International Student and Scholar Services
WMU student with her backpack looks over her shoulder and smiles in a WMU building hallway.

Pathway Program

The Pathway Program enables international students to take English as a second language courses while also taking academic courses that count toward an academic degree program.

Benefits of the Pathway Program

The WMU Pathway Program provides many benefits to international students, including: 

  • Ability to take academic courses while satisfying English proficiency requirements.
  • Earn your degree in less time.
  • An International Student Success seminar that provides assistance in cultural adjustment, an extended orientation to the University and general academic support.
  • Admission to your undergraduate or graduate program with a lower proficiency score. 

Undergraduate Pathway Program

The WMU Pathway Program is composed of two consecutive semesters: Pathway 1 and Pathway 2. International students may enter Pathway II with the appropriate English proficiency scores. 

NOTE: Transfer students who want to be considered for a pathway program can have no more than 12 academic credits at the time of beginning the pathway program. Exceptions may be made with departmental approval only.  

This chart details language proficiency scores for WMU's Pathway 1 and Pathway Two programs, run though the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students.
TestPathway I 
(one semester)		Pathway II 
(one semester)
TOEFL53-6061-70
IELTS*5.55.5
Pearson4246
Duolingo8595
CELCISIntermediatePre-Advanced

*Students with an IELTS of 5.5 and a writing subscore of less than 5.0 will be placed in Pathway 1. Students with an IELTS of 5.5 and a writing subscore of 5.0 and above will be placed in Pathway 2. 

This chart details the course work structure for WMU's Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 programs, run though the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students.
Learning TypePathway 1Pathway 2
ESL at the CELCIS
  • ESL 0310: Pre-Advanced Speaking & Listening
  • ESL 0320: Pre-Advanced Grammar & Communication
  • ESL 0330 or 0340: Pre-Advanced Reading & Writing 1 or Pre-Advanced Reading & Writing 2
  • ESL Seminar (1 hour)*
  • ESL 0533: Oral Communication
  • ESL 0511: Written Communication
Academic Coursework at WMU
  • 1 academic course only (3-4 credit hours)
  • 2 academic courses only (6-8 credit hours)

*Note: ESL Seminar is required in a Pathway student's first semester only.  Students whose scores permit them to begin in Semester 2 will take the ESL seminar in Semester 2 in addition to the other required ESL courses.
 

Academic Course Options

Students in the pathway program take courses prescribed by their academic program. Pathway students do not register for their own courses: Pathway students work with their Academic Advising Directors to register for classes.

The Pathway Program is only available for Fall and Spring intake. It is not offered during Summer 1 or Summer 2 sessions.

When completing your application select: enroll in English as a Second Language program and start my degree in the same term.

Apply Now
Cost Structure

Graduate Pathway Program

The WMU Pathway Program is composed of two consecutive semesters: Pathway 1 and Pathway 2. International students may enter Pathway 2 with the appropriate English proficiency scores. 

NOTE: Transfer students who want to be considered for a pathway program can have no more than 6 academic credits at the time of beginning the pathway program. Exceptions may be made with departmental approval only.  

This chart details language proficiency scores for WMU's Pathway 1 and Pathway Two programs, run though the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students.
TestPathway 1
(one semester)		Pathway 2
(one semester)
TOEFL52-6061-80
IELTS*5.56.0
Pearson4250
Duolingo8595

*Students with an IELTS score of 5.5 and a writing subscore below 5.0 will be placed in Pathway 1. Students with an IELTS score of 5.5 and a writing subscore of 5.0 or higher will be placed in Pathway 2. 

This chart details the course work structure for WMU's Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 programs, run though the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students.
Learning TypePathway 1Pathway 2
ESL at the CELCIS
  • ESL 0310: Pre-Advanced Speaking & Listening
  • ESL 0320: Pre-Advanced Grammar & Communication
  • ESL 0330 or 0340: Pre-Advanced Reading & Writing 1 or Pre-Advanced Reading & Writing 2
  • ESL Seminar (1 hour)*
  • ESL 0533: Oral Communication
  • ESL 0511: Written Communication
Academic Coursework at WMU
  • 1 academic course only (3-4 credit hours)
  • 1 academic course only (3-4 credit hours)

Note: ESL Seminar is required in a Pathway student's first semester only.  Students whose scores permit them to begin in Semester 2 will take the ESL seminar in Semester 2 in addition to the other required ESL courses.

Academic Course Options

Pathway Programs are available for the following graduate degrees: 

  1. Applied Economics (M.A.)
  2. Data Science (M.S.)
  3. Statistics (M.S.)

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education is currently working with academic departments to expand the number of Pathway eligible graduate programs.

The Pathway Program is only available for Fall and Spring intake. It is not offered during Summer I or Summer II sessions.

When completing your application select: enroll in English as a Second Language program and start my degree in the same term.

Apply Now
Cost Structure