Admission and Assistantships

University Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
• Submission of all required admission materials, including:
  1. Completed graduate application for admission
  2. $30 nonrefundable application fee (unless you have previously applied to Grand Valley)
  3. Official copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Transcripts must be sent from those institutions directly to the GVSU Admissions Office. NOTE: We do not require official transcripts from Grand Valley.
  4. Test scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) for applicants whose native language is not English. Only original score reports will be accepted. 

Program Requirements

• A personal statement—a statement about your reasons for pursuing this program of study, your learning objectives in the program, and your career goals when you complete the program.
• A writing sample—a substantive piece of writing, no less than three full pages (1500-1700 words), which demonstrates your academic writing ability. It could be a past paper you wrote for an undergraduate or graduate course.
• Two letters of recommendation from your former professors or supervisor in a relevant field who can testify to your potential as a graduate student in this program.
• GRE (General) score if the applicant’s undergraduate GPA in the major, or graduate GPA, is below 3.0.
• International students whose first language is not English are required to submit scores on TOEFL-iBT, IELTS, MELAB, PTE Academic, or other approved English proficiency tests. The minimum acceptable score of 80 on TOEFL-iBT, 6.5 on IELTS, 77 on MELAB, or 53 on PTE Academic is required. Please consult the program director for consideration of scores from other valid tests.
  
  The M.A. Applied Linguistics program has a rolling admissions process, so applications will be reviewed as received. However, to be guaranteed consideration for the Fall semester start, applications must be received by the following dates:
   
• No later than May 1st for international students
• No later than July 15th for domestic students
   

Suggested Full-time Planned Program of Study

The program can typically be completed in two academic years if students enroll full-time. All full-time and part-time students should begin their study in the fall semester. The length could be shortened to 1 and ½ years if students plan on taking spring/summer courses, although spring/summer course offerings are contingent upon demand and availability of faculty, and therefore, are not guaranteed. Students who wish to enroll on a part-time basis should consult with the program director to determine a viable plan of study.

Graduate Assistantship

The MA-Applied Linguistics program is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Special Projects Graduate Assistantships. The GA-ship carries a half-tuition waiver (4.5 credits per semester for two semesters) and a stipend of $2000 per semester for a total of $4000 for the academic year. It requires 10 hours of work per week for the program. Specific job responsibilities are laid out in the application. Both current and incoming students in good standing who take a minimum of 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply. International students must maintain full-time status (9 credit hours).

The application deadline is April 10, 2020.

The final offer of the GA-ship is contingent upon approval of funding by the University. Use the following forms to complete your application.

Only applicants who have been admitted into the program are eligible to apply.

Use the following forms to complete your application.

• Graduate Assistantship Application (PDF)
• Graduate Assistantship Recommendation Form (PDF)
• Graduate Assistantship Job Description (PDF)  

Contact

For further program information, please contact the English Department office in 235 LHH (616) 331-3400, or email Shinian Wu, Director of the MA in Applied Linguistics, 241 LHH, (616) 331-3690.