CAPS English Courses

Majority of International students have a concern related to the English Language Courses offered by Baruch College CAPS.
When Students on F-1 visa join Baruch College, they are required to take English Language Waiver test based on which Baruch College CAPS ( Center and Professional Studies) ask students to undergo the following courses as per their score in the test:

Writing for Business ZIC0001
Oral Communication for Business ZIC0002
Grammar Troubleshooting ZIC0003
American English Pronunciation ZIC0004

Also, like most of the other colleges, Baruch College has the requirement of mandatory TOEFL Score (preferably a score of 102/120) for application to any of the Graduate programs. So, the question arises that

i) Why are international students tested again for their english language proficiency when they prove their english language proficiency through TOEFL. When TOEFL (which tests all the four sections - writing, speaking, reading, Listening) is mandatory in the initial Application process, isn't it unfair to test students again on their english proficiency and impose courses on them later.

ii) CAPS ask students to enroll and complete the assigned courses any time during next few years but before the completion of the degree. If a student plans to enroll in the CAPS courses, not in the begining of his/ her graduate program but in the 4th sem or 5th sem of his studies, isn't it a good idea to provide opportunity to students to reappear in the English Language Waiver test after 1 semester or 1 year. As it can be easily derived that there should be considerable improvement in the level of english proficiency if a student spends 1 or more year in USA and particularly in a graduate school.

iii) As Graduate students are too burdened with their regular courses, the English Language writing or oral classes take considerable amount of time (5 hrs/ week) of the students with zero credit, more than the regular credit classes (2.5 hrs/ week). Due to this reason, majority of the students either chose to bunk classes, reach late-leave early from the classes or try to postpone it as much as they can.

iv) CAPS charge upto $800 per course for these courses which distorts the budgets of many of the international students as they do not take these extra courses into account while budgeting. Majority of the students come with a limited bank loan from their home country which further makes it difficult for them to plan and pay for it.

We sincerely request the Academics Affairs Committee to look into this issue and reconsider the policy of English Language Waiver Test and courses for students with valid TOEFL score.

Thank you,

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