International Scholars Program
“The International Scholars Program supported me through all the challenges of my first academic year in an American college."
Simon Liaowongphuthorn ’21 (Thailand)
The Pitzer International Scholars Program (ISP) helps you strengthen your English skills. This equips you to take part in the challenging liberal arts education at Pitzer and The Claremont Colleges. The program also supports you as you take increasingly demanding courses.
ISP classes are for international students who are at an advanced academic level. They are not remedial courses. They address U.S. professors’ expectations and help the transition to an American college system.
ISP classes help you build:
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Oral participation
- Knowledge of U.S. history and culture
- Sophisticated levels of writing and speaking
ISP offers small classes and extensive feedback on assignments. The program features intensive academic advising. IScholars have the full residential college experience. They enjoy campus activities, sports teams, field trips, and clubs.
International Scholars:
- Receive full admission to Pitzer
- No additional English tests or courses are required before credit-bearing courses
- Can graduate in 4 years and study abroad without taking additional or summer courses
- Receive full credit for all ISP courses and fulfill Pitzer graduation requirements
- Enroll in more Pitzer courses outside the ISP course sequence
- Can complete majors and minors, double major and/or graduate early
- Have graduated with honors and gone to graduate and medical schools
ISP Admission Requirements
International students with advanced English skills (6.5–7 IELTS or 70–100 TOEFL IBT) are eligible.
Learn more about application requirements for international students.
ISP Graduation Requirements
IScholars must complete 32 course credits (128 semester units). This includes four ISP courses.
ISP Course Sequence
The Modern Languages, Literature, and Culture (MLLC) field group offers the ISP courses.
Fall Semester
- MLLC 111: Public Speaking (one course credit)
- Through readings, lectures, films, and field study in the social sciences, students will explore contemporary global issues as the content base for developing proficiency in American academic speech behavior. Skills emphasized will include making formal presentations, leading and participating in discussions, and sustaining narration on a range of topics.
- MLLC 122: Critical Analysis Through Literature (one course credit)
- Short stories, essays, and novels exploring a range of American experiences will provide a basis for students to develop an understanding of the social, political, historical, and philosophical thought that informs this literature and the language needed to express an analysis of these works.
- First-Year Seminar: Written Analysis (one course credit)
- The writing-intensive First-Year Seminar for International Scholars. Discussions, readings, and writing assignments are focused on the seminar theme. Students will write frequent essays and a research paper that demonstrate control of the most important conventions of American academic discourse.
- Student choice from Pitzer course listing (one course credit)
Spring Semester
- MLLC 144: Advanced Speech and Rhetoric: Argument and Debate (one course credit)
- Students will critique and present arguments in formal spoken English through debates, discussions, and extemporaneous talks centered around contemporary issues. Models of argumentation will be analyzed.
- MLLC 155: Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum: Integrated Analysis (one course credit)
- Further development in expository writing and oral expression of critical thinking through projects related to the content of a Pitzer companion course. Students must enroll concurrently in the companion course designated by the program.
- Companion Course to MLLC 155 (one course credit)
- Student choice from Pitzer course listing (one course credit)
International Scholars come from all over the world, including:
Argentina | Hong Kong | Singapore |
Belgium | India | South Korea |
Bolivia | Japan | Sweden |
China | Mexico | Taiwan |
Democratic Republic of Congo | Nepal | Turkey |
France | Russia | Uruguay |
Germany | Saudi Arabia | Vietnam |
International Scholar Testimonial
“I really appreciate all of the assistance and support that the International Scholars Program gave me from the moment I committed to Pitzer. ISP really paved the way and built my confidence for the rest of my academic experiences at Pitzer.”
Yijie Wang ’18 (China)
Graduated cum laude in political studies in three years
Contact Us
Pitzer International Scholars Program