The English for Multilingual Students Program offers academic English language instruction for undergraduate students in four lower-division courses. Both U.S.-educated and international students take our courses in partial fulfillment of the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) at UCSB.
For placement into EMS coursework, students must participate in the Undergraduate Entry Level Placement in English process (UG ELPE).
Four Lower-Division Courses
At all levels, instructors offer students individual attention to support the improvement of academic English language skills.
Our highest level course, LING 12 (Approaches to University Writing for Multilingual Students), is parallel to the Writing Program’s WRIT 1. Students who successfully complete LING 12 satisfy the ELWR and are eligible for enrollment in WRIT 2 in the Writing Program.
While all of our four undergraduate writing courses (LING 3A, 3B, 3C and 12) focus on helping students develop proficiency in academic English, the learning outcomes are tailored to account for students' language development over time. For example, LING 3A and 3B focus more on supporting students' overall fluency whereas, in LING 3C and LING 12, more attention is given to the development of students' advanced-level academic literacy strategies (e.g. developing longer pieces of academic writing through a process approach).
Notice to New Undergraduate Students
If you have been placed in an EMS course, we recommend that you enroll in the appropriate course during your first quarter. Enrolling as soon as possible will provide you the best chance of getting into a course. Some courses may be impacted; students are urged to use the course wait lists and observe the course crash policy. See our Undergraduate FAQs page for details.
Entry Level Writing Requirement
The Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a University of California requirement that all students must fulfill. Students may satisfy the requirement by any of the means listed on the ELWR website.
Any qualifying test scores and/or official transcripts with transfer courses should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
Placement Information
If you have not satisfied the ELWR via qualifying test scores and grades, you must take the UG Entry Level Placement in English (UG ELPE) with the EMS Program to place you into the most appropriate writing course.