[ Preapplication ] [ Admission ] [ Entry: M.S. | Ph.D. ] [ International students ] [ TOEFL ]

General Admission Information

The overall scholastic record and potential of the applicant for admission is more important than prior preparation in specific areas of economics. While undergraduate specialization in economics is desirable, the program is open to students whose undergraduate specialization has been in other fields. However, if the student has not had intermediate level microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics, preparatory work may be required before admission to the Department is granted.

Application forms must be submitted to the Department of Economics. Application materials may be obtained from: Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-4515; Telephone 618-536-7746.

All applicants must take the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Information on testing dates may be obtained from Educational Testing Service. Scores should be sent to the Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-4515. All exam scores must be received by the department before admission can be considered.

Evaluations of applicants by the department are based on information from the application form, GRE scores, transcripts, and other information.

Applicants who meet the Graduate School requirements but not the Department of Economics requirements may register for remedial courses as unclassified graduate students. Such persons may be considered for admission to the Department of Economics at a later date, based on their performance in such remedial courses. However, Graduate School rules prohibit international applicants from being admitted to SIU as unclassified graduate students.

Entry into the Master of Science Program

The Master of Science program is intended to serve as a terminal degree. A student with a bachelor's degree must meet Graduate School admission requirements with a grade point average of 2.7 or better on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work completed prior to receipt of the bachelor's degree.

Entry into the Ph.D. Program

A student with a master's degree must meet Graduate School admission requirements with a grade point average of 3.25 (A=4.0) or better. A student with a bachelor's degree must meet Graduate School admission requirements with a grade point average of 2.7 or better. After meeting these requirements, the bachelor's degree student will be initially admitted as a master's student. Upon passing the qualifying exams, usually taken after the first year of graduate study, the student will be given entry into the doctoral program.

Admission of International Students

In general, international students must meet the same academic standards for admission as those required for domestic students. As there is considerable variation between educational systems throughout the world, precise comparative standards are not always available. Therefore, international students are considered for admission on the basis of their former academic work, English proficiency, and evidence of adequate financial resources. Applicants will be required to certify that adequate financial resources will be available to undertake and continue in a program of graduate study.

To allow adequate time for visa and other departure procedures, the applicant should have an application and all supporting documents on file with the University no less than ten months prior to the proposed entry date.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

All applicants whose native or first language is not English must take the TOEFL test no more than 24 months prior to the term for which the applicant is seeking admission. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) or 220 (computer) is required for Graduate School admission. Exemptions to the TOEFL requirement are:

• an applicant who has completed a bachelor's degree (four years attendance and completion of at least 100 semester hours of course work) at an accredited institution in the United States
• an applicant who has completed a master's degree at an accredited institution in the United States, who obtained a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper) or 220 (computer) prior to beginning graduate studies and who has been in residence in the United States continuously prior to application to SIUC.

Verification of the earlier TOEFL score by the degree granting institution is mandatory.