Student's English Level* | ALI Courses | Undergraduate SHSS, SSE, SESWPS, or Bloch Courses |
---|---|---|
ALI Level 5 or TOEFL 61/ IELTS 5.5 |
None | COMM-ST 209 plus 9-12 credits |
ALI Level 4 | 6-8 credits | 6-9 credits |
ALI Levels 1-3 | 12 credits | N/A |
*ALI levels are determined through CALIOPE, our online placement exam
1. Includes tuition, English proficiency placement exam, and university student fees for 12 credit hours. Cost will be higher for students who enroll in more credit hours.
2. International students are required to purchase health insurance through UMKC. For further cost information, see our Program Cost page.
The Iris Program is a J-1 visa program. This program is available for 1 or 2 semesters. Students can request official transcripts from UMKC after they complete their program. Official transcripts are $60 per transcript per student. This cost covers shipping and processing. Students must request their transcripts through the UMKC Registrar webpage.
Students who do not have a TOEFL 61 or IELTS 5.5 or above, and do not test into Level 5 on the ALI's Online Placement Exam will need to take at least one Intensive English course. The exact number of IEP courses required will depend on their exam results.
Learn more about Intensive English clases at the ALI here.
ALI's Service-Learning program provides students with the opportunity to practice English in a real-world setting while learning more about U.S. culture.
Since the start of the Service-Learning program in Fall 2021, ALI faculty, staff, and students have completed 394 hours of service at 15 local organizations. Learn more about where we've served in the Kansas City area here.
The Iris Program is a J-1 Exchange Program, this means that is must include social and cultural elements, like volunteer opportunities. For this reason, all Iris Program students are required to complete at least 6 hours of volunteering/service each semester. The ALI will schedule meetings and be available by email to Iris Program students to discuss service projects. The ALI will provide a Community Service Verification form online and via email for students to get signed by the orgnizations they volunteer with. Students will receive a Service Verification letter from the ALI at the end of the semester. Partner universities can request a list of students who complete service hours and their number of hours at the end of the semester.
In order to take all academic courses, students must provide TOEFL 61 or IELTS 5.5 or higher. If they do not have TOEFL or IELTS scores, they can take the ALI's Online Placement Exam. If they test into Level 5, then they can take all academic courses.
Students taking academic courses can take courses in SHSS, SSE, SESWPS, and/or the Bloch School. Students interested in SSE and certain Bloch classes will be required to take a math placement exam to ensure readiness for coursework. Students interested in SESWPS and Bloch courses will be limited to pre-approved course options. Students can learn more about requirements and limitations when meeting with their academic advisor.
Learn more about the Schools at UMKC that participate in the Iris Program:
Students testing into Level 4 may only take 100-level courses. Students testing into Level 5 can take 200-level courses. Students wanting to take higher level courses will only be approved by special arrangement. Contact the ALI for more information.
Every semester, the ALI plans activities designed to provide fun experiences while highlighting life in the United States. At the beginning of the semester, students will be presented with a list of activity options and their costs and they will help determine which activities the ALI will offer that semester.
Iris Programs are for J-1 visa holders for one or two semesters. The Iris Program for Teachers is designed for one semester, but it can be extended to two semesters under special conditions. We offer three types of programs depending on teachers’ English proficiency. Proficiency is determined by the results of our online placement exam (CALIOPE). If students test below 30, we suggest they participate in the Iris Program for students.
CALIOPE 50+ | CALIOPE 40-49 | CALIOPE 30-39 |
---|---|---|
Participating in ALI courses is optional | Must enroll in one ALI course | Must enroll in two ALI courses |
Audit up to 9 credit hours in Teaching and Curriculum Studies |
Audit up to 6 credit hours in Teaching and Curriculum Studies |
Audit up to 3 credit hours in Teaching and Curriculum Studies |
Students with graduate degrees can meet researchers in their discipline | Students with graduate degrees can meet researchers in their discipline | Students with graduate degrees can meet researchers in their discipline |
Participate in conferences and events offered by the Kansas City Professional Development Council and UMKC's Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence | Participate in conferences and events offered by the Kansas City Professional Development Council and UMKC's Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence | Participate in conferences and events offered UMKC's Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence |
Books for undergraduate coursework will cost about $250.
Living expenses will cost approximately $1,000 - $2,000 per month, depending on personal choices about where to live and shop and how to travel around the city.
Official transcripts costs $60 per transcript per student. This cost covers shipping and processing fees.
This program is an extension of the Iris Program: American Studies track, but students will take courses in the pre-law track. To take one or two courses through the School of Law, students must test into Level 5 and study for two semesters. Students with higher levels of English proficiency will also have opportunities to take law courses and to visit court rooms in Kansas City. School of Law coursework will only be available in the second semester.1
Books for Law courses will be more expensive than those for undergraduate classes. The exact cost depends on what classes you take.
Living expenses will cost approximately $1,000 - $2,000 per month, depending on personal choices about where to live and shop and how to travel around the city.
Official transcripts costs $60 per transcript per student. This cost covers shipping and processing fees.