Admission Requirements
Minimum Admission Requirements
1. Overall GPA: (3.00)
2. Major GPA: (3.5)
3. Three Letters of Recommendation
4. Personal Statement outlining why the student wants to study in the Ph.D. program, what research and teaching interests the student intends to pursue, and which faculty he or she intends to have as a mentor and eventual dissertation advisor
5. Brief Writing Sample-Undergraduate or masters-level research paper
6. On-campus interview with proposed major professor and Graduate Studies Committee. Finalists for admission will be invited to campus for interviews
These minimum requirements do not ensure that an applicant will be accepted into the program. The graduate committee will consider each applicant individually in light of several factors including the student's proposed area of interest and suitable faculty mentor willing to take that student, the applicant's recommendation letters, university funding and availability of financial support, and the quality of the applicant pool in a given year.
International applicants, please also refer to the language requirements.
Language Requirement
Students are required to demonstrate competence in one foreign language. The language requirement can be met in the ways specified below. Please consult the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures website for more information and deadlines.
International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting a certificate. Instructions can be found HERE.
1. Present an undergraduate transcript from Baylor University or another regionally accredited college or university showing that while enrolled the student received a grade of "B" or better in a fourth semester language course. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School. This option is valid only if the course was taken not more than five years before the student was accepted into the Baylor graduate program.
2. After enrolling in the M.A. or Ph.D. program at Baylor students may enroll in a fourth semester language course. Students must attain a "B" or better in the course. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School.
3. After enrolling in the M.A. or Ph.D. program at Baylor students may take the French, German, Spanish, Latin, or Greek 5370 and 5371 course sequence, which are usually offered in the summers. Students must attain a "B" or better in the courses. A copy of the page of the student's transcript showing the course grade should be attached to the Graduate School Petition and submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School.
4. Students may take a diagnostic examination offered by the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures. After passing the exam, students will receive a receipt from the MLC and will attach the receipt to the Graduate School Petition. The petition is then submitted to the graduate program director to be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School. Check the MLC department website for diagnostic exam deadlines.