Studies & Degrees in American English
American English is the variety of English spoken and written in the United States. According to the Cambridge grammar reference English Grammar Today, most of the differences between the English of the United Kingdom and that of North America are differences of vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling, with a smaller number of differences in grammar. One example it gives is that the present perfect is less common in American than in British English. The same source notes that many new uses in British English come from American English, through American popular culture, media and the internet.
A course in American English is therefore an English course taught in the American variety, usually by American teachers and with American materials. Chemeketa Community College, for example, lists conversation, American culture, pronunciation, writing, grammar, reading and vocabulary among its class content.
Courses and levels
American English is not a degree subject in its own right. It is studied through language courses, most often an Intensive English Program (IEP) at a language school, a university or a community college. EducationUSA, the US Department of State's advising network, explains that English courses in the United States range from beginner level, for people who have never studied the language, to advanced courses for students preparing for academic study or employment. Some programmes concentrate on English for academic purposes; others prepare for specific examinations or teach English for the workplace.
The main formats are:
- Intensive English. Around 20 hours of class a week is common. Chemeketa Community College in Oregon asks its full-time students on an F-1 visa for a minimum of 20 contact hours a week in terms of 11 weeks; the International Academy of English (IAE) includes 20 hours a week in sessions of 9 weeks, with a minimum enrolment of two weeks.
- Pathway or bridge programmes. According to EducationUSA, some colleges and universities let students build their English while also earning academic credit towards a degree. The Intensive English Institute of Florida Atlantic University has a Global Academic Track that provides conditional admission to the university's undergraduate and graduate programmes. At Chemeketa, students who complete the advanced level can enter the college full-time without a TOEFL or IELTS score.
- Exam preparation. The TOEFL iBT is the test most associated with study in the United States. Its publisher, ETS, describes it as a test of the four academic English skills. Since January 2026 it is scored on a scale of 1 to 6, and for a two-year transition period candidates also receive a comparable score on the earlier 0 to 120 scale.
- Summer and short courses. KEF USA runs English summer camps in Orlando with certified TESOL instructors, and Chemeketa offers a six-week summer programme of language and culture.
These courses end with a certificate of completion or participation from the school, not with an academic degree.
Where to study American English
SpainExchange lists 12 active schools for this subject. Eight are in the United States; Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and Trinidad and Tobago have one each. EducationUSA describes the United States as the top destination for international students who want to learn English or improve it.
Within the United States the choice is between private language schools, such as IAE with its four locations in San Diego, Irvine, Las Vegas and Tampa, and the English institutes of universities and community colleges, such as Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton or Chemeketa Community College in Salem. IAE accepts students aged 14 and over.
Accreditation and visas
Accreditation is the main quality check in the United States. The Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) is a specialised accrediting agency for English language programmes, recognised by the US Secretary of Education since 2003. It reports that federal legislation in force since 2013 requires English language programmes that enrol non-immigrant international students to be accredited by an agency recognised by the US Department of Education. CEA accredits over 300 programmes and institutions and publishes a directory of them.
Full-time English study in the United States normally requires a student visa. EducationUSA's visa guidance covers the F, J and M student visa types and has a separate section for English language students.
What it is useful for
People choose American English for three main reasons: to enter a US college or university, to work with American companies or clients, and to pass an English test. Because the differences from British English are limited, a learner who has studied one variety can continue in the other.
Frequently asked questions
Is American English very different from British English?
No. According to Cambridge's English Grammar Today, most differences are in vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling, and only some are in grammar.
How many hours a week is an intensive English course in the United States?
About 20 hours a week is usual. Chemeketa Community College sets a minimum of 20 contact hours a week for its full-time F-1 students, and IAE includes 20 hours of instruction a week.
Can an English course lead to admission to a US university?
In some cases. Pathway programmes such as the Global Academic Track at Florida Atlantic University provide conditional admission to degree programmes, and Chemeketa admits students who complete its advanced level without a TOEFL or IELTS score.
How do I know that an English school in the United States is recognised?
Check its accreditation. CEA, an accrediting agency recognised by the US Secretary of Education, lists the programmes and institutions it accredits in its directory.