Explorations in American Life and Language

Dig Deeper—earn an additional 2, 4, or 6 hours once per semester

Earn up to 6 hours by digging deeper into an area studied in an ELL course this semester. Choose from material specially selected to broaden and deepen knowledge. Submit a written paper which, based on guidelines, may be a reaction paper, a summary, or similar. The paper will be 1 to 4 pages, depending upon the number of hours requested.

• Register for Dig Deeper once per semester
• Must register for a weekday or weekend course at the same time or prior to (before) registering for Dig Deeper
• Must remain enrolled in one weekday or weekend course in order to receive a certificate for the additional hours
  o If Dig Deeper assignment is completed and certificate issued prior to the start, or within the refund period, of the enrolled weekday or weekend course, no refund will be given for one course. Regular ELL refund policy will be followed for any additional courses.
• Assignment must be completed at least 5 business days before the end of a semester
  o Choose from assignments worth 2, 4, or 6 hours 
  o Categories include language, professional, creative /cultural topics
• Certificate of completion will be issued by email within 3 business days of submission of assignment

Tuition: $50

Weekday Courses

20 hours or 24 hours toward your U.S. government education requirement.

• 20 hours (20 hours = approximately 1.5 - 1.7 non-academic credits) Attendance, participation, completion of assignments as directed.
  Tuition: $180*
• 24 hours (24 hours = approximately 1.8 - 2.0 non-academic credits). In addition to the 20 hour course requirements, an expansion assignment, as directed by the course instructor, must be completed to receive an additional 4 hours.  Please note: Students may register for a 20 hour course and, upon payment of the tuition difference, transfer to 24 hours anytime within the same semester. (A course expansion assignment must be completed as directed.)
  Tuition: $216*

* TOEFL Prep course. Tuition: 20hrs: $205; 24hrs: $240.

Weekend Courses (Saturday/Sunday) 
20 hours,  30 hours, or 40 hours toward your U.S. government education requirement. 

All 20 hour, 30 hour, and 40 hours students MUST complete the 20 hour requirements. Please note: No partial hours are awarded. 

• 20 hours (20 hours =  approximately 1.5 - 1.7 non-academic credits)
  A pre-assignment is due 9 a.m. on the first day of the course unless otherwise stated and 100% attendance on Saturday and Sunday (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) is required. 
  Tuition: $180
• 30 hours (30 hours = approximately 2.3 - 2.5 non-academic credits):
  In addition to the 20 hour requirements, a post-assignment is due (a 2 1/2 - 3 page paper, or equivalent as assigned, based on course content) within 30 days of course completion.
  Tuition: $265
• 40 hours (40 hours = approximately 3.0 - 3.3 non-academic credits)
  In addition to the 20 hour requirements, a post-assignment is due (a 5–7 page paper, or equivalent as assigned, based on course content) within 30 days of course completion. 
  Tuition: $345

Certificates

• 20 hours: A certificate is presented at the end of the last class meeting. (Weekend classes: a certificate is presented at the end of the Sunday class.)
• 24 hours: A certificate is presented at the end of the last class meeting or, for students who have changed from 20 to 24 hours after the course has ended, a certificate for the additional 4 hours will be awarded after the expansion activity has been submitted and accepted.
• 30 hours: A certificate will be mailed after the post-assignment is received and accepted by the course faculty. Failure to submit an accepted post-assignment within the designated time will result in the loss of 10 hours. In that case, the certificate for 20 hours will be awarded if student has complied with all requirements for 20 hours credit.
• 40 hours: A certificate will be emailed after the post-assignment is received and accepted by the course faculty. Failure to submit an accepted post-assignment within the designated time will result in the loss of 20 hours. In that case, the certificate for 20 hours will be awarded if student has complied with all requirements for 20 hours credit.