Degree program admission is based on the following criteria:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. If the degree was not received in a traditional humanities field, the student will be required to meet with the Director of the M.A. in Humanities program before admission can be granted. Furthermore, insufficient background in the Humanities may result in the student being required to take selected undergraduate coursework in the Humanities prior to admission being granted into the program.
• A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Completion of an application for admission into the M.A. in Humanities program.
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities.
• Approximately fifteen pages of writing sample that demonstrates the student’s abilities as a writer. The sample need not be one work; academic and/or professional writing are both accepted. If you are unsure what to submit, please consult the Program Director for aid in choosing a sample that is ideal for you. 
• A resume or curriculum vita.
• Non-native speakers of English who did not graduate from an English-speaking institution of higher learning will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Candidates will be required to submit TOEFL scores of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (internet-based) or higher, or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.
• A personal interview with the Director of the M.A. in Humanities program may be required of any student.

Enrollment of Non-Degree Students in M.A. in Humanities courses

Students may start any Wilson graduate degree program as a non-degree candidate with the approval of the Director of the Program (though the student may still need to produce some admissions materials; for specifics, please consult the appropriate Graduate Program Director). However, after the completion of two courses the student must matriculate into the program to ensure that all coursework will be counted toward the graduate degree.

Provisional Admission Status
In certain circumstances, a student may be lacking one of the mandatory requirements for admission into a graduate program. This may include lacking a background in the Humanities or having a cumulative undergraduate GPA below a 3.0. Provisional admission status may allow a student to enroll in classes in order to qualify for admission to the degree program. A student may be granted provisional status after a written plan of action to assist the student in meeting the prerequisites or entrance requirements of the program has been approved by the Graduate Program Director. Provisional status is given at the discretion of the Graduate Program Director and/or Graduate Program Admissions Committee.

If granted provisional status, the student must complete the approved plan of action with a GPA of 3.0 or higher before being officially admitted to the program. Generally speaking, full admission status is awarded after the successful completion of two courses with a qualifying cumulative GPA of 3.0 of higher; however, provisional admission status cases are unique and may differ from this model.

Transfer Credits
At the discretion of the Program Director, no more than two courses may be transferred into any Wilson graduate program. For a course to transfer, the grade in the course must be 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and the subject area, goals, and outcomes must be similar to that of courses designed for the graduate program. Students may be required to present supporting materials (such as a syllabus, assignments, etc.) beyond an official transcript when transferring in a class. Under special circumstances, students may request to transfer more coursework to the College; for more on this, please see the appropriate Graduate Program Director.