Making the Case for Degree Credit EAP Courses

Abstract

The issue of whether or not English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses should carry undergraduate degree credit has been long-debated. The current work attempts to demonstrate that these courses should contribute toward degree requirements in the same way that other foreign language courses do, on the basis of curricular consistency in liberal arts, language, and academic mission, as well as in keeping with goals toward multiculturalism and internationalization. Utilizing a review of existing EAP or English as a Second Language (ESL) course credit structures at 41 U.S. universities, and a survey of ESL/EAP program administrators, recommendations are made for proposing degree credit for EAP courses. Finally, a proposal is included for changing the EAP course credit structure at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.