Accelerated College English Program (ACE)
The ACE Program is a pathway into the University of Cincinnati for students who want to earn a bachelor's degree in the United States and improve English reading, writing, and speaking proficiencies.
ACE Description
ACE is a one-year program that provides an opportunity for students to take six academic major classes and six English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. This combined curriculum allows students to improve English proficiencies and progress into a chosen academic major after the first year. The second year at Cincinnati, students enter their declared academic major full-time, taking the same classes as all second-year students. Since no additional years are added, students graduate on time with no additional costs.
ACE Benefits
- No increased tuition and fees
- Greatly improve ability to read, speak, and write in English
- Earn a bachelor's degree without adding an additional academic year
- One-on-one personalized advisor
- Simply transition from one year in ACE to second year in an academic major
"The ACE Program is a nice experience to meet friends because the English as a Second Languages classes are so small. Everyone gets one-on-one attention from the professors and advisers which is really encouraging."
- Qiqi Lu
Class of 2021
International Business
Lindner College of Business
"Having an academic adviser that was so easy to access made everything so easy for me. My academic adviser has helped me with registration for my classes, major etc. That was one thing I was stressed about coming into college. My professors at UC are all vibrant individuals who are easy to talk to and enjoy teaching therefore makes me want to come to class with a positive attitude."
- Bonheur “Bobo” Kikonda
Class of 2023
Sports Administration
College Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
Application Information
Spring 2021
- January 3, 2021
Fall 2021
- July 1, 2021*
*CCM ACE applications are only accepted for fall semester and must follow direct admission deadlines.
Apply with the ACE Application, except for students interested in the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
If interested in CCM, apply for ACE with the Common Application. The CCM Admissions Office will review applications for their majors.
A student will be reviewed for admission once all of the following are received by the Office of International Admissions:
- High School Transcripts
- Official transcripts includes all previous years of high school classes and grades and current classes taken. If the transcript isn't written in English, a certified English translation is required. The International Pathway Program is only available to high school graduates enrolling as first-year student.
- Proof of Math Ability
- Required for students applying for Business ACE Program and is optional for all others.
- To be eligible for scholarships, students must submit a test of math from the following:
- SAT-I (520)
- ACT (21)
- UC Math Placement Test (520)
- Proof of English Ability
- Meet or exceed minimum test score requirements.
- Meet or exceed minimum test score requirements.
How to Send Materials
High School and University Transcripts
Official transcripts may be physically mailed to the Office of International Admissions or electronically emailed to international.admissions@uc.edu by the school counselor. Any transcripts sent by the student will be deemed as unofficial.
Tests of English & Test of Math
Students may submit test of English and test of math electronically to international.admissions@uc.edu. Documents must provide test scores, student’s full name (given and family name) and date of birth.
Test | ACE Program | Direct Admission |
---|---|---|
ACT | 19 18 English Composition |
21 |
Cambridge | 162 Recommended exam: B2 First | 169 |
Duolingo | 75 | 95 |
ELS | 109 | 112 |
IELTS | 5.5 5.0 Writing |
6.5 |
SAT | 980 460 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing |
1060 |
TOEFL | 50 14 Writing |
66 |
Majors
The ACE Program is integrated into the majors listed in each college below. During the first year students take both, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and classes in the major they selected. Once students complete the ACE Program, they apply to transition into their major full-time from the second year till graduation.
Majors
- Africana Studies
- Anthropology
- Arabic Language and Culture
- Archaeology
- Asian Studies - BA
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences - BA
- Biological Sciences - BS
- Biological Sciences - BS: Biology of Animals
- Biological Sciences - BS: Biomedical Studies
- Biological Sciences - BS: Cell & Molecular Biology
- Biological Sciences - BS: Ecology & Evolution
- Chemistry - BA
- Chemistry - BS
- Chemistry-ACS
- Classics
- Classical Civilization
- Communication: Online
- Communication
- Digital Media Collaborative
- English - BA: Rhetoric & Professional Writing
- English - BA: Creative Writing
- English - BA: Literary & Cultural Studies
- English - BA: English Education
- Environmental Studies
- Film & Media Studies
- French
- Geography - BA: Human-Urban Economic
- Geography - BS: Environmental-Physical
- Geography - BS
- Geology - BA
- Geology - BS
- German Studies
- History
- Interdisciplinary
- Interdisciplinary: Interdisciplinary Nursing Prep
- Interdisciplinary: Online
- International Affairs
- Journalism
- Judaic Studies
- Liberal Arts: Online
- Liberal Arts
- Liberal Arts: Medicine, Health & Society
- Mathematics - BA: Mathematics
- Mathematics - BA: Statistics/Actuarial Sciences
- Mathematics - BS: Mathematics
- Mathematics - BS: Statistics/Actuarial Sciences
- Neuroscience - BS: Neurobiology
- Neuroscience - BS: Brain, Mind, Behavior
- Neuroscience - BS: Neuropsychology
- Organizational Leadership
- Philosophy
- Philosophy: Cognitive
- Physics - BA
- Physics - BS
- Physics (Astrophysics)
- Political Science
- Political Science : Gender & Multicultural Politics
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Psychology - BA
- Psychology - BS
- Public Relations
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Curriculum
2 Semester Example
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1068 |
Foundations of Academic Reading and Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1071 |
Basic Oral Communication |
3 hrs |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 hrs |
BIOL1081 |
Biol 1 |
3 hrs |
BIOL1081L |
Biol 1 Lab |
1 hrs |
CHEM1040 |
Chem 1 |
4 hrs |
CHEM1040L |
Chem 1 lab |
1hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 hrs |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL 1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 hrs |
BIOL1082 |
Biol 2 |
3 hrs |
BIOL1082L |
Biol 2 Lab |
1 hrs |
CHEM1041 |
Chem 2 |
4 hrs |
CHEM1041L |
Chem 2 lab |
1 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 hrs |
Majors
Curriculum
2 Semester Example
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1068 |
Foundations of Academic Reading and Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1071 |
Basic Oral Communication |
3 hrs |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 hrs |
MATH 1044 |
Applied Calculus I |
3 hrs |
MGMT 1053 |
Essentials of Business |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hour |
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL 1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 hrs |
MATH 1045 |
Applied Calculus II |
3 hrs |
ECON 1001 |
Microeconomics |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Majors
Select majors by invitation-only.
Curriculum
2 Semester Example
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
VLN1000 |
Violin Lessons |
4 hrs |
VLN4050 |
Violin Studio |
1 hrs |
|
ENSM |
1 hrs |
ESL1068 |
Foundations in Academic Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL1071 |
Basic Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
VLN1000 |
Violin Lessons |
4 hrs |
VLN4060 |
Violin Studio |
1 hrs |
|
ENSM |
|
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
14 hrs |
Majors
- Criminal Justice
- Early Childhood Education
- Exercise & Fitness
- Human Development & Community Engagement
- Information Technology (IT)
- Middle Childhood Education | Language Arts & Mathematics
- Middle Childhood Education | Language Arts & Natural Science
- Middle Childhood Education | Language Arts & Social Studies
- Middle Childhood Education | Math & Natural Science
- Middle Childhood Education | Social Studies & Math
- Middle Childhood Education | Social Studies & Natural Science
- Paralegal Studies
- Public Health
- Secondary Education | Earth Science
- Secondary Education | Chemistry
- Secondary Education | English Language Arts
- Secondary Education | Life Sciences
- Secondary Education | Mathematics
- Secondary Education | Physics
- Secondary Education | Social Studies/ History
- Special Education | Language Arts & Mathematics
- Special Education | Language Arts & Natural Science
- Sport Administration
Curriculum
2 Semester Example
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1068 |
Foundations of Academic Reading and Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1071 |
Basic Oral Communication |
3 hrs |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 hrs |
IT 1050 |
Fundamentals of Information Technology |
3 hrs |
|
SS/FA/HP BOK |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL 1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 hrs |
IT 1080C |
Computer Networking |
3 hrs |
PD 1010 |
Professional Development BSIT |
1 hrs |
|
BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS NS BOK |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Majors
Curriculum
3 Semester Example
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1068 |
Foundations of Academic Reading and Writing |
3 |
ESL 1071 |
Basic Oral Communication |
3 |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 |
ENED 1100 |
Foundations of Engineering Design Thinking I |
3 |
MATH1061 |
Calculus I (C- min) |
4 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
16 |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Academic Writing |
3 |
ELS 1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 |
ELSL 1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 |
ENED 1120 |
Foundations of Engineering Design Thinking II |
3 |
PD 1011 |
Introduction to COOP for CEAS |
1 |
MATH1062 |
Calculus II (C- min) |
4 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1070* |
Intro to English Composition |
3 |
CHEM1040 |
General Chemistry I (C- min) |
4 |
CHEM1040L |
General Chemistry Laboratory I (C- min) |
1 |
PHYS2001 |
College Physics I (Calculus-based) (C- min) |
4 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
12 |
Major
Curriulum
2 Semester Example
ESL 1068 |
Foundations of Academic Reading and Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1071 |
Basic Oral Communication |
3 hrs |
ESL 1077 |
Strategies for Academic Success |
3 hrs |
FAA 1001 |
Drawing Studio |
3 hrs |
FAA 1002 |
3D Studio |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
ESL 1069 |
Success in Undergraduate Writing |
3 hrs |
ESL 1074 |
Oral Presentation Skills |
3 hrs |
ESL 1076 |
US Culture and Communication |
3 hrs |
FAA 1003 |
2D Studio |
3 hrs |
FAA 1004 |
4D Studio |
3 hrs |
|
Total Credit Hours |
15 hrs |
Costs & Scholarships
Scholarship for remote learning from home:
Due to the pandemic coming to the United States can be difficult for several reasons. The University of Cincinnati is offering the Bearcats Everywhere Scholarship (BES) to students studying online in their home country. BES brings tuition from down to the in-state annual rate, $12,138.
Scholarship for In-person learning on campus:
Students who enroll for the spring 2021 semester can qualify for a $15,000 per year scholarship. totaling $60,000 over 8 academic semesters. This ACE Outreach Scholarship is limited and will be distributed to the first 20 students who qualify.
See application requirements to learn more about completing your application to qualify.
Students applying to the ACE Program pay identical tuition costs as students who are directly admitted to a academic major. Tuition is assessed on full-time enrollment based on two semesters of study (one academic year).
Academic Year 2020-2021 | Cost |
---|---|
Tuition & Fees | $28,972 |
Living Expenses (includes food, housing, travel, books, etc) | $14,958 |
Health Insurance | $2,360 |
Total | $46,290 |
In order to expedite the admissions decision, students must submit the Financial Certification Form along with required financial support documentation.
ACE Staff
Sarah Shepherd
ACE Program Manager
Welcome to Cincinnati’s ACE Program webpage! Myself and our staff take pride assisting students achieve their personal, professional, and academic goals. Submit questions on the "contact me" form to learn how the ACE Program can help you.
Anuptha Pujari
Academic Advisor
Cielo Zabala
ACE Student Ambassador
Business Finance, Lindner College of Business