English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program is designed for international and English as a Second Language (ESL) students who want to transition to and graduate from a degree program at San Diego State University (SDSU) or other U.S. college. Our EAP program curriculum focuses on helping you improve your academic reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammatical skills, giving you the tools to succeed as an English-speaking student in an American university.

Program Highlights

Want to study at an American university? This program is designed to help you develop your academic English skills in preparation for matriculation into San Diego State University and colleges throughout the country. Highlights of the program include:

• Conditional Admission to SDSU
  If you’re interested in joining an undergraduate degree program at SDSU, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for undergraduate conditional admission.


• English Proficiency Waiver
  If you’re applying to undergraduate and graduate degree programs at SDSU, you may be eligible to enter with a waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS exams by participating in our EAP program.


• Tutoring and Homework Help
  Get academic support while practicing your English skills through weekly tutoring and homework assistance sessions.


• Pathway Options
  If you’re an intermediate or advanced EAP student, and you’re interested in enrolling in SDSU classes, you may be eligible to do so through SDSU’s Undergraduate Pathway Program.


• SDSU Application Assistance
  If you want to apply to SDSU for an undergraduate- or graduate-level degree program, you’ll be able to attend personalized workshops that will help you navigate the application and admissions process at San Diego State University

Program Structure and Schedule

SDSU’s EAP program contains a total of seven levels ranging from beginner to advanced. You’ll take a series of placement tests that will assess your current reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Your placement in the EAP program will be determined by the average scores of these tests.

If you pass the highest level of the EAP program, you may be eligible to receive an English Proficiency Waiver that you can use to apply to SDSU without submitting TOEFL or IELTS exam scores.

For all levels, the EAP program is broken down into a series of core and additional classes.

Core Classes
Our core courses focus on academic writing, listening, speaking, reading, and grammar. These essential classes are designed to help you develop the English skills you’ll need to succeed at the university level.

Additional Classes
In addition to the core classes, you’ll also take classes focused on developing your research skills, as well as U.S. university classroom culture and other resources. You’ll also prepare for your TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Sample Schedule
EAP students will enroll in the following classes for 18-21 hours per week:

Admission Requirements

To join SDSU’s EAP program, you’ll need to possess a high school diploma. Prior instruction in English is preferred.

Calendar and Fees

The application fee for SDSU’s EAP program is $175. Please visit our Calendars & Fees page for current tuition fees and entry dates.