How to Apply

Available programs in the English Department

PhD in Applied Linguistics and Technology
PhD in Rhetoric and Professional Communication
MFA in Creative Writing and Environment
MA in English (two specializations)
MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication
MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics (seven specializations)

Information about applying to the following programs is available using the following links because the application process and requirements are different from those for applying to the above six programs:

 

Deadlines

January 5 is the deadline to apply for entry fall term in all six graduate degree programs above, and the same deadline applies for all types of financial support (graduate teaching assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships) from the English department; completed applications may be evaluated beginning October 15 in those programs participating in early review of applications. Early applications are encouraged.

The following deadlines apply if not requesting support from the English department in the form of graduate assistantships, scholarship, and fellowships:

April 1 to begin fall term in any of the degree programs (application review begins after January 5)
October 15 to begin spring term in any of the three Master of Arts programs above (application review begins after October 15)

Contact

If you have questions about any of the information regarding applying to our programs, please send an email to englgrad@iastate.edu.

Graduate Program Office
Department of English
Iowa State University
227 Ross Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1054

Type of applicant

U.S. graduate OR international graduate applicant
Click on the above link for graduate application information and instructions.

Current ISU graduate students or those who have received a graduate degree at ISU
Email englgrad@iastate.edu for special instructions. Do not complete the ISU Admissions application form or pay the application fee again.

Nondegree graduate student at ISU
If you are interested in taking a graduate course in the English department or in any program at ISU and you do not want to apply to a graduate major, you must be admitted as a nondegree seeking graduate student. Click here for nondegree application information and to download printable PDF application forms.

How to apply as a degree seeking applicant

All application documents must be uploaded into the ISU application system no later than the appropriate deadline above to ensure maximum consideration for admission and for available support if applicable. Early applications are encouraged.

  • Applications are evaluated (beginning October 15) for fall entry in programs participating in the early evaluation of applications. If you submit a complete application earlier than the January 5 deadline for fall entry, you may receive notice of an admission decision earlier. Only complete applications will be evaluated after this date.
  • We strongly recommend early submission of the online application form
    • Allows email notifications of references to be sent prior to the deadline to ensure that recommendations are received by the deadline.
    • The application system also sends email notifications regarding required components you may still need to provide.
  • The deadline represents the endpoint in the application process (i.e., the completion of the application file) rather than the beginning. All materials should be submitted by the deadline.
  • In addition to the preferred and required minimum criteria provided below, applicants are evaluated on factors such as performance on writing samples, quality of the statement of purpose and personal goals, letters of recommendation, and program match. Each of these influences the applicant’s admission status.
  • Conditional admission is not available and not offered to nonnative speakers of English who do not meet the department’s stated TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo required minimum score at time of application (see English Proficiency Examination below).

Application requirements (all degree programs)

The following materials are required for all graduate degree applicants regardless of program. Additional program requirements are listed in the next section. Application documents must be uploaded selecting the appropriate label in order for review committees to easily identify different types of documents in the online system.

  • ISU online graduate application
    The online application form is not actually submitted (and links sent to references) until you click “Save and Submit” and pay the application fee (if required at the time of application submission).
  • Scanned official academic transcripts and degree statements
    Scanned transcripts must be official ones issued by the institution(s) where you earned (or will earn) degrees for all undergraduate and graduate work (if applicable). Please refer to the ISU Admissions Office instructions and contact the ISU Admissions Office if you have transcript questions.
    The ISU Graduate College requires an overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 to qualify for full admission and eligibility for graduate assistantship support.

    Preferred overall minimum undergraduate GPA for English department graduate programs:
    MA and MFA: 3.25
    PhD: 3.50

  • Nonnative speakers of English must submit English proficiency examination scores (if applicable)
    Nonnative speakers must meet the English Department’s minimum TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo score requirement in order to be considered for admission and teaching assistantship support. Test scores are not required if the applicant has earned (or will earn prior to entry term requested) a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a country where English is the only official language (refer to the Office of Admissions downloadable instructions available above). Official test scores are required from applicants in order for an application to be considered. Scores must be reported directly to ISU by the testing agency in order to be considered official. If official scores cannot be sent by the agency at the time of application due to expiration, the exam must be retaken. Please record scores (leave blank if not available yet) and upload a copy of scores into your application account.
    Iowa State University Inst Code: 6306

Required minimum scores:
All programs: 95 IBT* (100 preferred); 587 PBT (600 preferred); 7.0 IELTS; 68 PTE; 115 Duolingo (only approved through Spring 2025 entry term admission cycle)

*Applicants scoring below the above minimum requirements may need to take English support courses.
**Minimum score of 25 IBT Writing or 7.0 IELTS Writing required for teaching assistantship consideration.

  • Nonnative speakers of English must submit an audio or video file demonstrating competence in spoken English
    Required even though English proficiency examination scores may not be required. An audio or video is to be provided regardless if you meet the English proficiency requirement. This speaking sample should include 3-5 minutes of extemporaneous speaking. You might begin by talking informally about your educational background and your reasons for pursuing graduate study.

    • Please send your file electronically as an email attachment to englgrad@iastate.edu (you cannot upload this type of file to your ISU application account because this format is not supported by that system).
    • Provide a document that can be uploaded to your application account that provides a link to an audio or video of your spoken English (i.e., YouTube).
  • Three letters of recommendation
    References are to be submitted electronically using the electronic letter of recommendation option in the online application system. 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. If a recommender does not wish to submit an online LOR, you must download a Letter of Recommendation form, complete the appropriate sections at the top, and send the form to your recommender. You must include our email address (englgrad@iastate.edu) or postal address (Department of English, Graduate Studies Program, 227 Ross Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-1201 USA) for the recommender to submit their recommendation directly to the program. The use of dossier services, such as Interfolio, is also acceptable for transmitting letters to the program by having them sent directly to englgrad@iastate.edu because the service cannot submit them directly to your application account.
  • Application for Teaching Assistantship in the Department of English
    In Iowa State’s Department of English, graduate students who receive teaching assistantships will normally receive training and begin teaching for one of the following programs:
    1. English 150 and English 250: In this two-course sequence, undergraduate students practice analyzing, composing, and reflecting on written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) discourse within academic, civic, and cultural contexts.
    2. Speech Communication 212: In this course, undergraduate students study oral communication and learn to compose, deliver, and analyze public speeches in academic, civic, and professional contexts.

To be considered for a teaching assistantship, please provide a statement explaining your relevant experience and/or interest in teaching courses in these programs. Statements should be 500 words or less. The statement should be provided as a stand-alone document and must be uploaded with the other application materials as a supplemental document.

Program-specific application requirements

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MA in English: Additional Requirements Information

  • Statement of purpose and personal goals
    Statement of purpose of up to 500 words included in the online application form that explains your preparation for graduate study, career goals and research interests, and specifically why you want to study at Iowa State. We are particularly interested in knowing how your abilities, experiences, awards, and achievements relate to and demonstrate your ability to pursue graduate work in the major.
  • Curriculum vitae
    Include educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience, if applicable.
  • Writing sample(s)
    Expository writing sample (5–20 double-spaced pages) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills in the intended major. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English or a related field.

_______________

MA in RCPC: Additional Requirements Information

  • Statement of purpose and personal goals
    1–3 double-spaced pages uploaded as a separate document (leave the actual admission application form blank where it requests a 500-word statement of purpose). Please state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the major.
  • Curriculum vitae
    Include educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience, if applicable.
  • Writing sample(s)
    Expository writing sample (5-20 double-spaced pages) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills in the intended major. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English or a related field.

_______________

MA in TESL/Applied Linguistics: Additional Requirements Information

  • Statement of purpose and personal goals
    1–3 double-spaced pages (leave the actual admission application form blank on Page 4 where it requests a 500-word statement of purpose). Please state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the major.
  • Curriculum vitae
    Include educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience, if applicable.
  • Writing sample(s)
    Expository writing sample (5–20 double-spaced pages) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills in the intended major. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English or a related field.

_______________

MFA in CWE: Additional Requirements Information

Portfolio Requirements. A portfolio should be uploaded as a single PDF containing the following items in the specified order (see below for additional instructions concerning content and length):

  1. Statement of Purpose
  2. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  3. Creative Writing Sample
  4. Expository Writing Sample
  • Statement of Purpose
    In 750–1000 words, discuss how the MFA program in Creative Writing and Environment would further your academic, artistic, and professional goals (leave the actual admission application form blank where it requests a 500-word statement of purpose). Consider addressing some of the following in your Statement of Purpose:
    • Fieldwork experiences in natural or urban landscapes that have influenced your practice and/or aesthetic as a writer;
    • Writers or currents of environmental thought that have influenced your work. Issues of place, landscape, the natural world, or environment with which your work engages;
    • Organizations you’ve worked with or activities you’ve completed that are related to ecological or environmental issues;
    • Creative projects with an environmental dimension that you have started or anticipate writing while in the program.
  • CV/Resume
    Be sure to include education (academic degrees, programs of study, educational institutions), work history (including teaching and editing experience, if applicable), and publications, productions, exhibits, honors, and awards for your creative work.
  • Creative Writing Sample
    Include a sample—of no more than 25 pages of prose (double-spaced), 15 pages of poetry (may be single-spaced), or 25 pages of a script for stage or screen (in professional manuscript format)—that demonstrates exemplary ability in one genre. Samples should be in a standard 12-point serif font, such as Times New Roman. We ask that you declare a primary genre (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama) at the time of application. Once admitted, students are allowed—and encouraged—to work in multiple genres.
  • Expository Prose Writing Sample
    Include a sample of no more than 10 pages (double-spaced, standard 12-point serif font). Your expository writing sample allows you to demonstrate your command of scholarly research and critical writing skills, as well as accepted grammatical rules for written English. Applicants usually submit a scholarly research essay written for an undergraduate or graduate course in literature, rhetoric, advanced composition, or other humanities field of study.

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PHD in ALT: Additional Requirements Information

  • Statement of purpose and personal goals
    1–3 double-spaced pages (leave the actual admission application form blank where it requests a 500-word statement of purpose). Please state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the doctoral program.
  • Curriculum vitae
    Include educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience, if applicable.
  • Writing sample(s)
    Writing sample(s) (35 pages maximum) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills with cover sheet contextualizing the document. Applicants may include two documents totaling a maximum of 35 pages, but at least one document must demonstrate critical analysis and research skills.
  • GRE General Test official scores
    Preferred minimum GRE General Test scores: 158 Verbal AND 5.0 Analytical Writing AND 147 Quantitative. Official scores are required from all PhD in ALT applicants regardless of prior education or vocational experience. They must be reported directly to ISU by the testing agency in order to be considered official. If official scores cannot be sent at the time of application (i.e., more than five years have elapsed since the test date), the exam must be retaken. Please record scores in the online application form (leave blank if not available yet) and upload a copy of scores into your application account. Register to take the exam or request score reports at www.ets.org, Iowa State University Inst Code: 6306.

_______________

PhD in RPC: Additional Requirements Information

  • Statement of purpose and personal goals
    1–3 double-spaced pages (leave the actual admission application form blank where it requests a 500-word statement of purpose). Please state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in the doctoral program.
  • Curriculum vitae
    Include educational background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience, if applicable.
  • Writing sample(s)
    Writing sample(s) (35 pages maximum) demonstrating critical analysis and research skills with cover sheet contextualizing the document. Applicants may include two documents totaling a maximum of 35 pages, but at least one document must demonstrate critical analysis and research skills.

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Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing Application
Applicants for the Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing might need to upload additional documents into their application account.

  • Applicants to the CWE MFA program: No additional documents are required except for uploading the Hogrefe Fellowship Application Form if applying for this fellowship.
  • Applicants to one of the other English department graduate programs must upload the following additional documents:
    1. Hogrefe Fellowship Application Form.
    2. A creative writing sample of no more than 25 pages of prose (double-spaced) or 15 pages of poetry (may use 1.15 spacing) demonstrating exemplary ability in one genre.
  • Applicants to other graduate programs at ISU outside the English department must email the following documents to englgrad@iastate.edu. (See Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship Application Instructions for more information.)
    1. Hogrefe Fellowship Application Form
    2. ISU online graduate application and fee payment
    3. Scanned official transcripts and degree statements
    4. Three letters of recommendation
    5. Curriculum vitae/resume
    6. Statement of purpose & personal goals (2–3 double-spaced pages maximum)
    7. Two writing samples are required: 1] creative writing sample of no more than 25 pages of prose (double-spaced) or 15 pages of poetry (may use 1.15 spacing) demonstrating exemplary ability in one genre and 2] expository prose writing sample (5–10 pages double-spaced) displaying your command of scholarly research and accepted grammatical rules for written English. Applicants usually submit a scholarly research essay written for an undergraduate class or graduate course in English demonstrating critical and research skills.