Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is the oldest and largest (32,000 students) private research university on the West Coast. Since its establishment, USC has granted more than a quarter of a million degrees to individuals from all 50 of the United States and more than 130 other countries. With more than 6,800 international students, USC has more students from abroad than any other university in the western United States.

USC is comprised of 18 professional schools and offers bachelor's degrees in 76 undergraduate majors as well as master's, doctoral and professional degrees in 122 fields of study (many of which are ranked in the top 25 of U.S. institutions).

In recent years, USC has received many national and international recognitions including Time Magazine's "college of the Year" in 2000 and Newsweek International's American university "most preferred by international students." departed movie review movie query review

The USC Language Academy, established in 1993, provides English instruction for academic, professional and practical purposes to non-native speakers of English. To help students achieve their academic and personal goals, the Language Academy assists students with academic advisement, immigration issues, university application procedures and cultural adjustment. Other components of the program include recreational activities and coordination of support services for students.

Located on the beautiful campus of the University of Southern California, the Academy is near the heart of downtown Los Angeles and close to numerous cultural, recreational and business centers. Los Angeles' diverse population, beautiful climate and bustling industry make it a unique and exciting metropolis.

USC is minutes away from Hollywood, Pasadena and the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice. Disneyland, local ski resorts and the hiking and bike trails of the Santa Mountain Mountains are about a 90-minute drive from campus.

The Language Academy offers a 14 week program during the fall and spring and two 6 week sessions during the summer. The Academy offers 22-24 hours of English instruction per week. Full-time USC faculty help beginning to advanced students rapidly improve their academic and professional skills in English.

The Language Academy has 6 levels of instruction from beginning to high advanced. The Language Academy approach is well-balanced; it is designed to develop accurate language knowledge while emphasizing the overall fluency acquired through real-life situations. Our instruction is designed to help you succeed in the university classroom through exposure to contemporary literature and themes based on university-style courses.

Our core courses (reading, writing, listening and speaking) give students the academic foundation necessary to succeed in university level academic courses. Topics/Tracks courses focus on specific skills such as grammar, vocabulary, TOEFL preparation and Business English. Interest areas- such as Pronunciation, Slang and Idioms, Current Events, Life in the USA, English through Film, Journalism, Test Preparation, etc. - are taught as elective classes.

Average class size at the Academy is 14 students.

The Academy employs full-time faculty who are experienced ESL instructors specifically trained in ESL teaching methods. Full-time faculty hold either a master's degree or PhD in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), linguistics or a related field. Academy faculty members have lived and taught overseas and many are multilingual.

Our yearly program enrollment varies between 450-500 students. In 2008, enrolled students came from 27 countries. Past participants have come from Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, the Cameroon, Czech Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Vietnam and Venezuela.

Students at Level 6 are eligible to enroll for a USC credit course along with normal full-time Language Academy course work with permission from the Director.

The Academy is pleased to offer furnished, on-campus housing all year--providing a true university experience. During the fall and spring semesters students live in the Parkside International Residence College, a community dedicated to intercultural learning and friendship. In the summer, students enjoy living at Cardinal Gardens apartments and using the volleyball and basketball courts in the complex. Resident Advisors are trained USC students living in the building to help students with move-in, cultural adjustment and social activities.

In addition to intensive English coursework, students may choose to enroll in our "Track Options" which focus on specific areas for two classes (8 hours/week). TOEFL Track is available year-round and Business Track is available in Summer Session B.

All sutdents participate in weekly workshops where they may choose from Conversation Partners (discussions with USC students), American culture topics, pronunciation sessions, writing tutorials, online lessons and more.

Each Friday afternoon, students may join the Student Services Coordinator on "Academy Activities" to local area signts and attractions. Each semester, activities include museuems, theme parks, sporting events, musical entertainment and more!

Fall/Spring Semester Fees (14 weeks): Non-refundable Application Fee: $150 Program Fees-$4150 University service fees (including health insurance)-$800 Total semester program fees-$5100 Optional Track Fee $100) Summer Session Fees (6 weeks): Non-refundable Application Fee: $150 Program Fees-$2200 University service fees (including health insurance)-$400 Total semester program fees-$2750 (Optional Track Fee $50) Housing Processing Fee-$150 (for housing applicants only)

The Academic Advisor assists students on how to apply for admission or transfer to U.S. colleges and universities. The Admissions Coordinator offers immigration and visa advising to all Academy students.

Provide a completed application form, a bank statement and/or financial guarantee letter from your sponsor, and a $150 program application fee. Students applying for USC housing should submit a non-refundable $150 Housing Processing Fee and the Housing Reservation Form.