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ADMISSION STATUS:
Students are accepted into the English MA degree program in regular, probationary, or conditional admission status, as determined by a holistic review of the required application materials.
To earn a degree, the student must eventually achieve regular admission status. A student may also be admitted in post-baccalaureate non-degree-seeking status in order to take graduate English courses at Sam Houston State University.
Definitions of admission statuses follow:
REGULAR STATUS (ADMISSION IN “GOOD STANDING”):
A student in regular status has submitted all of the required application materials and has satisfied the standard for admission in good standing, as determined by a holistic review of the application file. To qualify for regular admission, the student must have a minimum score of 153 on the verbal reasoning portion of the GRE and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
While admission status is determined by a holistic review of application materials, the average GRE verbal reasoning score for English MA students in Spring 2015 was 157, the average quantitative reasoning score 148. The average score for the analytical writing section was 3.87. The average undergraduate overall GPA was 3.51.
A student admitted under probationary status has submitted all of the required application materials but fails to qualify for regular admission (above), as determined by a holistic review of the application file. A probationary student must have at least a 2.8 undergraduate overall GPA, a score of approximately 150 on the GRE verbal reasoning section, and a score of approximately 141 on the GRE quantitative reasoning section.
The student admitted in probationary status takes nine credit hours in this status, preferably during the first long term. To be “translated” into regular admission status, the student must earn at least Bs in all three classes; if the student earns a C in any course, she or he will be dismissed from the graduate program.
A student admitted under conditional status may be missing a key piece of the required application materials (for example, the GRE score report) and is accepted with the condition that she or he will submit the missing materials by the end of the first long term of enrollment and will satisfy the minimum standards for regular admission. A conditional student must have at least a 3.2 undergraduate overall GPA. The student admitted conditionally is limited to taking six hours before submitting the missing materials.
+ Prior to August 1, 2011, the GRE General Test was scored on a scale of 200-800; after that date the test was scored on a scale of 130-170. For purposes of the admission formula, scores from the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections are converted to the older scale. For concordance tables used to convert the scores, see the Educational Testing Service document “Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Concordance Information.”
* The equivalent of 500 on the scale used before August 1, 2011.
POST-BACCAULAUREATE NON-DEGREE STUDENTS:
An individual who holds a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and wishes to take graduate English courses at Sam Houston State University may apply as a post-baccalaureate non-degree-seeking student. Should the post-baccalaureate student later apply for and be accepted to the English MA Program in regular admission, she or he may apply toward the degree up to nine hours (only) earned in that status.
For admission as a non-degree-seeking post-baccalaureate student, an applicant submits the following materials:
1. The “Apply Texas” Common Application, designating application for non-degree-seeking post-baccalaureate status
2. The graduate application fee ($45.00)
3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. The undergraduate transcript must show proof of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
4. A letter of intent addressed to the Director of Graduate Studies in English. The letter must state briefly the reasons for seeking permission to take graduate English courses.
Submit all items to the following address:
Graduate Admissions Office
Sam Houston State University
Box 2478
Huntsville TX 77341-2478
ADMISSION PROCESS
For admission to the English Graduate Program, an applicant must submit the following materials:
1. A graduate application form. The Graduate Studies Office uses the “Apply Texas” Common Application.
2. The graduate application fee ($45.00; $75.00 USD for international students)
3. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. The undergraduate transcript must show proof of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
The applicant should have at least four non-freshman English classes (twelve credit hours), preferably upper-division (junior/ senior) courses, with at least a 3.0 GPA in those classes.
A student admitted under regular admission status must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate overall GPA; a student admitted under conditional status must have at least a 3.2 overall GPA.
An applicant with credentials from a foreign university must have the transcript or degree certificate reviewed by a transcript evaluation service, which will translate classwork and grades into United States equivalencies.
4. A score report for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal and quantitative sections. Students should have a minimum 153 score in the verbal reasoning area.* Scores for the subject test (“Literature in English”) are not required. For purposes of admission to the program, an applicant who holds a Master’s degree in another discipline from an accredited academic institution may appeal for a GRE waiver; however, the applicant who wishes to apply for a graduate assistantship must present GRE scores, even if those scores have expired, and must meet the 1,000 combined score (according to the old scale) required for the assistantship.
5. A critical writing sample of at least ten full typed pages. While we will accept papers from outside disciplines that give evidence of your critical thinking abilities, we prefer samples that demonstrate (1) research and critical writing skills particular to the study of literature and language and (2) your ability to formulate and defend a cogent critical argument in a scholarly idiom appropriate to upper-division English classes. While the writing sample should be a single, sustained piece of work, typical of graduate-level writing, we will accept combinations of shorter pieces in exceptional cases.
A student wishing to pursue a creative writing emphasis may also submit for consideration a portfolio of creative work. The creative writing sample will supplement but not replace the critical writing sample.
6. Letters of recommendation from three referees qualified to assess your general intellectual abilities, academic accomplishments, writing skills, and potential for success in a graduate English program. Letters should be addressed to the Director of Graduate Studies in English; they should bear original signatures from the referees. Please attach the request for letter of recommendation and waiver form.
7. (For admission as a post-baccalaureate, non-degree-seeking student, see above.)
Submit all items to the following address:
Graduate Admissions Office
Sam Houston State University
Box 2478
Huntsville TX 77341-2478
APPLICATION DEADLINES
|
ENTRANCE TERM |
APPLICATION DEADLINE |
|
Fall |
August 1 (May 15 for Graduate Assistant) |
|
Spring |
December 1 (November 1 for Graduate Assistant) |
|
Summer I |
May 15 |
|
Summer II |
June 15 |
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS:
The English Graduate Program welcomes qualified international applicants. However, applicants who do not hold American citizenship must be accepted under regular admission status, without conditions.
International students must submit the same admission materials as all other applicants, with the following qualifications:
1. International students must have submitted all application materials at least sixty days before the first class day of the entrance term. This deadline does not account for any extra time required to make arrangements for a student visa; the applicant is responsible for making all such arrangements with the Office of International Programs.
2. The applicants must submit a score report showing a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This score translates to 213 under revised scoring for the computerized version of the test. Scores should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office.
3. An applicant with credentials from a foreign university must have the transcript reviewed by a transcript evaluation service, which will translate classwork and grades into United States equivalencies. The transcript evaluation service should send its report directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
* Prior to August 1, 2011, the GRE General Test was scored on a scale of 200-800. A score of 153 on the Verbal Reasoning Test is the equivalent of a 500 on the old scale.
