Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants who do not satisfy the English proficiency requirements for unconditional admission may be admitted to USF on the condition that they enroll in Academic English for Multilingual Students (AEM) courses, along with other academic courses, during their first semesters at USF. Students admitted as English Conditional are required to take AEM courses concurrently with USF academic courses. Normally, English-Conditional admission requires a TOEFL score of 65 iBT, with no subscore below 14; an IELTS Overall Band Score of at least 6.5 with no subscore below 6.0; or a PTEA Overall Score above 40.

Please Note: Nursing applicants are not eligible for English-Conditional admission, and must meet the minimum English proficiency requirements.

Students must have a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA score to be eligible for English Conditional admission.

The number of AEM courses a student must take depends on their TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA score when admitted, and the results of the English Placement Test, taken on campus when they arrive. Typically, students take between 4 and 12 units of AEM courses per semester.

Yes, all AEM courses count for elective credit. AEM courses are included in the cumulative GPA, but not in the major GPA.

Students will have two advisors. Undergraduate students who are taking AEM classes are advised by AEM faculty for AEM courses and by advisers in their major for non-AEM courses. An AEM faculty advisor is assigned to newly admitted students after the beginning of each semester and will contact each student during advising period.

An AEM hold is placed on all AEM students to ensure students succeed in their AEM courses. AEM Advisors will provide advising during normal advising period to ensure students either continue to the appropriate next AEM course level or progress to Rhetoric courses.

No. To pass through and/or exit from the AEM program, students must achieve a 'C' grade or better in all required AEM courses.

In exceptional cases, students may “skip” a level; to do so, s/he must demonstrate proficiency equivalent of those completing the level they wish to skip AND have at least an A- in the current class. To demonstrate proficiency, students must complete an application and submit a portfolio of work from the current class. The application and all information regarding the portfolio requirements are available at the AEM office (KA 204). The completed portfolio must be submitted with the application no later than 5 p.m. on the last day of classes. A committee of department professors will read the application and essays and decide whether the student may skip a level. Students will be informed of the decisions by the last day of final examinations week. The committee’s decisions are final.

Yes. To set up an observation, please contact the AEM Program Director, Doreen Ewert.