Regular Admission

Required Documents

Admission Requirements

Online Graduate Application
  • Application Fee $35 (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)

One Official Transcript from each institution where you have previously enrolled (undergraduate and graduate).

(Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution in any one of the following three areas or its equivalent*:
    • English
    • Secondary Education - English
    • Middle Grades Education - English.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale. This GPA may be cumulative or in the undergraduate major.

Two Recommendations
  • Recommendations from professionals familiar with your academic background.
Cover Letter
  • Applicants must submit a 2-page cover letter detailing how the degree will impact the applicant's professional life, including relevant academic training and interests and professional career goals.

VSU Medical Form
  • The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
  • This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
  • Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

*Applicants currently certified to teach language arts who can provide appropriate documentation as to their certification status are encouraged to apply. Prospective applicants should forward questions about equivalency to the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of English.

*The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is no longer required (although scores may be submitted voluntarily by applicants).

The above requirements represent the minimal standards which must be met for consideration for admission to the MA program in the Department of English. Meeting or exceeding these standards does not guarantee admission.  The department makes a determination for admission based on these criteria as well as the student's career goals, fit to the program, and evolving trends and standards in the profession.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

Special Requirements for Students Entering the Program without an Undergraduate Degree in English, Secondary Ed - English, or Middle Grades Ed - English:

Students desirous of entering the program without an undergraduate degree in these fields must have completed at least 5 English courses at the undergraduate or graduate level with a grade of "B" or higher (or comparable preparation accepted at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee).

Probationary Admission

Students may be accepted as probationary students in the Department of English. Moreover, in addition to submitting the required admissions materials, students seeking probationary admission must submit a three-page essay to the Department of English, detailing (a) career goals and (b) academic interests. Probationary acceptance is provisional and at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.

International Applicants 

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines

  •  – Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement.
  • Certificate of Finances - The Certificate of Finances is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
  • Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.