English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

Florida State College at Jacksonville has programs specifically designed for students whose first language is not English. The EAP program is designed for students who are preparing themselves for academic study and who must develop proficiency in the English language to succeed in their coursework.

Prior to registration, students take the College’s current EAP placement test to determine which level of instruction is most appropriate. Based on the results of these placement test scores, students are assigned to Level 4, Level 5, or Level 6 courses with the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) prefix. Each level consists of courses in:

1. Reading/vocabulary

2. Writing/composition

3. Speaking/listening

4. Structure/grammar

Level 4 classes count for institutional credit. Up to twelve hours of Level 5 and/or Level 6 coursework may be counted as elective credit toward fulfilling the number of credits required for an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree.

All students who test into any level of EAP courses or tested “too low” in any area of the EAP placement test are required to take a specifically designated EAP section of Strategies for the Pursuit of Knowledge (IDS 1107) within their first 15 hours at FSCJ as part of their First Year Experience.

Students are required to complete all Level 4 courses before registering for other college credit classes. Once students have completed or tested out of Level 5 Speech and Listening and Level 5 Reading, they can take the math portion of the PERT exam. Based on their PERT math scores, students may then take the following suggested classes if they need to have a full course load, which is 12 contact hours per week:

• Math courses: MAT0018, MAT0028, MAT1033 or higher based on placement test scores

• Computer Concepts courses: CGS1060C, CGS1100C

Students who have passed all Level 5 EAP courses and Level 6 Speech and Listening can register for other college credit courses after consulting with their EAP advisor.

Students may take less than a full load of classes each term if desired or if not on a student visa.

Students who have completed all required EAP coursework can register for ENC1101 without further testing.

You are exempted from taking the College’s current EAP placement test and can move directly into ENC 1101 if you meet any of the following conditions:

• You have eight (8) or more years of instruction in history, science, literature and math taught in the formal/academic register of English, or

• You entered the ninth grade in a Florida public high school in the 2003-2004 school year or any year thereafter and earned a standard Florida high school diploma, or you are serving as active duty members of any branch of the United States Armed Services (per Section 1008.30, Florida Statute, and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.0315), or

• You hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university taught in the formal/academic register of English, or

• You have successfully completed college courses in English, reading and mathematics.