Pierce College, International Education Program

PIERCE COLLEGE

Pierce College is a public two-year Community College located 40 miles south of Seattle and about 45 minutes by car from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The surrounding area is suburban with lots of open space, with wonderful views of water and mountains. The cities of Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Canada, are not far away.

Pierce College has two locations, one in Lakewood and one in Puyallup. The international office is at the older campus, in Lakewood, which is also bigger than the Puyallup facility. Students may choose either location and switch from one to the other if they wish. It is a single district system.

The climate is pleasant, and the weather seldom gets very hot or very cold. In winter-time, ski slopes are about one hour away from the two campuses. The college was founded in 1967 and is fully accredited. There are about 4,500 students at Lakewood and 2,500 students at Puyallup. There are 150 international students, about 40-45 of them in our Intensive English Program. The others are mostly in college-transfer programs: in other words, they are taking the first two years of the BA course and will transfer to four-year universities when they complete their Associate's degrees. However, a smaller number of international students take non-transfer courses in vocational areas such as Business, Computers, Secretarial, Social Service/Mental Health, Electronic Engineering Technology, and so on.

The Intensive English Program has four levels, and is designed to prepare the student for academic classes. Students can enter college with a TOEFL score of 500, or 173 on the computerized test. Students can also pass directly from the Intensive English Program to college classes without taking the TOEFL exam.

International students live in apartments near the college or with host families. We do not have student dormitories. The cost of home stay with a host family is $525 a month for room and board. Apartments in the neighborhood rent for $400-550 per month, and many students share.

The whole college is on the quarter system, which means that there are three terms of ten weeks each in Fall, Winter, Spring, and an eight-week quarter in Summer. (The number of hours per class is the same in Summer, however.) Consequently, there are entry dates on September 19, January 2, April 1, and June 24 this year. This system is very flexible, for students may enter (and leave) in any quarter.

Instruction and fees in Intensive English cost $2150 per quarter. College tuition and fees are $2,636 for 15 credit hours in the 2004-5 school year. (The figures rise slightly each year).

Health and Accident Insurance is required for international students, but may be brought from the home country, provided that it is adequate for American conditions. Health costs are very high in the USA, even or minor problems.

The special advantage of International programs at Pierce College is that the number of students is not very large, yet the program is very well-staffed. The staff is easily available and will assist students with visa questions, academic problems, student activities, accommodation problems, and advice about transfer to other colleges and any other problems or questions that may come up. All of our international students are known to the staff by name. In the college as a whole, instructors and advisers are also easy to contact. Classes are usually no bigger than 24 students. There is an excellent library and very good computer facilities. Student clubs and the International Club itself are there to welcome new students. The International Club organizes ski trips and excursions to Canada or other destinations as well as parties for various occasions. Students may also make friends by joining the college choir or taking part in sports activities.

At Pierce College, students will meet a wide cross-section of American society. Pierce County is very diverse with people from all over the world and many different sub-cultures. Pierce College is a good place to experience the emerging world culture.

Write, Call or Email to:

Pierce College
International Education
9401 Farwest Dr SW
Lakewood, WA 98498 USA
TEL (253)964-7327
FAX (253)964-6256
Email: international@pierce.ctc.edu
Web: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/International/Education/

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PIERCE COLLEGE Pierce College is a public two-year Community College located 40 miles south of Seattle and about 45 minutes by car from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The surrounding area is suburban with lots of open space, with wonderful views of water and mountains. The cities of Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Canada, are not far away. Pierce College has two locations, one in Lakewood and one in Puyallup. The international office is at the older campus, in Lakewood, which is also bigger than the Puyallup facility. Students may choose either location and switch from one to the other if they wish. It is a single district system. The climate is pleasant, and the weather seldom gets very hot or very cold. In winter-time, ski slopes are about one hour away from the two campuses. The college was founded in 1967 and is fully accredited. There are about 4,500 students at Lakewood and 2,500 students at Puyallup. There are 150 international students, about 40-45 of them in our Intensive English Program. The others are mostly in college-transfer programs: in other words, they are taking the first two years of the BA course and will transfer to four-year universities when they complete their Associate's degrees. However, a smaller number of international students take non-transfer courses in vocational areas such as Business, Computers, Secretarial, Social Service/Mental Health, Electronic Engineering Technology, and so on. The Intensive English Program has four levels, and is designed to prepare the student for academic classes. Students can enter college with a TOEFL score of 500, or 173 on the computerized test. Students can also pass directly from the Intensive English Program to college classes without taking the TOEFL exam. International students live in apartments near the college or with host families. We do not have student dormitories. The cost of home stay with a host family is $525 a month for room and board. Apartments in the neighborhood rent for $400-550 per month, and many students share. The whole college is on the quarter system, which means that there are three terms of ten weeks each in Fall, Winter, Spring, and an eight-week quarter in Summer. (The number of hours per class is the same in Summer, however.) Consequently, there are entry dates on September 19, January 2, April 1, and June 24 this year. This system is very flexible, for students may enter (and leave) in any quarter. Instruction and fees in Intensive English cost $2150 per quarter. College tuition and fees are $2,636 for 15 credit hours in the 2004-5 school year. (The figures rise slightly each year). Health and Accident Insurance is required for international students, but may be brought from the home country, provided that it is adequate for American conditions. Health costs are very high in the USA, even or minor problems. The special advantage of International programs at Pierce College is that the number of students is not very large, yet the program is very well-staffed. The staff is easily available and will assist students with visa questions, academic problems, student activities, accommodation problems, and advice about transfer to other colleges and any other problems or questions that may come up. All of our international students are known to the staff by name. In the college as a whole, instructors and advisers are also easy to contact. Classes are usually no bigger than 24 students. There is an excellent library and very good computer facilities. Student clubs and the International Club itself are there to welcome new students. The International Club organizes ski trips and excursions to Canada or other destinations as well as parties for various occasions. Students may also make friends by joining the college choir or taking part in sports activities. At Pierce College, students will meet a wide cross-section of American society. Pierce County is very diverse with people from all over the world and many different sub-cultures. Pierce College is a good place to experience the emerging world culture. Write, Call or Email to: Pierce College International Education 9401 Farwest Dr SW Lakewood, WA 98498 USA TEL (253)964-7327 FAX (253)964-6256 Email: international@pierce.ctc.edu Web: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/International/Education/	Contact Information International Education 9401 Farwest Drive SW Lakewood, WA 98498 USA TEL: 253-964-7327 FAX: 253-964-6256 E-mail: international@pierce.ctc.edu Website: www.pierce.ctc.edu
International Student Guide - English Edition a spindle publishing company production