PIA (Marylhurst University)

The English program of Pacific International Academy (PIA), located at Marylhurst University, a private liberal arts university, consists of 5 core levels, and at each level students take 4 subjects: writing, conversation, grammar and reading. Classes run Monday through Friday for a total of 20 hours per week, and students can not only improve their English but also experience a variety of cultures and study areas of interest such as improving their computer skills. For students who did not graduate from high school in their home country, a course preparing for the GED exam, which is equivalent to a high school equivalency exam, is also offered. Students in this course receive thorough instruction to pass the GED exam, which consists of math, science, social studies, writing and English literature, and those who pass the GED are eligible for admission to Marylhurst University and to other universities in the United States. In addition, a variety of English programs are offered as a preparatory stage for international students to successfully complete undergraduate and graduate programs at Marylhurst University. The university pathway course is linked to the Marylhurst University undergraduate program and serves as a preparation course for international students who have received conditional admission; students acquire various forms of writing skills, such as writing reports on topics related to the Marylhurst University undergraduate program. The graduate pathway course is for students who wish to enter the Marylhurst MBA. Students are taught various methods for conducting opinion surveys, doing fieldwork and writing term papers, and write assignment reports on topics actually covered in the Marylhurst MBA program.