Department of English
Site Contents
Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
The main application form is completed online at the Graduate School website. Instructions about other materials are found at the Applying link on the main English Graduate website. There, you can download forms to be used with letters of recommendation.
Where do I mail application materials?
The electronic application and the fee are to be sent to the Graduate School. Please have all other application materials mailed to:
W. Joseph Palmer, Director of Graduate Studies
English Graduate Office
500 Oval Drive
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2038
What is the application deadline?
For Fall registration, applications to all English graduate programs should arrive no later than January 15.
Can I apply directly to your PhD program?
All applicants must have an M.A. before they can begin our PhD program.
What are the codes for GRE & TOEFL?
GRE institution code is 1631. Departmental code is 2599.
TOEFL Departmental code is 14.
What tests do international students need to take?
International students must submit an official TOEFL iBT score (sent directly from the testing center). The minimum internet based scores required for admission are the following:
Writing: 18
Speaking: 27
Listening: 14
Reading: 19
Total score: 77
Only those with a speaking score of 27 or more can be considered for a teaching assistantship.
The English Department also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. An overall band score of 6.5 is required for admission. A score of 7 in the speaking section is required if you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship in the English Department.
Does the English Graduate Program require the GRE English Literature Subject Test?
All English graduate applicants must take the General GRE. The subject exam is not required. It is advisable to take the test as early as possible since no application can be considered complete without the results (which must be sent directly from Educational Testing Service).
What are my chances of getting a teaching assistantship?
Your application for admission is also your application for teaching assistantship. If admitted you will automatically be considered for a teaching assisantship. Purdue's nationally acclaimed mentor program for teaching assistants offers graduate students the opportunity to develop pedagogy for college-level teaching and to fund their studies at the same time. Availability of Taships vary from year to year, but currently most students at the doctoral and masters levels receive them. The TA stipend is currently $13,005/year and comes with a waiver of tuition and health insurance fees. The deadline for consideration for a TA is January 15. New teaching assistantships are only available in the fall.
What teaching opportunities are available in the department?
All of our teaching assistants begin their appointments by teaching two sections (1 section each semester) first-year composition, working with a mentor and a group of other new graduate students. Following the first year, there are a number of other teaching opportunities in the English department, both in the Introductory Writing Program and in other programs: Professional Writing, tutoring in the Writing Lab, teaching ESL composition, and eventually, a literature course. Also, following the first year, which is fairly structured for teaching assistants, you will find that you have significant latitude in designing the curriculum and approach to teaching English 10600. There are currently 8 syllabus approaches to choose from that range from academic writing to writing about popular culture. Some instructors do a lot of work with new media while some do a minimal amount. While there is a lot of curricular latitude we do require instructors to work with common goals for the course. There are five approved textbooks to choose from for each course, or you may use a instructor compiled coursepack. If you choose to use a coursepack the contents of the coursepack must be approved by the Director of Composition the semester before it goes into use.
What other forms of financial support are available?
The Department and the Graduate School offer a variety of awards on a competitive basis, including the Graduate Opportunities Fellowship, the Ross Fellowship, and the Andrews Fellowship. Please see the Graduate School site for a full list and descriptions of these. Individual departmental programs such as Professional Writing and Rhetoric and Composition, along with the journal Modern Fiction Studies, provide select students with non-teaching assistantships.
Where can I find information about faculty and graduate course offerings?
See the links for Faculty and Courses elsewhere on the English site.
Where can I learn about housing and transportation in and around campus?
For housing, check both the GradSea link elsewhere on the English Gradsite and University Housing (http://www.housing.purdue.edu/). Bus service is free for Purdue students throughout the greater Lafayette area (see http://www.gocitybus.com/).
What constitutes a "full-time" load of coursework in English Graduate Studies?
The Department regards 6 hours (usually 2 courses) as full-time study, but student aid organizations usually require 9 hours (usually 3 courses) to meet their definition of "full time." New TAs usually take 6 hours (2 courses) their first semester and 9 hours (3 courses) each semester following.
Other questions?
Please contact any of the following:
The Director of Graduate Studies (wjpalmer@purdue.edu)
Graduate Secretary (griff@purdue.edu; telephone 765-494-3748)