University Preparatory Program
Welcome From The Director
Welcome to the University Preparatory Program (UPP) at the International University of Grand-Bassam. My colleagues and I hope you enjoy your time in our program, which provides students with a foundation of English and study skills they will need in their undergraduate career, graduate studies, and beyond. We are continually improving our program to provide the most interesting and useful activities in our courses.
New students at IUGB are facing a whole new world. Not only do they need to master a new language, they must adjust to a new educational system that is very different than what they experienced in high school. Those students who spend time in the program have the advantage of practicing skills crucial for success in the American system, such as critical thinking, research, note-taking, oral presentation, and listening strategies. They have a chance to become more comfortable with group work, classroom discussions, and use of technology in education. We welcome you to join us for this adventure.
Julie Reimer Beda,
Director of University Preparatory Program
Overview
UPP at IUGB is a serious and rigorous program that equips students with the skills required for academic success. Students take intensive English courses geared to their English level: Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced. Advanced students can also take a university-level math or computer science course for credit.
The purpose of the program is to provide a solid foundation in English, as well as academic skills necessary to succeed in the U.S. style academic system, such as research, academic writing, use of online tools, and test taking strategies.
About Faculty
As of June 2023, UPP has nine full time instructors in addition to the director, from such countries as the United States, Cote d’Ivoire, the United Kingdom, and Mauritania. We also employ several of the best English instructors in Cote d’Ivoire as part time instructors each semester. Our instructors are highly qualified: all English instructors with either master’s degrees in applied linguistics or a related field, a CAPES degree plus many years experience, or a Ph.D.—several have all three. Our faculty provide extra help at no cost to students through their office hours and writing lab hours. All are also committed to continuing professional development in order to keep up to date on best teaching practices.
Program Highlight
- Small class sizes (generally 12 to 20)
- Highly qualified faculty members
- A modern language lab for reinforcing listening and speaking skills
- Emphasis on academic English skills
- Diverse classroom activities
Placement
When a student applies, his or her level is determined by an Entrance Placement Test. In following semesters, student placement is determined by the grade point average (GPA) earned in the student’s respective level. The number of semesters spent in the program varies depending on the student’s initial entry level and their course grades.
