ICC, in association with Upper Iowa University (UIU), an accredited private university located in Fayette, Iowa, announces a new educational program designed to help both local and international students bridge successfully to an American college setting.

In this unique program, college-bound native English speakers as well as non-native English speaking international students interested in attending American colleges and universities have the opportunity of preparing academically at ICC while gaining up to 15 regionally-accredited university credits as part of a Certificate in American Studies.

The Certificate includes courses in English Composition, Public Speaking, Psychology, and Sociology. See below for a description of each of these courses.

Through our partnership with Upper Iowa University, students can enroll simultaneously at UIU and ICC and receive regionally accredited college credit leading up to the Certificate in American Studies.

For each 12-week class, international students attend 4 hours of ICC College Studies classes daily and a 3 hour evening UIU class once a week. Domestic students will take just the evening UIU course for 3 hours each week.

Upon completion of the Certificate in American Studies, students may transfer to any American college or university here in Hawaii or on the mainland, having already completed some of the most difficult freshman level coursework. If they choose to continue their studies at the home campus of UIU in Iowa, they will receive scholarship assistance to complete their studies and gain an A.A. or B.A.

Class size and Methodology
Each ICC College Studies class averages fewer than 7 students, so there is lots of individualized attention. The Coordinator of Academic English Programs is Dr. Daniel Janik, originator of the Transformative Learning approach used in our College Studies program. Dr. Janik has over 30 years of university teaching experience and is the author of numerous books on effective learning methods.

Course Descriptions
English 101 – Basic Composition: Start your career as an American university student immediately as you begin a 12-week intensive writing course focused on writing the five classical homework essays and experience with critical reading.

English 102 – Research Writing: Continue your university studies at ICC with a second 12- week intensive writing course. This time the focus is on critical reading, writing, speaking and the research paper.

Communication 105 – Presentation and Public Speaking: Continue your studies, this time with this 12-week intensive speaking course which will help you make clear, effective speeches and includes research, speech organization, presentations and extemporaneous talks.

Psychology 190 – General Psychology: This course gives an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, including major approaches and methodologies.

Sociology 110 – Principles of Sociology: Finish your Certificate course with this introduction to sociology as a scientific analysis of the social relations and practices of human beings.

Entry Requirement:
All students: High School diploma
International students: TOEFL score of 500 PBT / 61 iBt or higher, or ICC entrance pretest.

Certificate from UIU
Students who successfully complete these English, Communications, Psychology, and Sociology courses receive a Certificate in American Studies from UIU, a prestigious award in recognition of their achievement. They will have their choice of the finest colleges and universities in America to continue their undergraduate studies. Should they choose to continue their studies at the home campus of UIU in Fayette, Iowa, they will be eligible for special scholarship assistance. Click on the logo below to be taken to the UIU website.

Partnership with The College of Idaho
We have also been working to create a closer partnership with other quality institutions for students that come through this program to continue their education. In this regard, we are proud to be partnering with The College of Idaho to offer students who complete an agreed upon course of study in ICC’s Bridge to University program conditional acceptance at that institution. This means that students who successfully complete ICC’s College Studies curriculum and meet The College of Idaho criteria for enrollment will have an expedited enrollment. The College of Idaho is one of the top regional liberal arts colleges in the U.S. and was recently named one of the most wired small colleges in the nation. See www.collegeofidaho.edu for more information.

We know that offering this unique access point to American higher education will allow many more international students a way to fulfill their visions of studying at a college in the U.S. And we are all about helping students achieve their educational dreams!

See the YouTube link below for a video of the signing ceremony for our new Certificate relationship with Upper Iowa University!