M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies Admission Requirements

Applying to the Wheaton College Graduate School

Learn about the M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies at the Wheaton College Graduate School.

Application Deadline Information

International Applicants

The formal application deadline for all international applicants is January 1st.

United States (Citizen, Permanent Resident, National) Applicants

***NEW: We have new scholarships for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025! For priority consideration, please submit your completed application by April 15, 2025.***

The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies program will continue to review completed applications after June 15 on a rolling basis. Please note that decisions after June 15 are contingent upon the availability of space in the program. We encourage you to follow the deadlines below to enhance your application experience.

Early Action Deadline: November 15 to receive an admissions decision by December 6.

Priority Deadline: January 15 to receive an admissions decision by February 5.

Regular Deadline: March 15 to receive an admissions decision by April 6.

Final Deadline: June 15 to receive an admissions decision by July 6. Applications will be received after June 15 contingent upon available space in the program.

International Applicants

The formal application deadline for all international applicants is January 1st.

United States (Citizen, Permanent Resident, National) Applicants

***NEW: We have new scholarships for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025! For priority consideration, please submit your completed application by April 15, 2025.***

The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies program will continue to review completed applications after June 15 on a rolling basis. Please note that decisions after June 15 are contingent upon the availability of space in the program. We encourage you to follow the deadlines below to enhance your application experience.

Early Action Deadline: November 15 to receive an admissions decision by December 6.

Priority Deadline: January 15 to receive an admissions decision by February 5.

Regular Deadline: March 15 to receive an admissions decision by April 6.

Final Deadline: June 15 to receive an admissions decision by July 6. Applications will be received after June 15 contingent upon available space in the program.

The M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies program reviews completed applications for Spring Semester on a rolling basis.

***NEW: We have new scholarships for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025! For priority consideration, please submit your completed application for Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 by April 15, 2025.***

Requirements for All Students

  1. Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  2. GPA 2.80 minimum.
  3. Official Transcripts from all colleges where a degree was earned or is currently being earned.
    • E-transcripts preferred. Address them to nancy.crane@wheaton.edu.
    • Mail paper copies to Graduate Admissions Dept., Attn: Nancy Crane, 501 College Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187.
    • Applicants who have earned more than 25% of their degree from institutions outside of their degree-conferring school will be required to supply official transcripts for those credits in the event they are not explicitly listed on their original transcript with course names and grades. Graduate Admissions will reserve the right to request additional transcripts as may be needed to meet departmental requirements or demonstrate proof of program-specific prerequisites.
  4. Application Form.
  5. Three Recommendations, which are online forms. Letters are accepted as supplements to the forms.
    • Academic. An instructor from whom you have taken a class preferred. Alternative: a college-level instructor from whom you have not taken a class but has served as a mentor or advisor.
    • Pastoral. Can be a Christian leader who is not a pastor.
    • Professional. A person with whom you have had a supervisor-employee relationship, which can be in a non-paid context.
    • Recommenders can upload an optional letter on their online recommendation page.
    • Recommendations from relatives not accepted.
  6. Resumé. Chronological. Include ministry/volunteer experience.
  7. Application Fee: USD $30, non-refundable.

Additional Requirements for International Students

International students, and permanent residents of the US whose native language is not English, are required to take either the TOEFL iBT Test,  IELTS Academic Test, or Duolingo English test with the minimal scores indicated below:

Applicants who wish to waive their English proficiency test, please refer to the English proficiency page for details.

An International Transcript Verification Report is needed for students who completed degrees outside of the United States.

M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies

Learn more about the program and the intercultural studies department.