Admission Requirements for MA (TESOL Option)

Admission to the MA program in English requires a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Other qualifications and application materials appear below. Applicants should be mindful that meeting the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee admission.

Admission Qualifications and Application Materials

Applicants should have maintained an undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, particularly in English courses.
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree appropriate to the specialization they will follow. For the specialization in Literature, they must have a minimum of 24 hours in English (excluding first-year composition).
Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation.
Applicants must submit a written statement of approximately 250 words identifying the specific program to which he or she is applying, particular interests in the field, reasons for undertaking graduate study in this area, relevant work experience, and future career plans.
Applicants must submit one of the following:
- Writing Sample: A 7- to 15-page paper recently written in an upper-level seminar in an appropriate area of study.
- GRE scores are not required, but may be sent as part of the application. (Institution code: 6546).
Applicants who are not native speakers of English must submit a score on the TOEFL iBT, or TOEFL and TWE, or IELTS, as part of their application.

Students are admitted to the MA program with an option in TESOL. If a student wishes to move from this degree program into another degree program, the student must submit an application to and receive approval for that change from the Admissions Committee. The application must included a new statement of purpose and a new writing sample, which will be considered along with the rest of the student’s graduate file. Since this application will be an internal English Department matter, students will not pay an application fee. If the Admissions Committee does not grant the request, the student will have the option of continuing in the TESOL degree program.

Admission Checklist

1.) OSU's English Department requires three letters of reference, please contact your references prior to beginning your application, and obtain their email addresses.
2.) Apply to OSU Graduate College. Click here for the graduate application.
3.) You will complete your entire application electronically.
4.) Non-native English speakers must also submit TOEFL ibt, TOEFL and TWE, or IELTS scores to the Graduate College.
5.) Apply for funding through a teach assistantship, if desired. Click here for assistantship information and application.

Admission Deadline

For fall admissions, January 5 is the Priority Placement deadline for applications. Applications received prior to January 5 will be given first consideration for assistantships and financial incentives. We will continue to accept applications until March 1, but the availability of assistantships and incentive packages diminishes after the Priority Placement deadline on January 5.

For spring admissions, the application deadline is October 15. Students admitted in spring are typically not eligible for departmental funding, including assistantships, until the following fall semester.

To apply to the OSU English Department Graduate program, click here.