Admissions Requirements for the MA Program
- A Bachelor’s degree in French, Spanish, or a related field
- Official transcripts from all credit-bearing university coursework (undergraduate and graduate), sent directly from the university to the Graduate School
- Three letters of recommendation submitted online via email
- A French or Spanish writing sample of 5-7 pages
- ACTFL Intermediate High oral proficiency in French or Spanish
- Either recent GRE scores (no more than 5 years old) or permission to waive this requirement. Students wishing to waive the GRE requirement based on language proficiency or work experience should consult with the graduate program director about their options and then fill out the Entrance Exam Waiver section of the application. The GRE requirement is waived for qualified students who meet any one of the following criteria:
- Successful completion of 3 graduate-level courses at Appalachian as a non-degree-seeking student (see below)
- Advanced-Mid proficiency in French or Spanish, as measured by either an official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview or an oral interview with one of our professors
- 5 years of language teaching experience, or other work experience directly related to use of the language you wish to study (e.g. work in interpretation or translation)
Qualified Appalachian State students majoring in French or Spanish may be eligible for the Accelerated Master's program. Also known as 4+1, the Accelerated Master's program allows students to count up to 4 graduate courses taken in the Senior year towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees, and does not require the GRE. For more information on Accelerated Master's, please contact the LLC graduate director or visit the Graduate School's Accelerated Master's Applicant page.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and students may start the program at any time, including summer sessions.
Application Deadlines for Degree-seeking Students*
- For Spring Semester: November 1
- For Summer Sessions 1 & 2: April 1
- For Fall Admission: July 1
*Note: If you can not meet these deadlines, it may be possible to enroll as a non-degree-seeking student.
Starting as a Non-degree-seeking Student
The non-degree-seeking application does not require GRE scores or letters of recommendations. Official transcripts of all credit-bearing university study are required.
Non-degree-seeking applications must be completed two weeks before the first day of classes (firm deadline). Please refer to the FAQs for more information on taking courses as a non-degree-seeking student.
If you’re ready to apply to the program, you may start the online process at:
https://graduate.appstate.edu/prospective-students/how-apply
More questions? Contact the Program Director, Dr. Darci Gardner, gardnerdl1@appstate.edu, (828) 262-2308.