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English Graduate Application Information

A Message to Applicants

The English Graduate Admissions Committee is sensitive to the situation regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to future applicants. We want to assure all applicants to our programs that Pass, or "P" grades, taken for any reason during your course of study, will have no impact on our evaluation of your application, and the Graduate School will not factor them into your GPA calculation.

Eligibility Requirements

For our MA and PhD programs, we encourage applications from students who have done undergraduate and graduate coursework in English, especially in British and U.S. literatures, and who are interested in gaining further depth and breadth in these subjects alongside training in literature and composition pedagogy. Applicants interested in TESOL may be graduate students in any field. Prior experience with linguistics, language training, or language acquisition is helpful, but not required.

 

Program

Degree Required

GPA

Test Scores

MA

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, including 21 undergraduate credits in English

Min. 3.0

(or equivalent)

GRE optional

PhD

MA in English (or closely related field)

Min. 3.5

(or equivalent)

GRE optional

TESOL Certificate

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

GPA of 3.0 over the last two years of undergraduate coursework

GRE optional*

 

*

Also required for international applicants who have not graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States (at the undergraduate and/or graduate level), and whose native language is not English: score of 21 on the listening section of the computer-based TOEFL test with a composite score of 550/213, or a score of 84 on the MTELP, or a score of 6 on the IELTS. Exceptions to the testing requirement are students from countries where English is the official language. See the Graduate Catalog for examples of qualifying countries.

 

Necessary Application Materials

Applicants must submit all application materials through the application portal on the Graduate School page.

English Department required materials:

All applicants:

  • Three letters of recommendation
  • 500-word statement of purpose
  • A page with your full contact information: address(es), phone number(s), and e-mail(s)

MA applicants also submit:

  • 5-page writing sample
  • or 10-20 page writing sample (if applying for Teaching Assistantship)

PhD applicants also submit:

  • 10-20 page writing sample

MA and PhD Applicants interested in TESOL must also submit:

  • a separate application to the TESOL Certificate Program


These materials are evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Admission is offered based on the student's potential for academic success, as well as the fit between the applicant's interests and the mission of the programs and faculty expertise.

Questions: english@isu.edu

Graduate School required materials:

  1. Graduate School Application Form
  2. Graduate School Application Fee
  3. Official transcripts of undergraduate and any graduate coursework
  4. TOEFL, MTELP, or IELTS scores (for applicants whose first language is not English)

Questions: gradschool@isu.edu

Important Application Dates

Fall Semester Deadlines

Feb 1

  • Deadline for Priority Consideration for Assistantships and Fellowships
  • Applications for admission due
  • Applications for TAships and fellowships due
  • Renewal TAship and fellowship applications due for continuing MA and PhD students

March 1

March 15

  • Admissions and financial award decisions announced

April 15

  • Deadline for students to accept admission
  • Deadline for students to accept TA and fellowship offers

April 15-August 31 (June 1 for international students)

  • Wait-listed applicants for admission contacted in ranked order
  • Wait-listed applicants for TAships and fellowships contacted in ranked order
  • Late applications for admission reviewed on a rolling basis

August

Spring Semester Deadlines

Oct 1

  • Applications for admission due
  • Applications for TAships and fellowships for spring semester due

Note: TAship or fellowship funding is not normally available for applicants admitted in spring

Nov 1

  • Admissions and financial award decisions announced

Dec 1

  • Deadline for students to accept admission
  • Deadline for students to accept TA and fellowship offers

Dec 1-Jan 15 (domestic students only)

  • Wait-listed applicants for admission contacted in ranked order
  • Wait-listed applicants for TAships and fellowships contacted in ranked order
  • Late applications for admission considered on a rolling basis

January

Inquiries

Inquiries regarding the graduate programs in English should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies (see contact information below). For information about graduate courses in Philosophy, please contact the Director of Philosophy at philosophy@isu.edu.

Director of Graduate Studies in English

Matthew Levay

Director of Graduate Studies in English

Liberal Arts Building | Room 239

matthewlevay@isu.edu

 

Mailing address

Department of English & Philosophy
Idaho State University
921 S 8th Ave, Stop 8056
Pocatello, ID 83209-8056

Office Staff

Kirsten Cooper

Graduate Program Office Specialist II

Liberal Arts Building | Room 238

208-282-4294

kirstencooper@isu.edu