Application Deadline:   January 5th

Request E-Brochures (electronic brochures) about our graduate programs in the English Department!

A single application deadline for entrance into all graduate programs in the Department of English is January 5th (postmarked) to begin study the following academic year.  The deadline for maximum consideration for assistantship positions and other forms of financial support from the Department of English is also January 5th.  For information on spring admission, contact the Graduate English Office at englgrad@iastate.edu or 515-294-2477 (M.A. majors only and no assistantships or other forms of support available from the Department of English with spring admission).

Graduate degree majors in the Department of English include the following:

• M.A. (Master of Arts):

• English (Literature specialization; Literature and the Teaching of Reading specialization)

• Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication
• Teaching English as a Second Language/Applied Linguistics

• M.F.A. Creative Writing and Environment (Master of Fine Arts)
• Ph.D. Applied Linguistics and Technology
• Ph.D. Rhetoric and Professional Communication

Note: The department also offers a graduate TESL Certificate.  (Rolling admission with an application deadline of Monday of the last week of classes of the semester prior to the requested entry term with the same application requirements as the M.A. programs.)

Iowa State University has a self-managed application process, which means applicants are responsible for collecting the appropriate materials and submitting them electronically and by mail as indicated.  All materials are to be received no later than January 5th to ensure maximum consideration for admission and other forms of support available from the Department of English (assistantships, scholarships, fellowships).  However, we strongly recommend that your application materials arrive early allowing adequate time for us to determine application completeness before the Department of English begins the evaluation process.

Preference is given to applicants who meet all of the preferred or required minimum criteria listed.  Applicants are also evaluated on factors such as performance on writing samples, quality of the cover letter, letters of recommendation, and program match in addition to the preferred or required minimum criteria—all of which influence the applicant’s admission status.

Application Requirements

Required electronically by the Office of Admissions, Iowa State University, Ames, IA:

• Graduate application and fee payment

• Official GRE General Test scores (no Subject Test scores required) sent by testing services for an exam taken five years or less from the date of your application.  You may register to take the exam or request score reports at www.ets.org.
  Preferred minimum scores
  

  M.A. & Cert:  520 Verbal OR 4.5 Analytical Writing

  M.F.A.:  520 Verbal AND 4.5 Analytical Writing

  Ph.D.:  580 Verbal AND 5.0 Analytical Writing

(Note: GRE scores not required of nonnative speakers of English who are applicants to the M.A. TESL/Applied Linguistics major if the applicant is not requesting consideration for assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.)

• Official TOEFL or IELTS score report sent by testing services.  Required of non-native speaking applicants who must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to ISU (refer to “How To Apply” document available at http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/).  Please note that the Department of English required minimum scores differ from those of the ISU Graduate College.
  Required minimum scores

  M.A., Cert., and M.F.A.:  100 IBT; 250 CBT; 600 PBT; 7.0 IELTS

  Ph.D.:  111 IBT; 273 CBT; 640 PBT; 7.5 IELTS

(Note:  Minimum score of 25 IBT Writing, 5.0 CBT Essay Rating, or 7.0 IELTS Writing for teaching assistantship consideration)

Required by mail to the Office of Admissions, 100 Enrollment Services Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-2011  USA:

• Official academic transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
  Preferred overall minimum GPA
              M.A., Cert., and M.F.A.:  3.25
              Ph.D.:  3.50

• Financial statement (international applications only) and all supporting documents

   

Required by mail to the English Department, Graduate Studies Program, 403 Ross Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1201 USA:

• Printed copy of the electronic application

• Second set of official academic transcripts or photocopies of official academic transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work

• Photocopy of GRE General Test examinee score report (no Subject Test scores required) for an exam taken five years or less from the date of your application.  (See above for more information)

• Curriculum vitae including educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience

• Cover letter including a statement of personal goals (1–3 pages; addressed to the Graduate Admissions Committee).  Please state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the major to which you are seeking admission.  If seeking a teaching assistantship, elaborate on your relevant experience. (M.F.A. applicants, please see M.F.A. program web site for additional information.)

• Three letters of recommendation.  Electronic submission is preferred (option available via electronic application).  Otherwise, use the Letter of Recommendation form.  These letters should be from persons qualified to comment on your preparation for graduate study in the major to which you are applying.  If applying for a teaching assistantship, at least one of your references should comment on your teaching experience and abilities or on your potential to teach.

• Writing sample(s) are required from all applicants according to these program level specifications

  M.A. & Cert.: Expository writing sample (5-10 pages) demonstrating critical and research skills. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English. In addition to the expository writing sample, you may submit a second writing sample (2-5 pages) that demonstrates ability in one of our majors. For example, applicants to the M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication may submit a practical document (proposal, manual, brochure). Applicants to the M.A. in English or the M.A. in TESL/Applied Linguistics may submit pedagogic materials (a course the applicant has designed).

  M.F.A.: 1] Creative writing sample of no more than 25 pages (prose) or 15 pages (poetry) demonstrating exemplary ability in one genre, although once admitted, students will not be restricted to working in one genre.  2] Expository prose writing sample (5-10 pages) displaying a command of accepted grammatical rules for written English (such as a scholarly paper for a literature class or a published article).

  Ph.D.: Writing sample demonstrating critical and research skills with cover sheet contextualizing the document. You may include two documents totaling 35 pages with at least one document demonstrating critical and research skills.

• Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing Application Form required of applicants for the Hogrefe Fellowship.  Attach completed form to your cover letter.

• Photocopy of TOEFL or IELTS examinee score report.  Required of non-native speaking applicants who must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to ISU.  (See above for more information) 

• Audio or video file demonstrating compentence in spoken English.  Required of non-native speaking applicants who must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to ISU.  This file sould be sent as an email attachment to englgrad@iastate.edu.  Submission of a CD by mail is also acceptabe.  This speaking sample should include 3-5 minutes of extemporaneous speaking.  You might, therefore, begin by talking informally about your educational background and your reasons for pursuing graduate study.

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