 400-level courses of the REAL IEP. To complete the Graduate Communication Pathway – REAL Certificate program, students must complete the four (4) undergraduate and graduate courses listed below, nine (9) credit hours total.

REAL 400 1.5 undergraduate credit hours
COM 505 3 graduate credit hours
REAL 401 1.5 undergraduate credit hours
Degree Core course 3 graduate credit hours