Key facts about Pre-Master's for non-qualified students

Price

See fees page for cost of the Pre-Master's Program.

Course duration

This depends on your English Language level on entry - see study timeline for details. The Pre-Master's Program can be studied over 2, 3 or 4 semesters.

  • 2 semesters is 9 months from start to finish (a normal academic year)
  • 3 semesters is 12 months (ISC students take classes through the summer)
  • 4 semesters is 15-16 months

Course structure for Pre-Master's Program

You will be studying English language preparation courses alongside the undergraduate academic credit courses required for entry to your master's degree. The amount of time spent on studying English will vary depending on your language proficiency and the duration of your Pre-Master's Program:

Duration of program

4-semester Pre-Master's
(language requirement - TOEFL 36 iBT)*
3 semester Pre-Master's
(language requirement - TOEFL 52 iBT)*
2-semester Pre-Master's
(language requirement - TOEFL 68 iBT)*

English language and study skills

18 hours per week in semester 1
18 hours per week in semester 2
15 hours per week in semester 3
12 hours per week in semester 4
18 hours per week in semester 1
15 hours per week in semester 2
12 hours per week in semester 3
15 hours per week in semester 1
12 hours per week in semester 2

Number of academic credit courses

none in semester 1
none in semester 2
two in semester 3
two in semester 4
none in semester 1
two in semester 2
two in semester 3
two in semester 1
two in semester 2

* An official TOEFL or IELTS score is not required. You may take the Study Group English Language Test to determine your level.

Entry points

Every January, May and August

Entry requirements

You must have a undergraduate degree or diploma of at least 3 years, with a GPA of 3.0 and a minimum English level equivalent to TOEFL iBT 36.

See admissions section for detailed academic and English language entrance requirements.

Academic credit

Pre-Master's students have the opportunity to study 4 academic credit courses at undergraduate level - a maximum of 12 credits of pre-requisite courses for a master's degree.

Progression after the program

You progress from the Pre-Master's program to one of 4 master's degrees* at James Madison University when you:

  • complete check points throughout the coursework
  • meet GRE and academic course pre-requisites of the master's degree
  • achieve the equivalent English language level of TOEFL 570 PBT/88 iBT

 

* The Pre-Master's Program for non-qualified students leads to master's degrees in: Integrated Science and Technology; Digital Forensics; Adult Education/Human Resource Development; or Educational Technology.

Next steps