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
- have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
- present unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term. If accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to the master's program in Agriculture - Agribusiness must submit:
- Two letters of recommendation
- A statement of interest
- A resume
- TOEFL scores (International students only)
Letters of Recommendation
References are submitted through the admissions system. Your references need to include their contact information on official letterhead.
Statement of Interest
Your statement of interest should include:
- why you want to study at Illinois State University’s Department of Agriculture
- your professional experience
- career goals
- research interests
- other experience specifically applicable to our program
Resume
Include your work history and skill set.
TOEFL Score (International Students Only)
International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 92 iBT, 237 computer-based, or 580 paper-based; the minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5 band.
Faculty Approval
In addition to the admission application and required test scores, admission to the MS program requires approval from a faculty member in the program who shares your academic interest and is willing to serve as your faculty supervisor. That review is conducted when your application materials are forwarded from the Admissions Department.
The required resume, statement of interest, and recommendation letters are used in this review so faculty members can be informed of your background and interests.
Admission Dates and Deadlines
Term | Application Deadline |
---|---|
Fall (August) | February 1 |
Spring (January) | October 1 |
Summer (May/June) | February 1 |
Graduate Coordinator
Name | Office | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Rob Rhykerd | 125F Clarence R Ropp Agriculture Bldng | rrhyker@ilstu.edu | (309) 438-8550 |