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English Language for Academic Purposes (ELAP), Linguistics, and Communication Studies

Dean Raymond Gonzales
Raymond Gonzales, Acting Dean

Our goal is to empower students in a globally diverse society to become stronger communicators and engaged citizens of the world. Whether your interests are learning to read, write, and speak English for academic purposes; exploring the history of languages; or transferring to a four-year institution with a communication studies associate’s degree, faculty and staff in this division look forward to assisting you.

There is an academic department on each of the three campuses, and instructional support is available to students in the Writing, Reading and Language Centers on each campus. Learn more about the division’s programs and locations using the links on this webpage.


Professor Gonzales began his service to Montgomery College in 1999 as a professor in the department of ELAP, Linguistics, and Communication Studies at the Rockville Campus, becoming a course coordinator for reading for non-native speakers III in 2004, and the ELAP discipline coordinator in 2010. Most recently, he has served as the chair for the department of ELAP, Linguistics, and Communication Studies.

As department chair, he has worked to standardize ELAP’s first-day student test process collegewide, engaged with the Communications Studies Advisory Committee, and integrated faculty-led professional development presentations and activities into department meetings.  In addition, he has facilitated numerous presentations for ELITE focused on Culturally Responsive Teaching. He earned a Faculty Outstanding Service Award in 2011.

Professor Gonzales earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Rutgers University, and both a master of arts in international affairs and a master of arts in TESOL from American University.

Departments

Degrees and Certificates

Z-Degree

Communication Studies offers a z-degree, which is a commitment by Montgomery College to offer sections of courses needed to complete your degree without required textbook purchases. Students have found z-courses useful because the materials can be accessed conveniently, they are available immediately, and they fit seamlessly into the course.

Communication Studies Program

More Programs and Courses

The ELAP program offers two levels of writing, reading, and speaking/listening courses and an integrated skills "capstone" course in order to meet the language and academic cultural-adaptation needs of non-native speakers of English.

Learn more about the ELAP program and courses

  • All students should review the advising guide and consult an advisor.
  • Find out about related programs and course in the Fields of Study section.
  • Most courses have either assessment levels that must be met or prerequisites (courses that must be taken first). Part-time students and those who need to meet assessment levels or take prerequisite courses will take longer to complete a degree. An advisor will help make sure you are taking your courses in the right order.
  • All degree-seeking students must take a central group of General Education courses in English, mathematics, arts, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, and science. These courses are included in the suggested course sequence below.


  • All students should review the advising guide and consult an advisor.
  • Find out about related programs and course in the Fields of Study section.
  • Most courses have either assessment levels that must be met or prerequisites (courses that must be taken first). Part-time students and those who need to meet assessment levels or take prerequisite courses will take longer to complete a degree. An advisor will help make sure you are taking your courses in the right order.
  • All degree-seeking students must take a central group of General Education courses in English, mathematics, arts, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, and science. These courses are included in the suggested course sequence below.

 

Writing, Reading, and Language Centers

Student Immigrant and Refugee Stories

History in the Making: Documenting Stories of Immigrant and Refugee Students at Montgomery Collegenew window” is an Open Educational Resource (OER) for faculty, staff, and students at MC (and other institutions of higher education) to use for educational purposes. This OER features oral history interviews of 17 current and former MC students, representing 16 countries. Fifteen of the students were enrolled in ELAP at one point in their educational journey. The site also features bios and photos of these students and former students.

In these oral history interviews, students describe how they overcame some of the most challenging situations imaginable: war, displacement, political upheaval, natural disasters, and health crises in places such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Venezuela. Students from these countries and others have borne witness to some of the most historically significant events of our time, and they have come to Montgomery County, Maryland to rebuild their lives.

Despite their many challenges, these students maintain their optimism, drive, creativity, and sense of humor. They have reconstructed their lives here, and with skills that they gained at MC, have gone on to fulfilling careers in the health sciences, information technology, business, and other fields. They are raising families, making a living, and contributing to their communities in countless ways. Read the blogsnew window.