Foundation year

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Introduction

The Foundation Year Program is the flagship offering of the Department of Fundamental Skills and Knowledge. It is specially designed to prepare students for enrollment in the undergraduate medical program offered at SRU. Nursing, MLS (Medical Laboratory Sciences) and other programs take some shared and special components of the program in the first two levels of their study plan (visit college site for more details).

Program Purpose

The Foundation Year develops the required standards in:
• English language proficiency
• Basic sciences knowledge
• Communication skills
• Study and IT skills
• Professional behavior
The program also integrates an introduction to Problem-Based Learning (PBL), which is the educational methodology adopted by the College of Medicine.

Professional Behavior

At SRU, we strive not only to build knowledgeable students but also to instill in them professional behavior values that will continue to guide them throughout their careers. The Foundation Year employs a vigorous professional behavior policy that develops crucial characteristics including:
• Responsibility
• Time management
• Ethics
• Teamwork
• Academic honesty

Program Learning Objectives

By the end of the Foundation Year, students will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate the ability to follow scientific, medical, and technical course content in the English language.
    2. Develop English Grammar, Reading, Listening & Speaking, and Writing skills at the upper-intermediate level.
    3. Explain basic Biochemistry, Biology, Medical Physics, and Biostatistics knowledge in English at the basic level.
    4. Develop study and research skills needed for effective learning at the introductory level.
    5. Demonstrate communication skills for effective communication in health care professions.
    6. Demonstrate skills in information communication technology needed for effective technological communication.
    7. Recognize problem-based and student-centered learning systems at the basic level.

Educational Methods

The Foundation Year employs a variety of educational methods to achieve its learning outcomes:

    1. Developing detailed and aligned course specifications for all courses.
    2. Detailed Course Specifications: All courses have aligned and detailed specifications.
    3. Clear Assessment Plans: Rubrics and assessment plans are used for all continuous and final assessments.
    4. Balanced Teaching and Learning Environment: Lectures, group work, continuous assessment, feedback sessions, and final assessments are used.
    5. E-Learning and Multimedia: Online resources and multimedia tools enhance learning.
    6. Office Hours: Fixed office hours are established for all courses to provide one-on-one tutorial sessions.
    7. Modern Curriculum: The latest and most relevant books and materials are used to ensure a state-of-the-art curriculum.
    8. Qualified Faculty: Highly qualified and motivated instructors who adopt a student-centered approach are recruited.

Medical Track Foundation Year Study Plan

Semester One
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL101 English Reading (1) 2
ENGL102 English Listening & Speaking (1) 2
ENGL103 English Writing (1) 2
ENGL104 English Grammar (1) 2
STS101 Study Skills 2
ME101 Medical Terminology 2
CHEM201 Biochemistry 3
COM102 Information Communication Technologies 1
Total 16
Book required in semester 1
Semester Two
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL111 English Reading (2) 2
ENGL112 English Listening & Speaking (2) 2
ENGL113 English Writing (2) 2
ENGL114 English Grammar (2) 2
BIOL101 Human Biology 3
STAT101 Biostatistics 2
COS101 Communication Skills 2
PHYS106 Medical physics 2
Total 17
Book required in semester 2

Nursing Track Study Plan

Semester One
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENG101 Basic English Reading (1) 2
ENG102 Basic English Listening & Speaking (1) 2
ENG103 Basic English Writing (1) 2
ENG104 Basic English Grammar (1) 2
STS101 Study Skills 2
ME201 Medical Terminology 2
BCHEM101 Basic Biochemistry 3
COM102 Information Communication Technologies 1
Total 16
Book required in semester 1
Semester Two
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENG111 Basic English Reading (2) 2
ENG112 Basic English Listening & Speaking (2) 2
ENG113 Basic English Writing (2) 2
ENG114 Basic English Grammar (2) 2
BBIOL201 Basic Human Biology 3
STAT101 Biostatistics 2
COS201 Communication Skills 2
PHYS106 Medical Physics 2
Total 17
Book required in semester 2

Applied Sciences Track Study Plan

Semester One
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENG101 Basic English Reading (1) 2
ENG102 Basic English Listening & Speaking (1) 2
ENG103 Basic English Writing (1) 2
ENG104 Basic English Grammar (1) 2
STS101 Study Skills 2
ME101 Medical Terminology 2
CHEM201 Biochemistry 3
COM102 Information Communication Technologies 1
Total 16
Book required in semester 1
Semester Two
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
ENG111 Basic English Reading (2) 2
ENG112 Basic English Listening & Speaking (2) 2
ENG113 Basic English Writing (2) 2
ENG114 Basic English Grammar (2) 2
BIOL101 Human Biology 3
STAT101 Biostatistics 2
COS101 Communication Skills 2
PHYS106 Medical physics 2
Total 17
Book required in semester 2

English Language Exemption Policy

First: Requirements for students to be exempted from the English language courses of the first and second semesters of the foundation year:

    • The student must obtain an overall score of at least 6.5 in IELTS, or its equivalent, to be eligible for exemption from all English language courses of the first and second semesters.
    • The student must submit the official IELTS result certificate (or its equivalent) to the Office of Registration and Academic Advising no later than the time specified in the academic calendar of the same year.
    • The student will then be awarded a grade of (A +) for all English language courses of the first and second semesters, and attendance is not required.
    • All exemptions must be approved by the Skills and Essential Knowledge Department.

Second: For students who are to be exempted from the English language courses of the second semester only of the foundation year, the following requirements must be met:

    • The student must obtain an overall score of at least 6.0 in the IELTS test, or its equivalent, to be eligible for exemption from all English language courses of the second semester.
    • The student must submit the official IELTS result certificate (or its equivalent) to the Office of Registration and Academic Advising no later than the time specified in the academic calendar of the same year.
    • The student must pass all English language courses of the first semester.
    • The student will then be awarded a grade of (A +) for all English language courses of the second semester, and attendance is not required.
    • All exemptions must be approved by the Skills and Essential Knowledge Department.

Third: Financial and Scholarship Statuses for exempted students are as follows:

    • English language courses are counted as credit-bearing courses included within the financial package of the semester, and the student is not refunded the fees of the exempted courses.
    • The student is treated, with respect to the counting of courses within the scholarship, in accordance with the scholarship policy approved at SRU.

For information on Business English courses, please visit: the Link here

English Test Equivalency Table

TOEFL

IELTS

STEP

IBT (new scale)

6

9

N/A

5

7

N/A

4.5

6.5

N/A

4

6

97

3.5

5.5

-

2.5

5

83

2

4.5

-
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