International Students

Students from other countries may be admitted to the degree programs at Notre Dame.  Evidence must be presented of academic preparation equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.  All students desiring to enter Notre Dame Seminary (NDS) who are learners or speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) will be required, as part of the entrance formalities, to pass the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 (240 computer based; 80 Internet).

If the student, as part of his past education, has passed the TOEFL within the past two years and has received the requisite score of 550, he may be accepted into seminary theology credit classes and work towards a seminary degree. Students who have not taken the TOEFL, who have taken it but have not reached the requisite score or who have outdated scores (more than two years old) will have to take or re-take the TOEFL prior to the start of classes. The Notre Dame Seminary (NDS) English Language Program (ELP) will administer the paper-based TOEFL at the beginning and end of each semester.

Any student who does not receive a minimum score of 550 and who wants to pursue a degree at Notre Dame Seminary is encouraged to enroll in the seminary’s intensive English Language Program (ELP).  If a student has a score between 500 and 550 on the TOEFL, he is encouraged to attend ELP courses and may audit a limited number of theology courses, to be determined by the Admissions Committee. At the end of the semester, the student will retake the TOEFL in order to be considered for re-admission into the theology program.  If the individual does not succeed in attaining the minimum TOEFL score required (550 points), he will continue in the English program until he achieves the minimum TOEFL score. The minimum TOEFL score may be achieved in one, two, three or four semesters. Only if a student is a low beginner, will he need four semesters to pass the TOEFL with the minimum score (550 paper-based) to exit ELP and enter NDS.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM (ELP)

NDS is the only seminary in the state with an English language program. NDS ELP is an academic preparatory program of theological studies designed to serve foreign-born members of religious communities or dioceses registered for or planning to register for theology classes or degree programs at the seminary. The program will also serve students of English as a Second Language who do not intend to enter seminary degree programs but who are interested in studying English within a concentrated theological and philosophical context. Native English speaking seminarians not enrolled in ELP and who need to strengthen their academic language skills will be able to schedule regular tutoring sessions for an hourly fee.

The Notre Dame Seminary English Language Program (NDS ELP) is designed to prepare students for seminary theology degree programs by training them to achieve a minimum computer-based TOEFL score of 550 Paper-based (240 Computer-based, and 80 Internet-based) and to enrich their reading skills (vocabulary and figurative language) through materials with philosophical, ethical, theological, or moral focus. The program includes all language acquisition skills (reading, composition, listening, speaking) and concepts of discourse, vocabulary, and expectancies in a theology class setting. The curriculum includes conversation partner program to foster verbal communication skills and a minimum number of hours of independent computer-based listening exercises and (TOEFL listening) practice. To ensure comprehensive preparedness in the NDS theology credit classes, the paper-based TOEFL tests reading, listening, and grammar, and the supplemental ELP tests will evaluate writing and speaking.

The program operates on a semester schedule and is geared toward full and part time schedules, offering 8 - 20 hours per week semester, two - five contact hours per day of core courses. Maximum class size is 10 students.

Class hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 – 3:30 or Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 3:30 M-TH and possibly ½ day on Friday 8:15 – 10:15 a.m. with a daily break for chapel and lunch. A full or half Friday is dedicated to individual study, use of the computers for listening or writing, tutoring, conversation partners, conferences, and lectures. Seminary formation activities provide rich acculturation opportunities: daily mass and lunch with all seminarians and professors; spiritual direction, workshops, and guest lectures among other features.

Curriculum

Grammar and Composition:  4 – 6 Class hours per week

Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Development: – 4 - 6 Class hours per week

Listening and Speaking: 2 – 6 Class hours per week

Mandatory minimum of hours per week of independent in-class computer-based listening practice and exercises.

Volunteer participation in Conversation Partners Program

Testing (TOEFL & ELP Placement)

The student may provide a TOEFL score or take the TOEFL Test at the seminary prior to the beginning of classes. The paper-based TOEFL administered at the seminary at the beginning of the semester will serve as a tool of measurement for possible entrance into seminary classes and as a tool to determine English language level (beginning, intermediate, or advanced) within ELP. The paper-based TOEFL tests reading, listening, and grammar. Supplemental ELP tests will evaluate writing and speaking. These tests can also determine if the student will attend a full or part-time program and audit seminary courses.

ELP Midterm, Final/Exit Exams

During the semester, students take midterm and final/exit exams, part of which may include a practice TOEFL. Like the placement test, these exams have four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The paper-based TOEFL tests reading, listening, and grammar, and the supplemental ELP tests will evaluate writing and speaking. Students must have an exit TOEFL score of 550 paper-based. Students must also demonstrate the ability to write grammatically a largely correct an d coherent essay and acceptably demonstrate the ability to communicate his knowledge and ideas verbally to exit NDS ELP and enter the full-time, credit courses in the master’s degree seminary programs.

Requirements and Eligibility

If the student is a seminarian, he has to complete an application and meet other requirements for foreign students; therefore, those pursuing the Master of Divinity Degree must follow the admission policy of Notre Dame Seminary (they can refer to it in our website or through contact with the Registrar's Office, (504) 866-7426, ext. 3108).

Students attending the ELP Program and not pursuing any NDS degree must follow the application procedure as an off-campus student--application, official transcript and two letters of recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Does a student take all language skills?

Not necessarily. The TOEFL score and supplemental testing will determine your English language level (beginning, intermediate, advanced), your strengths and weaknesses, and which language skills you need to work on most, if you will be a full or part-time student, perhaps auditing seminary theology courses.

Do any of the ELP classes count for academic credit?

NO. ELP is an intensive preparatory program designed to prepare the student to enter the seminary theology degree program. The TOEFL and ELP evaluations determine readiness for the seminary program.

Is a student tested on theology in the ELP tests?

No. Students are tested on academic English language skills. While the topics of the ELP tests discuss theology, philosophy, ethics, and morality, particular subject knowledge is not necessary. ELP measures students' academic English language skills for graduate work at the seminary, NOT theology.
 

How will a student be evaluated upon completion of a semester in ELP?

The ELP exit evaluations and the TOEFL will evaluate the work you did in a semester. The ELP instructor evaluates each student's language proficiency based on performance in the ELP classes (attendance, participation, quality and completion of assignments), the ELP Exit Exam (speaking and writing), and exit TOEFL score (reading, grammar, and listening). If a student has a TOEFL score between 500 and 550 on the TOEFL, he may attend ELP courses the following semester and audit a limited number of theology courses, to be determined by the Admissions Committee. At the end of the semester, the student will retake the TOEFL in order to be considered for re-admission into the theology program.  If the individual does not succeed in attaining the minimum TOEFL score required (550 points), he will continue in the English program.

How long is NDS ELP?

NDS ELP classes last one semester (roughly 12 weeks). Depending on level of English skills upon entry and schedule (full or part-time), a student should be able to achieve the minimum TOEFL score in one, two, or three semesters. If the student is a low beginner, he may need four semesters to pass the TOEFL with the minimum score (550 paper-based) to exit ELP and enter NDS.

How much is tuition?

Costs depend on whether the student has full-time or part time schedule and is a boarding student, or an off-campus student.  Tuition and fees are comparable to all other English language programs in the metropolis of New Orleans, surrounding areas, and region.