Stuck in the Gap: EAP Needs Assessment of Undergraduate Students of Computer Science

English for academic purposes (EAP) is a significant part of the curriculum in Iranian universities. However, it seems that EAP programs are in need of more rigorous needs analysis. This study was an attempt to assess present and target situation needs of two groups of computer science undergraduate students at Associate of Science (AS) and Bachelor of Science (BS) levels. A total of 320students and 44 instructors participated in this triangulated survey. Data was collected through self-assessment, needs-analysis questionnaires, and semistructured interviews. The results indicated a noticeable gap between the current EAP courses and both the present and target situation needs of learners. Basic language skills and sub-skills were more important to AS students due to their low level of general English proficiency; however, BS students focused on higher order language skills. Moreover, there were discrepancies between the two groups of undergraduates and their instructors regarding perceived needs. The findings provide implications for revising the current EAP curriculum for computer science students.