Bachelor of Arts - Rhetoric And Language

Entry Requirement

• Tennessee Technological University encourages its faculty, staff, and administrators to foster the enrollment of qualified international students in suitable programs, to work with Government Embassies and Sponsoring Agencies, Overseas Accredited Recruiters (Agents) and Intensive English programs to attract students whose academic potential has already been recognized in their home countries, and to provide appropriate services for international students who enroll at the University. Admissions applications for international students may be obtained from Tennessee Tech’s website: (www.tntech.edu/internationaladmissions/).

• An international student is classified for educational purposes as a person who is a citizen and permanent resident of a country other than the United States. Tennessee Tech University is authorized under Federal law to enroll non immigrant alien students.

• All international students whose native language is not English must have an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score or its equivalent (whether another English based test or Certificate from an accredited Intensive English language Program. The admission requirements for international students applying to college for the first time are as follows:

• Be at least 16 years of age.

• Graduate from a Secondary School with proof of such with diploma and support documentation showing all years of high school course work.

• Demonstrate competence in basic courses at the secondary level that are closely related to the intended major program of study at the University.

• International students who will be applying for a student visa are recommended to complete the application 3 to 6 months in advance. Students who reside in the USA may apply up to one month in advance. The following items are required for final admission:

• $40 non-refundable application fee.

English Requirement

• Test which demonstrates proficient English skills (for students from countries where English is not the primary language).  TOEFL test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency. Please use the institution code of 1804 when requesting that scores be submitted directly to TTU. A TOEFL institutional score of 490 or its equivalent on the internet based TOEFL or Computer Based TOEFL will be acceptable for a provisionally admitted student and the student must maintain 2.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the 2nd semester or the student will be dismissed. Acceptance of Institutional TOEFL scores originating from Intensive English Language Programs (copy  accepted since only one copy is issued or guaranteed by school administrator). If TOEFL test scores are not available, then alternative tests can be submitted for admission.  Students may provide an alternate test such as ONE OF THE FOLLOWING (which can be used in place of the TOEFL requirement). 

• Please provide one of the following tests for Admission to TTU to replace the TOEFL test:
  TEST ORIGINATOR	Minimum Score required
  TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language	490 paper-based 163 computer-based 57 internet-based
  IELTS – International English Language Testing System	5.0
  EIKEN	2 A Grade (College of Junior College Level)
  TOEIC -Test of English for International Communication	580
  ITEPS (The International Test of English Proficiency)	4.5
  Pearson Test of English (PTE)	52
  	ELS level 109
  	FLS International Level 7
  English Language Program Levels	International English Institute Nashville Level 6
  	The Language Company Level 8
  Michigan Test (MELAB)	80
  Cambridge IGCSE or O Level English with an E or better	Level O/A/ AS levels
  International Baccalaureate (IB Credit)	IB credit of C or better in the IB English course
  Two semesters or three quarters of college-level English composition from an accredited college or university (Non-USA based schools may require the WES or another NACES member).	C grade or better from an accredited US Canadian/British/New Zealand or Australian based college
  ACT	English score of 17 or higher (19 *can be used to replace the TOEFL requirement)
  	Math 19
  	Reading 19
  SAT	Critical Reading score of 420 or higher (460 *can be used to replace the TOEFL requirement)
  	Math 460

Other​ Requirement

•  TTU offers conditional letter of admission to applicants who meet the academic and financial requirements but whose English language proficiency does not meet the levels for full admission.  Students who receive a Conditional letter of admission must provide one of the English test scores or provide proof of completion of one of the ESL Language Center completion levels. The student upon arrival at TTU to assess their need for additional language instruction must take the Placement Exam in reading, writing and math.  If the Placement exam shows the student needs additional English support, then he/she must enroll in additional English language courses, taught through Learning Support, or the ESL 1010 or ESL 1020 classes offered in the Foreign Language Department or future Intensive English-language programs.  These courses will likely delay the start of a student’s academic program.  Students may also be asked to take the Placement Exam in math, reading and writing test again in Learning Support at the end of their Intensive English- language programs.

• International Undergraduate students who complete advanced levels at partnered Intensive English-language Programs will be permitted to enroll at Tennessee Tech University by waiving the English test score requirement. These students must meet all other requirements for admission at TTU. These students must also take the reading, writing, and math Placement Exam prior toregistering for classes. The students whose Placement Exam results do not meet the requirements for Learning Support courses or English Composition will be required to enroll in additional English courses as mentioned above.

• Students will need to provide course descriptions in English for the Chairs of the various departments to assign transfer credit. 

• If an institution is not listed in the World Higher Education Database, the applicant will be required to have all transcripts evaluated by an accredited evaluation firm which can be found at NACES website which is listed at: http://www.naces.org/members.htm. The student’s home institution is required to submit originals to the selected evaluation firm. Some of the most commonly used evaluation firms include Educational Perspectives (www.edperspectives.com) WES, Josef Silny, Global Credential Evaluators, and Foreign Academic Credential Service.

• Course descriptions in English are required for the departments to properly evaluate a student’s overseas coursework.

• Upon arrival to TTU, the student must meet with the departments pertaining to their courses to determine if the individual department chairpersons will assign and transfer credit in regards to equivalency of each class.

• The Office of International Education is not responsible for the acceptance or denial of coursework of the academic departments.

• Students must also provide an official academic record, which includes all courses and all years completed at the secondary(high school) level, which includes grades earned, final examination scores, diplomas, matriculation record or leaving certificate. The admission decision will be based on the student’s own educational grading system. All records should be in the original language with the institution’s seal, records from nations in which the first language is not English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Students who have advanced placement credits such as the AP, SAT Subjects exam, GCE levels (A-levels, O-levels, AS-levels),International baccalaureate (IB), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM or STPM), CXC, Abitur from Germany,  IGCSE, HKALE, Studentsprof/Menntaskoili and Italian Maturita exam scores must provide these documents during their application. As a result, the students will be eligible for credit (there is a limit of 33 credits can be used for a student’s program of study).

  • International Undergraduate Students who plan to transfer credits from a university or college program from abroad must be from an accredited university, which can be verified via the World Higher Education Database which is located