The USF Graduate School and the College of Education have specific prerequisites for admission.  Please check the Admissions pages of the College of Education as well as the Graduate School for further information.

Admission is based on a holistic evaluation of the candidate's demonstrated potential to complete successfully all of the course requirements specific to the degree.  Success in the program requires excellent presentation and high quality writing skills, scholarship and a commitment to systematic inquiry.

Application Materials

• The USF Graduate Admission Application;
• A current resume;
• A clear and detailed statement of professional and personal goals describing the reasons that earning the degree is important to those goals;
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably at least one from a current or former professor (or school prinicipal if working in a school environment) who will attest to the applicant's likelihood of success in a graduate program;
• Official transcripts from previous educational institutions.

Application Criteria

The admissions committee will consider each applicant in light of his/her qualifications and likelihood of success.  The faculty employ a holistic approach to admissions, taking into account all the information and balancing previous grade point averages, test scores, previous success in graduate coursework, recommendations, and professional experiences as well as fit of the program to the applicants' personal and professional goals.  In order to be admitted to the graduate program in Secondary Education, students must present the following:

• a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher while classified as an upper division student in a baccalaureate degree.  In the event that an applicant does not meet the 3.0 GPA, the applicant must compete at least 6 graduate semester hours as a non-degree seeking student in coursework taught by an ESOL language education faculty member before consideration for admission;
• Evidence of successful professional experiences supporting the fit between professional background and program goals;

       For international applicants: 

• Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the U.S. must, according to university policy, submit a TOEFL score (minimum of 213 computer-based, 550 paper-based, or 79 internet-based test). http:// www.ets.org/toefl
• An official evaluation of your transcript from a university outside of the United States is also required. For a list of approved agencies please see the link: http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/admissions/transcript.asp

Taking Classes Before Being Formally Admitted

It is possible to begin your program as a non-degree seeking student prior to being formally admitted (while you are waiting for test results, for example).  Students pursuing this option should obtain the non-degree registration packet from the Registrar's Office in order to register.

However, be aware that:

• Only 12 USF graduate credit hours taken before admissions as a graduate student may be applied to the degree program;
• Students pursuing certification who decide afterwards to join the MA program will only be allowed to transfer 12 graduate credit hours to the MAT program.
• Only 8 graduate credit hours or 3 graduate courses may be transferred from another institution.

Once your application packet is complete and turned in to the Graduate Admissions Office, the Graduate Office sends it to the ESOL Education faculty for consideration.  The Graduate School then notifies you of the admission decision.  Students should contact their advisor following their formal notice of admission in order to be issued their Planned Program of Studies.

Students may check their status by contacting the Graduate School (813-974-2846) or visiting http://admissions.grad.usf.edu and clicking on "Check Status" under "Prospective Students."  (International applicants will need to input their "ID" number and birthdate.  ID number can be obtained by sending an e-mail to id@grad.usf.edu.)

You can find information about registration and financial aid on the website of the Registrar's Office.

A Graduate Orientation related to our graduate programs is offered every semester in the Special Events Center.  For more information, please visit the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) website at http://www.gpsc.usf.edu.

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