Q. Is IUP Accredited?

A. IUP is accredited by the Middle States Association of colleges and Secondary School, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and The Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Q. What is the cost?

Please refer to the IUP bursar’s office for information on costs,

Q. Is financial aid available?

A. Academic-year students may apply for a Graduate Assistantship. G.A. awards are decided each April for the following academic year. Awards are decided according to program, academic performance, and background. Full assistantships carry a tuition waiver and a stipend of around $6,300 in return for assisting a professor with research or academic work for 20 hours per week. Most assistantships are awarded to entering Ph.D. students on a competitive basis (with a probability of a second-year award). Some international students are awarded a partial tuition waiver by the Office of International Student Affairs; students seeking this partial tuition waiver must contact the International Student Affairs Office at (724)357-2295. Alternately, there are student loans. You can reach the Financial Aid Office at (724)357-2218 or by e-mail at financial-aid@iup.edu.

Q. Are there any assistantships for summer?

A. Because the summer program is intense, we do not offer assistantships in the summer. Students who are awarded assistantships for the academic year are able to register for up to 12 hours of coursework in summer with a tuition waiver (no stipend).

Q. How long does it take to get a Ph.D. degree at IUP?

A. The School of Graduate Study and Research allows students seven years from the date of matriculation to complete the Ph.D. Depending on the individual's circumstances, it can take as little as three years, or on average, four to five years.

Q. What if I need more time?

A. With approval of the program director and the Dean of the Graduate School, student may apply for a one-year extension. To qualify for approval of a one-year extension, the student must have all requirements for the degree met and he/she must be working on an approved dissertation. Under extraordinary circumstances, a second one-year extension may be granted. The student should write directly to the program coordinator to request any extension.

Q. What is the dissertation registration policy?

A. All Ph.D. students who are beyond the Comprehensive Exams (LIT) or Culminating Evaluation (C&T) must register for at least one Dissertation Credit (ENGL 950) each fall and spring until graduation. Twelve hours of Dissertation Credit must be in place by the time the student defends his/her dissertation. Tuition applies to all credits, but fees are reduced.

Q. Do I need to take any tests for admission like the GRE or TOEFL?

A. We do not require the GRE examination. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of all international students entering from a non-English speaking country. The TOEFL will be waived by The Graduate School if the student has an M.A. degree from a U.S. university. While The Graduate School will accept TOEFL scores of 500 or higher, the Graduate English Programs require a score of at least 580.

Q. Do I need to be proficient in a foreign language?

A. The Ph.D. program in Literature and Criticism requires proficiency in one foreign language. A test to show reading proficiency in a language other than English is administered at least three times per year by the Advising and Testing Office in Pratt Hall. Applications to take the foreign language test are available from that office. A. The Ph.D. program in Composition & TESOL does not have a foreign language requirement.

Q. How many courses do I have to take?

A. That depends on the program you choose. All M.A. degrees require 36 credit hours with the exception of those seeking certification in the M.A./Teaching English. Those students may need to take additional courses required by PA for certification. Also, students in the M.A./Teaching English program may need to take six hours of student teaching. Both Ph.D. degrees have a course work requirement of 30 hours plus 6 hours of research skills courses. After course work, students must enroll for 12 hours of dissertation. Ph.D. students must enroll for at least one credit hour of dissertation each semester until they graduate.

Q. What courses should I register for in my first semester?

A. All students should meet with their advisor before registering in any semester. Generally speaking, students should plan to take core courses before registering for elective or advanced courses.

Q. How many courses can I take each semester?

A. Most students will be advised to take nine semester hours (three courses) each semester. Under special circumstances and with permission from the program director, a student may take twelve hours per semester.

Q. Can I combine programs?

A. Each program has its own core courses and required courses. There are open electives built into each program to allow students to customize their program to fit their needs. Any open electives should be approved by the program director.

Q. Can I transfer courses?

A. Three Composition and TESOL to six Literature credits can be transferred into your graduate program providing they are fewer than five years old from an accredited graduate program, have a grade of "A", and are approved by the director of your program. Requests for approval of transfer credits can be obtained from the secretary in the Graduate English Office.

Q. Are there any on-line courses?

A. At this time there are no on-line graduate English courses. However, students may take up to six credits of Independent (Study), from off-campus, with our faculty. We offer Independent Seminar (Study) each semester to allow students to pursue areas of English that are not regularly offered in course work. Independent Seminar applications are available from the secretary in the Graduate English Office. Independent Seminars must be approved by the program director before the student will be permitted to register for the course.

Q. How must I fulfill the Residency Requirement?

A. Only the Ph.D. programs have a residency requirement. Essentially, there are three ways to fulfill the residency requirement: 1) two consecutive full-time academic-year semesters; 2) two consecutive full-time summers; 3) a combination of a full-time summer and a full-time semester (i.e. summer/fall or spring/summer).

Q. How does the summer residency work?

A. Each student who elects to meet his/her residency in the summers-only program must register for twelve credits per summer for two consecutive summers. The summers are divided into two five-week sessions. Students must register for two courses in each five-week session. In order to complete all course work, the student may elect to take a third summer, transfer up to two courses, do up to two independent seminars, or a combination of these options.

Q. Where can I eat?

A. You have a variety of choices for meals on and around campus. We recommend that you consider at least a partial meal-plan on campus if you are coming for our summer program. Studying in the summer is intense; and not having to shop, cook, and clean will help with your time-management. There are also fast-food restaurants within walking distance to campus. Among them are: Arby's, Taco-Bell, McDonalds, Pizza-Hut/KFC, Sub-Way, and numerous other non-chain restaurants. Meal plans range from $29.80 to 52.60 per week, and some plans allow you to use your I-card for some restaurants in town. More information about meal plans can be obtained from The Housing and Residence Life Office (724)357-2696 or by e-mail at iup-ohrl@iup.edu.

For information on meal plans, consult the IUP bursar's office.

Q. Where can I live?

A. Graduate students can choose to live on-campus, but most prefer to live off-campus. Surrounding campus are a number of accommodations from dorm-style living to apartment living (both furnished and unfurnished). Information about housing, both on-campus and off-campus, can be obtained from The Housing and Residence Life Office (724)357-2696 or by e-mail at iup-ohrl@iup.edu.

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