Admission Criteria

Admission Criteria. An applicant must submit documentation that demonstrates fulfillment of the following admission criteria or equivalent qualifications: 

1. An earned four-year baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, or professional degree (or approved equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university by the expected date of entry. 


2. A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (cGPA) (on the 4.0 scale used at this university) in the last degree relevant to the program of study earned by the applicant.  
   
   
   • For international students, the cGPA is calculated on the home institution’s grading scheme and the grade key on the transcript is then utilized to approximate an equivalent US grade based on the educational system of that country.  
   
   
   • Applicants whose last degree relevant to the program of study was earned at an institution with a grading scheme where a numerical cGPA cannot be calculated (e.g. narrative evaluation, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, etc.) require additional Graduate School consideration. Once a graduate program reviews and recommends the applicant for admission, the program is required to submit a petition to the Graduate School for a final determination. 
   
   
   • Please note that there are other university processes or systems (e.g., the fellowship competition, etc.) that may have different requirements and, as such, may require additional review. These reviews add time to the admissions process. Graduate programs, as well as prospective students, should plan accordingly to ensure that they meet all necessary deadlines. 


3. Prerequisite training that will enable the student to pursue the graduate program to which admission is sought. 


4. A minimum score of 79 on a valid internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-IBT), or 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement applies only to an applicant from a country where the first language is not English, unless a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned from a country exempt from the English proficiency requirements. Residents of Puerto Rico and asylees in the United States for more than one year are also exempt from providing English language proficiency test scores. 


5. Additional criteria published by the Graduate Studies Committee of the local program (e.g., professional accreditation or certification). 


6. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are not required for admission to the Graduate School. Certain graduate programs may require the GRE or GMAT and students will need to comply with the program’s admission requirements or have a waiver from the program. The GRE and GMAT are scheduled on a continual basis during the year throughout the United States and overseas. Pre-registration is required, and a fee is charged. Additional information may be obtained from the websites of the Educational Testing Service.