PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS >> UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Domestic Student Information

At SIUC, you may be admitted to the Graduate School by either applying directly to a particular degree program or by applying as a Nondeclared Graduate Student (the latter category is not available to international students).

Applications for degree programs must be obtained from the individual department. For the name of the specific person to contact to obtain application materials, you may contact the Admissions Office. We have lists available of who these persons are. It is important that you contact the appropriate person in the department in order to get the correct information about applying and about the degree program itself. All application materials must be returned to the department. You must meet minimum general Graduate School requirements to be eligible to be considered for admission by a department.

In addition to the application, you must also complete the Financial Statement Form for International Graduate Students.

To be eligible to be considered for admission to a graduate program, the following minimum gpa's are required:

For admissions to a Master's program:

• 2.7 (on a 4.0 grading scale) on the last two years of your Bachelor's degree
  
  • If you have completed your Bachelor's degree, we will go back from the degree date 60 graded semester hours, and include the entire term where the 60 hours fall.
  • If you have not yet completed your Bachelor's degree and are missing one semester, (for example a spring semester and possibly and summer term), we will go back 45 graded semester hours and include the entire term where the 45 hours fall.
• 3.0 on all previous graduate work

For admission to a Ph.D. program:

• 3.25 on all previous graduate level course work

When you have met the above minimum general Graduate School requirements, you are eligible to apply to a department. Departments may have additional requirements of their own, which may include a higher minimum gpa.

The English language requirement may be met in several ways:

• a 550 TOEFL (220 on the computer-based TOEFL); some departments require a higher score
  • The International TOEFL may be taken only on computer at Sylvan Learning Center (across from the University Mall close to the AMC Theater). The cost is approximately $100 and scores are available in about two weeks.
  • The "Institutional" TOEFL (paper-based exam only) may be taken at SIU; this is given approximately once every two months. Scores are available within a few days, but you must sign up well in advance. You must contact the Admissions Office if you wish to take this TOEFL.
• 100 hours of graded U.S. coursework taken immediately before your planned graduate enrollment
• Substantial recent U.S. coursework (50 or more hours) PLUS passing "Additional Testing", an oral interview and written essay exam arranged by the Graduate School.

All students have to submit their application with 3 letters of recommendation and a "Statement of Purpose", a one or two page statement explaining why the student wishes to pursue graduate studies, why they are particularly interested in the major, what they wish to do with their degree, etc.

Please note that once you are enrolled as a graduate student, you are required to maintain an overall B average (3.0) in your graduate credit course work to remain in good academic standing.