MSU Graduate Admissions Requirements
The admissions requirements for a MSU graduate program are outlined in the following link: http://catalog.msstate.edu/graduate/admissions-information/application-process/
Departmental Graduate Admissions Requirements
General Requirements
Prerequisites for admission into the graduate program include all the general requirements of the Office of the Graduate School. International students must obtain a minimum TOEFL score of 550 PBT (213 CBT or 79 iBT) or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
Components of the Admission Packet
Ph.D. Program
- Application to the graduate degree program
- GRE scores are not currently required (when GRE scores are required, they may be waived if an applicant has a graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher on previous graduate work from an accredited institution)
- Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty and administrators who can comment about your scholarly ability)
- Statement of purpose (a minimum of one-page single-spaced): In the statement, please make sure to address the following:
- describe the purpose of applying for the Ph.D. degree in this program area
- identify your research interest
- discuss your career goals
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- A copy of your professional resume
- Ph.D. applicants who pass the initial screening will be contacted for an online interview.
Master and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
- Application to the graduate degree program
- Three letters of recommendation (preferably from faculty and administrators who can comment about your scholarly ability)
- Statement of purpose (a minimum of one-page single-spaced). In the statement, please make sure to address the following:
- describe the purpose of applying for the degree in this program area
- discuss your career goals and how this program aligns with them
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- GRE scores are not currently required
Admission Type
Full Admission
Full Admission to any department graduate programs requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher from a four-year accredited institution or a minimum graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on previous graduate work from an accredited institution.
Provisional Admission
If a student does not fully meet the admission requirements of the program, it may be possible for that student to be admitted provisionally. If admitted provisionally, the student must attain a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University after admission to the program.
Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 GPA is not attained, the student shall be dismissed from the graduate program.
Contingent Admission
There are no contingent admissions. The admission packet must be complete and all requirements met before admission will be considered.
Admission Deadlines
A student applying for admission into the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development must submit the complete application packet to the Office of the Graduate School no later than:
| Applying For | Domestic Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer first 5-week | May 1 |
| Summer second 5-week | May 1 |
| Summer 10-week | May 1 |
| Fall | July 1 |
| Spring | November 1 |
Application deadlines for international students are two months prior to these domestic deadlines. Because our programs are online, international students take online courses without immigrating to the United States.
Readmission
The Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development requires that a student who has not been enrolled for three consecutive semesters must submit a readmission application that includes:
- Three letters of recommendation (if they are older than three years since the last application), and
- A revised statement of purpose that:
- describes the purpose of reapplying
- discusses the applicant's career goals
- explains how circumstances have changed making academic improvement a realistic goal
- identifies the applicant's research interest (Ph.D students only)
Application Process
You can begin the application process via the application link below:
Admittance to Program
Once you have completed the admission process, the Graduate School will forward your information to the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development for review. After review by the department admissions committee, Department Head, College Dean, and Graduate Dean, you will be notified of the decision by an email from the Graduate School. If you have any further questions, you may contact the Graduate School and/or ISWD Department at the links below.
Admittance to Program
After your admission to the program, you will be assigned an advisor from our department. You will need to contact your advisor to schedule an appointment to complete your course schedule for the upcoming semester. The links below will direct you to the ISWD faculty page where you can find the faculty members’ names and view their full profiles including research interests.