Admissions Criteria
Each college sets the standard requirements for its potential graduate students based on these criteria:
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
If you need to increase your English language skills, please read about our Language Bridge Program.
Individual programs may look at additional criterion such as:
- Work experience or other skills in discipline-relevant areas
- Communication skills
- Basic analytical and mathematical skills
- Clarity of your educational and career goals
- Nature of your research interests
- Amount your goals match the program in terms of course emphases
- Career focus
- Faculty interests or expertise
- Elementary Education Content PLACE exam for Special Education
Doctoral applicants meet the Graduate School minimum criteria for admission if they have a GPA of at
least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the most recently completed degree, scores of at least 400 on both the verbal
and quantitative sections of the GRE-General Test with a combined score of at least 1000 and an
analytical writing score of at least 3.5. A higher GRE score can compensate for a lower GPA and a higher
GPA can compensate for a lower test score. For doctoral applicants who do not meet Graduate School minimum requirements, the Graduate School will consider departmental recommendation for admission.
A written explanation must accompany the recommendation explaining circumstances and factors
considered justifying acceptance of the applicant.
If you have selected a master's degree program, consult the Program List to determine whether or not your program requires these scores or other test scores and to determine the criteria or factors most important to an admission decision in your program.