Admissions
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
You may apply to only one of the Applied Community and Economic Development programs at a time.
GPA
You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or 9+ hours of coursework in a master's program.
Coursework
You will need to have successfully completed basic college courses in:
- Calculus and Statistics
- Principles of Economics
- Intermediate courses in Microeconomic and Macroeconomic Theory
If you do not meet the coursework requirements, you may still be admitted into the program, but you will be expected to take additional coursework before starting graduate study to remedy designated deficiencies.
GRE
Use institutional code 1319 to submit your official GRE scores.
Recommendation Contact Information
Submit the names and email addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application.
Resume
Upload your current resume to the application system.
Statement of Purpose
Write and upload a two-page statement of purpose. Your statement should address:
- Your motivations for graduate school
- Your career goals
- How this master's degree in your specific academic discipline (anthropology, applied economics, kinesiology and recreation, political science, or sociology) will help you reach these goals
- Any additional information about your interest in our program
Writing Sample
Submit a sample of your academic writing (at least five pages).
Service Document
Upload one of the following:
- Letter of Service (Applied Community and Economic Development Fellows Program)
- Official Description of Service (Peace Corps Fellows Program)
Assistantship Application
Complete the Applied Economics, ACED sequence graduate assistantship application, available through the Stevenson Center. Only applicants selected for both admission and the applied economics, ACED sequence graduate assistantship are admitted to the ACED sequence.
Interview
Applicants who submit all materials according to the posted instructions and by the posted deadlines, and those whose materials indicate potential for success in their chosen program, will complete a required interview by phone or in person.
Admission Dates and Deadlines
Term | Application Deadline |
---|---|
Fall (August) | March 1 |
Graduate Coordinator
Name | Office | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Dane Myers | Stevenson 435 | StevensonCenter@ilstu.edu | (309) 438-7090 |
Cost & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions - Admissions
Read the most common questions students have about admissions processes and find answers to help guide you through the application process.