Graduate Admission

A summary of the general requirements, application fees, deadlines, and procedures for graduate admission follows. Prospective students should refer to the Graduate Catalog for further information.

Requirements

General requirements for admission to the Graduate School are

1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a comparable degree from a foreign academic institution. The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) will determine eligibility for admission in consultation with prospective graduate programs.
2. A grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division (junior- and senior-level) coursework and in any graduate work already completed.
3. An official score on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE), unless otherwise specified by the graduate program to which the student is applying. The McCombs School of Business requires master’s and doctoral degree applicants to submit a satisfactory score on either the GRE or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Applicants to dual or combined degree programs with the School of Law must submit a satisfactory score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) as well as on the GRE or GMAT.
4. Adequate subject preparation for the proposed major. Evidence of adequate preparation varies by program, but examples include letters of reference, auditions, samples of work, and personal statements.
5. A recommendation for acceptance by the Graduate Studies Committee for the proposed major area.

International students whose native language is not English must also submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Applicants should consult the graduate adviser for the program of interest to learn which test the program requires.

Applicants may apply simultaneously to more than one graduate program, but they may enroll in only one program (with the exception of those admitted to dual degree programs). All complete applications are forwarded to the Graduate Studies Committee(s) to which they are directed. Admission decisions are based on a careful review of all aspects of the applicant’s file. Scores on standardized tests such as the GRE are not the sole criterion for making an admission decision or ending consideration of the application. Each applicant’s test scores are compared with those of other applicants of similar socioeconomic status. Graduates of foreign institutions may be required to have a minimum score on an English-language-proficiency test such as the TOEFL or the IELTS. Information about admission criteria for each graduate program is available from the graduate adviser.

When there are more qualified applicants than can adequately be instructed by the faculty or accommodated in the facilities, the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) for the proposed area may deny admission to students who have met the prescribed requirements. GSC admissions recommendations to the graduate dean are final; there is no appeal. All admissions must be approved by the graduate dean.

Applicants who feel that their grade point averages or test scores are not valid indicators of ability should explain their concerns in a letter to the graduate adviser of the program to which they are applying.

Admission Tests

The Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are offered at testing centers throughout North America and at selected international sites. Current information about GRE and TOEFL test dates, locations, and registration procedures is published by the Educational Testing Service at http://www.ets.org/ .

Similar information about the GMAT is published by the Graduate Management Admission Council at http://www.gmac.com/gmat.aspx .

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is administered in more than 120 countries and is available off-site in additional countries. Information about IELTS test dates, locations, and procedures is published at http://www.ielts.org/ .

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is administered by the Law School Admission Council. Information about the LSAT is published by the council at http://lsac.org/ .