Orange County, California

About International Education Center
at Orange Coast College

International Education Center (IEC) offers intensive English classes, academic preparation, and *conditional admission to Orange Coast College. IEC offers 6 different levels of academic ESL and has 6 sessions per year that are each 8 weeks long. The total number of hours in a session is 163 hours, which is consistent across all sessions in a given year. However, the weekly hours of instruction for the program range from 22 hours to 26 hours.  This range accommodates for holidays and breaks between sessions.

Upon completion of the highest English courses, IEC@OCC students can continue their education at Orange Coast College and other colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Through the transfer program, OCC students can complete the first two years of bachelor degree study and then transfer to a number of University of California campuses, California State University campuses, and private or out-of-state colleges and universities.

Read the IEC@OCC Mission Statement.

Why Study at the International Education Center?

There are many language schools in the United States. What makes IEC different?  

  • Small class size. IEC’s low student to teacher ratio (there are no more than 15 students in each class) ensures that you will receive the individual attention needed to improve English skills quickly.
  • Skilled instructors. All teachers at IEC hold a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), Linguistics (or a related field), and have taught abroad.
  • Motivated students. After completing their courses at IEC, the majority of IEC students continue their studies at OCC or other universities.

Three Reasons to Study at IEC

1. Enrollment Ease

  • Admission to IEC is simple: complete the IEC application, provide the application fee and bank statement, and you can begin the next available courses!
  • Submit IEC and OCC applications to one location – the OCC Global Engagement Center
  • Flexible start dates and programs throughout the year ensure you can begin your education at the IEC at your convenience.

* Not all students are required to have visas. Contact IEC@OCC to see if you need to a visa to study in the U.S.

2. Outstanding Student Services

  • Excellent study tools. All students have access to student study resources, such as the OCC Library and computer labs. Additionally, students receive bookstore discounts.
  • Get involved! IEC organizes many activities, including volunteer work and community service events.
  • Student advising services guide students through OCC transfers and provide academic counseling and homework help. 

3. Prime Location

  • IEC is located on the OCC campus!
  • Getting to school is easy! Students are walking distance to the bus transit center.

*Students who do not have proof of English proficiency may receive conditional admission to OCC degree or certificate programs. GEC admissions will review both the IEC@OCC application and the OCC International Student Application.  If the applicant is a high school graduate or 18 years of age and meets the academic requirements for admission to OCC degree or certificate programs, a "Letter of Conditional Admission" will be issued.  

The student will be fully admitted to the OCC degree or certificate program once the English language proficiency requirement has been met.  This condition may be met by completing Advanced B, the highest level of English at IEC.  In this case, the Advanced B level will be accepted in lieu other acceptable methods of English proficiency demonstration. A student who is not eligible for conditional admission will be notified and have the option to attend IEC@OCC without conditional admission to OCC degree or certificate programs.  Click here to learn more about applying to OCC.