Certificate Program

Applicants to the Institute's certificate program must submit the following:

1. A completed and signed
2. Current Resume. Included should be your educational background (colleges and universities attended), work experience, and any special skills that may enhance your application credentials.
3. Official academic transcripts from all institutions attended. Transcripts in a language other than English must be accompanied by English translations.
4. An Essay on Educational and Professional Goals: "Why do you wish to study at the Institute and what do you hope to accomplish with the education you receive here?" (Typewritten, 250 words).
5. General Essay Question: "On February 13, 2003, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, stating that, "We have entered what may be the most dangerous security environment the world has ever known." Such an assertion takes in all recorded human history. Evaluate this statement from the perspective of world history by choosing another time period where a "dangerous security environment" also existed and compare the present with the past, concluding with your own assessment of Secretary Rumsfeld's remark." (Typewritten, 500-750 words)
6. TOEFL scores (for international students); IWP institutional code is 9022. Go to www.toefl.org for more information.
7. Non-refundable $50 application fee.

The Application for Admission and supporting documents must be in English and received no later than the posted deadlines. As a general rule, incomplete applications will not be processed (rare exceptions may be made depending on which element of the application is missing). Late applications may be processed according to the ability of the Admissions Committee.

Conditional Acceptance

Students applying to the certificate program who do not meet the Institute's standard admissions criteria but who show potential for high academic performance, may be admitted on a conditional basis. Under conditions of conditional admission, students must attain at least a B+ in their first class at IWP in order to continue studying at the Institute.

Changing to Degree Status

Students enrolled in the certificate program are not guaranteed admission into the degree program. Students wishing to apply to the M.A. program must follow the M.A. application instructions which require the submission of additional and updated materials by certain deadlines. No more than five courses taken prior to the granting of degree status may be credited toward the degree, and only if the grades received are B or higher.

Application Deadlines
Spring 2009
MA: December 5
Certificate and Continuing Ed.: January 2

Summer 2009
MA: May 1
Certificate and Continuing Ed.: May 15

Fall 2009
MA: February 1
Certificate and Continuing Ed.: August 14

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Jason Johnsrud, Admissions Coordinator
E-mail: admissions@iwp.edu; Phone: 202-462-2101