Tacoma Community College International Student Programs

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1 Tacoma Community College International Student Programs TCC is ranked 1st in the state and 17th in the nation of America s 50 Best Community Colleges TCC is nationally recognized for providing high quality, affordable, and transferable education in a safe and convenient location TCC provides an easy online application process with quick turnaround of your I-20 TCC is committed to exceptional student engagement and success

2 Over 300 international students from 30 different countries attend the college each quarter. Tacoma Community College A Global Community While studying at TCC you ll meet students, faculty and staff from all over the world each with their own unique experiences and learning styles to share. Sister Schools The city of Tacoma is an internationally ranked port city with eleven sister cities in Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. TCC has sister-school relationships with the following institutions in Japan: University of Kitakyushu and Tohoku Foreign Language College; in South Korea: Kunsan National University, Kunjang College, Chungkang College, and Sohae College; in China: AGTA and Changle #2 Middle School. 2

3 Welcome to Tacoma Community College Excellence. Innovation. Diversity. These values define the Tacoma Community College experience. About the College Established in 1965, Tacoma Community College (TCC) is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges as a 2-year public college. Tacoma Seattle San Francisco Denver Los Angeles Houston Chicago New York Washington DC Miami Areas of study include: University Transfer Programs leading to a Bachelor s Degree (2+2) Professional/Technical Programs English for Academic Purposes (EAP)/College Bridge Fast Track Dual Degree Program (High School completion) Customized Short-Term Programs Centrally Located Located in the south Puget Sound region, between Seattle and our state s capital Olympia, Tacoma is at the center of a diverse cultural, recreational and commercial environment. The temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest, with warm sunny summers and cool winters, allow visits to the beach, boating and hiking in summer, and skiing and snowboarding in winter. TCC s main campus puts you near the heart of Tacoma, close to theaters, museums, coffee houses, waterfront restaurants, interesting shops and a vibrant international district. Our campus has a new science & engineering building, information technology building, learning resource center, art gallery, student center, fitness center and gymnasium, athletic fields, children s center and much more! Affordable Accommodations Many of our international students choose to live with an American host family through our affordable Homestay program. Host families are committed to helping international students enjoy life in the United States. It s a great way to settle into your new life here. International students often find apartments or share houses with other students after they have settled into the community. Homestay Program: Homestay is a wonderful opportunity to study, practice English, and learn about American culture. Hosts introduce students to the surrounding community, offering advice about everyday activities such as using the transit system, shopping, and meeting new people. Students who choose this arrangement find it comfortable and affordable. Complete Homestay A furnished private room, with internet access in the student s bedroom, utilities, and three meals per day provided by the host. Breakfast and lunch prepared by the student, dinner prepared by the host. Bed & Breakfast Homestay A furnished private room, with internet access in the student s bedroom, utilities, and breakfast. For all other meals, students purchase and prepare their own food. Apartment Placement: TCC s Housing Coordinator can refer students to apartments near campus using information provided on the application form. Students must be at least 18 years of age to live in an apartment. We strongly recommend that all new international students live in the TCC Homestay Program for at least 1 quarter. Airport Pickup: A TCC representative can meet arriving students and take them directly to their new homes. Housing Information Available at: abouttcc/housinginformation The McMillan family with international students Mio Ozaki and Kwan Hiu Wong. Build lifetime relationships with your American family. 3

4 Academic Programs University Transfer Programs (2+2) University Transfer Programs allow international students who want to earn a Bachelor s degree from an American university to complete the first 2 years of coursework at TCC the same basic education you would get at a famous university with several notable advantages: No TOEFL/IELTS/SAT required TCC s average class size is 25, compared to several hundred at the freshman and sophomore level at a university Lower cost TCC s total costs are less than 1/2 of a public university and 1/3 of a private university Guaranteed transfer agreements with several 4-yr universities (see page 6) Better customer service with personalized attention Free tutoring and support services TCC offers the following areas of study: Accounting English American Ethnic & Gender Studies Environmental Science Anthropology Exercise Science Art Forensic Science Biochemistry Forestry Biology French Botany Genetics Business Geology Chemistry German Chiropractic History Communications Humanities Computer Engineering International Business Computer Science Japanese Criminal Justice Mathematics Dentistry Medicine Earth Science Microbiology Economics Molecular Biology Education Music Engineering Nursing-BSN Nutrition and Oriental Medicine Occupational Therapy Oceanography Pharmacy Paper Science & Engineering Philosophy Physical Education Physical Therapy Physics Political Science Pre-Nursing Psychology Sociology Spanish Urban Planning Veterinary Medicine Wildlife Biology World Languages Zoology International Students can complete their high school diploma and Associate degree concurrently, saving up to two years of school and thus fasttracking their academic studies. Students enrolled in this program will take college level classes at TCC, and receive dual credit for their high school diploma from Washington State while earning a two-year Associate degree for transfer. Advantages of TCC s Fast Track Dual Degree Program Economical Allows students to save both time and money by completing their high school education concurrently with the first two years of college. High School Diploma Associates Degree Fast TCC s dual degree program will enable International Students to complete their Associate degree up to two years faster than the traditional route. University Transfer Earn Two Degrees International Students that successfully complete this program will leave TCC with a Washington State high school diploma and an Associate degree that can be transferred to many 4-year universities across the United States. 4

5 Learn English at TCC TCC s English for Academic Purposes (EAP)/College Bridge program provides a strong foundation in written and spoken English. We have a wide variety of classes designed to improve students English ability, and also prepare them for American classroom culture. Advanced EAP classes earn college-level credit, which may apply directly to your Associate s degree. Students can also take certain other college classes while completing advanced EAP classes. Special Advantages of TCC s EAP Program TOEFL and/or IELTS Scores are NOT Required A complete program from beginning through advanced levels College Bridge gradual introduction of college courses during your EAP studies Highly qualified and caring teachers Free tutoring Unconditional acceptance to TCC Intensive English/College Bridge Pathway Intensive English College Bridge Full Time College FULL TIME EAP Bridge Levels Levels hours of English per day, plus optional 4 hours of English per day college level courses which may apply towards your degree TCC EAP students enjoy full access to all college facilities, programs, services and activities. Highly Qualified Teachers and Free Tutoring All instructors have at least a Master s degree in teaching English as a Second Language and considerable experience teaching EAP at the college level. Tutors are available to give extra assistance to EAP students. Along with our Language Labs and Writing Center, the tutors are part of an extensive student support network available free of charge to all TCC students. The EAP program is an integral part of the college, so TCC EAP students enjoy full access to all college facilities, programs, services and activities. Experience and learn new things outside the classroom. There is a lot of life outside the classroom at Tacoma Community College. Student clubs, varsity and intramural sports, student government, the school newspaper and numerous community service projects provide plenty of opportunities for involvement. 5

6 2 years at TCC + 2 years at a University = American bachelor s degree University Transfer Students that complete their Associate degree from TCC have several transfer options to choose from, including several excellent guaranteed transfer schools. An academic advisor can help you make the best decision based on your goals! Recent TCC graduates have successfully transferred to the following schools. (Universities in bold are on the US News and World Report 2010 USA Best Universities List.) Arizona State University (rank: 121) California State University City University of Seattle Cornell University (rank: 15) Eastern Oregon University Georgia Institute of Tech. (rank: 35) Hodges University Illinois State University Indiana University Bloomington (rank: 71) New York University (rank: 32) Pacific Lutheran University Southern Utah University Strayer University The Ohio State University (rank: 53) University of Florida (rank: 47) University of Illinois (rank: 39) University of Maryland (rank: 53) University of Minnesota (rank: 61) University of Oregon (rank: 108) University of Utah (rank: 115) University of Washington Seattle (rank: 42) University of Washington Tacoma Washington State University (rank: 106) Guaranteed Admissions Partner Schools International students who have completed an Associate s degree at TCC and meet certain conditions are guaranteed admission at the following partner schools: Located in downtown Tacoma, a few minutes from TCC. For more information visit: Selected as an outstanding business school by the Princeton Review, TCC international students with a 3.0 and above GPA are eligible to apply for the Chancellor s Merit Ward. For more information visit: Built on Chapman University s 150-year legacy of academic excellence, several great transfer programs are available to TCC international students. For more information visit: Located in the friendly heartland of Minnesota, Concordia offers a guaranteed minimum scholarship of $5,000 to all TCC international students who quality. For more information visit: Located close to TCC, PLU offers a guaranteed scholarship of $4,000 to all TCC international students who qualify. For more information visit: Located approximately 3 hours south from TCC, the beautiful campus of PSU offers several degree transfer options. For more information visit: With several locations in Washington state CWU provides scholarship opportunities for qualified TCC international students. For more information visit: Qualified TCC students can earn a Bachelor s degree in civil engineering without leaving the TCC campus. For more information visit: 6

7 A day in the life of a TCC International Student Hello, my name is Gyeong-A (G.A.) Kang. I m an Arts and Science student from South Korea. I came to Tacoma Community College to prepare myself for a four-year institution and improve my English skills. While attending TCC, I worked on the Multicultural/Education Team and organized cultural celebrations on campus to increase cultural awareness. I became a Vice President of Scholarship & Treasurer for Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society) and Treasurer for International Student Organization Club on campus to promote cultural exchanges and community services on campus. I also taught Korean language to American students to share Korean heritage with the community. Various courses I took inspired and introduced me to different perspectives that expanded my understanding in my major, International Relations. Through the experiences at TCC, I had an opportunity to appreciate the diversity in the American society and passion in each individual. 7:30 a.m. Starting the day with a bowl of cereal Reading the newspaper enhances my English skills 9:45 a.m. A bit of caffeine gets me going for the rest of the day Getting a cappuccino in the cafeteria 10:14 a.m. Four heads are better than one Working on a group project in the library 3:27 p.m. Waiting for the bus to go home The transit center is right on campus 5:21 p.m. Studying at home with a little help from my furry friend 7

8 We hope to see you soon! Photo by Rachel Payne I ve had the pleasure of working with international students from all over the world for the past few years. I believe international students will benefit from a quality learning experience at TCC. We have experienced faculty at TCC, innovative technology and numerous resources for international students to be successful at our college. International students enrich our campus climate by teaching us about their unique culture and overseas experience. Reuth Kao, Coordinator of International Programs Applying to Tacoma Community College is easy! Step 1: Fill out the online application Applying to TCC is fast and easy with our secure online application. Some important tips to ensure proper and timely processing of your application: Be sure to complete ALL sections of the application Send all supporting documents (by fax, mail or ) Please use only one method to send us your documents Provide a bank statement in English showing sufficient funds for the first year of study Include copies of high school or college transcripts in English Step 2: Receive your I-20 from TCC Once we receive your application, we will send you an I-20 within 48 hours. Step 3: F-1 Visa Interview Once you receive your I-20 contact your local U.S. consulate to schedule a visa interview. Step 4: Arrive in the USA After you receive your F-1 visa, please contact us so that we can prepare for your arrival. Be sure to visit our website for additional information: Contact: Tacoma Community College International Student Services and Programs 6501 South 19th Street, Building 11 Tacoma, Washington USA Phone international@tacomacc.edu Need assistance? Contact our Admissions Specialist, at or international@tacomacc.edu Tacoma Community College does not discriminiate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age in its programs and activities.