Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S.: A course for international students

Preparing for graduate school in the United States can be nerve-wracking. Many international students have questions about what the programs are like and what resources they can use to excel in their studies. This course allows potential and incoming international students to practice their communication skills, identify tools that support academic success, and gain confidence as they prepare for their advanced degrees. Alongside advancing your English skills, get the chance to hear from international students who have attended graduate school in the United States as they explain how they adapted to campus life, utilized resources, and fostered community on their new campus. Throughout the course, learners from across the world can connect with other students to dive deeper into course topics, discuss perspectives, and network.

• Week 1: English for Getting Acquainted
• Welcome to the first week of our course! Each week, we'll give you a brief overview of what's ahead, which we like to call "This week in a nutshell" - a short summary of the content you can expect, just like the content that fits into the shell of a nut. During this week, we have five lessons lined up for you. First, we'll introduce the course and what it has to offer. Then, we will guide you in crafting a professional self-introduction. Moving on to the third and fourth lesson, you'll gain insights about the differences between undergraduate and graduate study, and select a "target institution" to explore throughout this course. Lastly, a brief graded quiz will help you review what you've learned in this entire week.
• Week 2: English for Introducing Yourself Professionally
• Welcome to Week 2 of Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S. In the following lessons, we’ll be exploring short professional self-introductions, also called “Elevator pitches.” Then, we will be exploring ways to add to your language toolbox to introduce yourself professionally. After that, we’ll introduce some tools you can use to explore campus language use more generally. And finally, you will be putting this week’s pieces together to formulate your own professional elevator pitch.
• Week 3: English for Interactive Learning & Teamwork
• Welcome to Week 3 of Preparing for Graduate Study in the U.S. We’ll begin looking at the many ways in which graduate student learning takes place in small groups or teams as well as the various roles we may play in groups. We will ponder on how to advocate for the roles we wish to play when negotiating group responsibilities and reflect on collaboration opportunities in your target graduate program.
• Week 4: English for Research and Scholarship
• Of course the primary reason to pursue graduate studies is to learn about and participate in research and scholarship in your field. This week, we'll be looking at framing our own expertise, collaborating with faculty, and conventions around engaging with published scholarly writing.
• Week 5: English in Campus Life
• In this last week of our course together, we'll turn our attention to the transition to graduate student life on a new campus. We'll identify ways to connect with individuals and groups, and to foster a supportive community around us. We'll cap off the course with a "final draft" version of everyone's elevator pitches.