Admissions

Yes, on June 22, 2006, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, or MSCHE (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-662-5606), granted accreditation to the school. IWP is accredited through the 2029-2030 academic year. The Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt educational institution, and is licensed by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission. In addition, IWP is certified to operate from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). IWP has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Certificate-enrolled and current or prior continuing education students 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. An exception will be made for students who have taken courses prior to January 2001: all of their courses — with a B or better grade — may be credited toward the degree.

The IWP Master’s degree consists of 52 credit hours (12 four-credit courses plus 2 two-credit courses), which can be easily completed in two academic years for full-time students (3-4 courses per semester).  Many of our students prefer to study part-time or alternate between full-time and part-time status; the Institute’s registration and tuition procedures make this an extremely easy transition.

The results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language are required from students whose native language is not English, except for those who have completed a baccalaureate degree at an accredited English language institution of higher learning or are serving as foreign diplomat in an embassy. For those taking the TOEFL, a minimum score of 600 for the paper-based exam or 95 for the Internet-based exam is required; scores can be no more than two years old.

The Institute provides information and assistance to admitted international students in need of student visas (provided they meet eligibility requirements). International students should contact the Registrar’s Office at 202-462-2101 for information on visa requirements. You may also want to peruse the website for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  “International students in need of a Social Security card may apply online, but will need to visit a local Social Security Administration office to complete the process. The Washington, D.C. office is located at 2100 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037. Phone: 800-772-1213.

There is no student health center at the Institute, so any emergency cases are referred to the George Washington University Hospital’s Ronald Reagan Institute for Emergency Medicine, located approximately one mile away. The District of Columbia requires that all full-time students under the age of 26 be immunized against Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, and Tetanus. Students may not register for classes until compliance is documented. Proof of Immunization forms will be mailed to each new student upon acceptance. The forms must be filled out by the student’s physician or local Health Department.