How To Apply | Graduate Admission

Application Procedures (All Except MFA)

Submit an Online Graduate Admissions Application along with the required application fee. For tips on the Statement of Purpose and other items related to the graduate application, go to Career Services: Applying to Graduate School.

Please have the following items sent to Arizona State University Graduate Enrollment Services:

Official transcripts from degree granting institutions. Electronic transcripts, sent by email, are not accepted. For more information, please visit Graduate Application Procedure.

Official test score reports (if required) (institution code is 4007)

International students must submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS score).

The GRE is not required for the Department of English applications.

Graduate College

Have your official transcripts, test scores and other official documents sent to:

Regular Mail FedEx, DHL, UPS
Admission Services Applicant Processing
Arizona State University
PO Box 871004
Tempe, AZ 85287-1004
Arizona State University
Admission Services Applicant Processing
1150 East University Drive Building C, Room 226
Tempe, AZ 85281

Graduate Admissions only accept the following electronic transcript services: E-Scrip, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse. Transcripts must be sent directly to gradtranscripts@asu.edu from those transcript services or from the institutions that use those services. We do not take forwarded or emailed transcripts.

ASU accepts unofficial transcripts as part of the application. This is the only way we will accept unofficial transcripts. Emailed transcripts are not acceptable. If you are admitted to the university, you will be required to send official transcripts to the university.

Contact Graduate Admissions Services

*International students for whom English is not a native language must also submit evidence of English proficiency. This can be done in one of three ways:
1. One of the following results on a standardized English proficiency test: (a) 100 or higher on the TOEFL; (b) 7.0 or higher on the IELTS;
2. A grade of "A" in all Advanced 2 classes in the ASU Global Launch Program (http://global.asu.edu/aecp);
3. One of the following from a regionally accredited college/university in the US: (a) a bachelor's degree or higher; (b) at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; (c) at least 12 semester hours of graduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

The following supporting documents MUST BE uploaded into your online graduate application:

Statement of Purpose, no more than two pages, summarizing past educational experiences and goals in pursuing a graduate degree

Academic Writing Sample, if required by program. For example, one critical paper or research paper 10-25 pages prepared in an upper-division or graduate English course. This paper should show no markings or evaluative comments by a previous grader.

CV or résumé

At least three letters of recommendation from faculty members familiar with your work. (You will be asked for your recommenders' email addresses in the online application. Recommenders will be contacted automatically with the link to upload their letters. Do not send hard copies of letters of recommendation. You may log into your MyASU account to check the receipt of letters of recommendation and send reminders to recommenders. You can also check the status of your application.)

All supporting documents, including letter of recommendations, must be uploaded by the deadlines stated above.

Application Procedures (MFA only)

MFA Application deadline is January 1, 2020 (This program admits for fall semester only.)

Contact:

Justin Petropoulos
Program Manager of Creative Writing

Ross Blakley 152
Phone: 480-727-9130
E-mail: justin.petropoulos@asu.edu

Applicants should have an undergraduate major in English or Creative Writing, with a GPA of 3.00 or above; however, exceptional students who do not have either of these undergraduate majors may be admitted on the basis of writing excellence.

Applicants should submit all the following materials online via the Online Graduate Admissions Application along with the required application fee.

  • The application fee online via the Graduate Admissions Application ($70 domestic and $115 international)

  • Graduate Admissions Application

  • Personal Statement including your writing background, intended area of specialization, and a brief self-evaluation of recent work, (double-spaced, up to 3 pages or 750 words)

  • Three letters of recommendation

  • A personal Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

  • A Creative Manuscript Sample: up to 20 pages of poetry or 30 pages of prose (prose should be double spaced)

  • Please submit all materials for the Teaching Assistant Application packet (complete information available here: Teaching Assistant application packet), including an academic writing sample along with their statement of teaching philosophy

  • Note: the Creative Writing Program offers tracks in fiction and poetry; we do not have a creative nonfiction track

  • Official academic transcripts must be sent in hard copy to Admission Services Applicant Processing (see below)

If sending by P.O. Box:

Admission Services Applicant Processing

Arizona State University

PO Box 871004

Tempe, AZ 85287-1004

If sending by FedEx, DHL or UPS:

Arizona State University

Admission Services Applicant Processing

1150 East University Drive Building C, Room 226

Tempe, AZ 85281

Applications that do not include complete transcripts and the application fee will not be considered.

Selection

All application materials must be received by January 1. Selection is based on talent and promise, as demonstrated in the manuscript sample; the academic record; evidence of dedication and potential for growth, from the recommendations and personal statement; and compatibility of the applicant’s goals with the purpose and design of the ASU degree program. In recent years, we have been able to accept the top 3% of applicants.

Transfer of Credits

Subject to the recommendation of the MFA steering committee and the program director, a maximum of nine credit hours taken before admission, not as part of a completed degree at ASU and/or another institution, may be used to fulfill MFA degree requirements. All course work for the ASU Master of Fine Arts in creative writing must be completed within a six-year time limit. Financial aid is not extended beyond the third year.