Ph.D. Application & Admission

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline for admission is February 1st of each year with interviews following within the month. Applications received after February 1st will be accepted only on a space available basis.

What materials should I submit?

We attempt a holistic evaluation of our incoming students. Admission will be based on criteria such a GPA, GRE scores, work experience, prior leadership, professionalism and ethics, interpersonal skills, and performance during the interview. To assist the faculty in assessing your potential to succeed in the program and in the profession, all applicants must submit a completed application; two official copies of transcripts from each college or university in which 8 semester or 12 quarter hours were earned; GRE scores; two letters of reference (it is preferred that one be an academic reference); a curriculum vitae or detailed resume; and a personal statement (expressing the career goals of the applicant). Furthermore, students may submit materials in addition to those required if they feel that such materials will more accurately reflect their potential to succeed within the program (e.g., Master's thesis, publications).

What happens once my application file is complete?

Once the file is complete it is sent to the Ph.D. Coordinator. The file is then offered for review to the faculty. If the faculty so chose, they may discuss the file at a HIED meeting or provide individual recommendations as to whether to conduct a face-to-face interview with the applicant.

Some applicants are denied at this time. Denial might be based on factors such as (but not limited to) particularly low GRE scores; substandard GPA; leadership history and potential; prior ethical, professional, or behavioral issues; and the ability to represent the program effectively upon graduation.

Other applicants are recommended to proceed to the interview stage. The Ph.D. Coordinator then will contact the student to set the interview day and time. At the interview, the faculty will inquire as to the student's past experiences and qualifications for admission. The student will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the faculty. Once the questions have been answered, the student will be asked to leave and the faculty will vote on the student's admission. A favorable majority vote of the faculty present at the meeting is required for admission (i.e., a 2-2 vote results in a denial). The faculty vote and recommendation then are forwarded to the Associate Dean of the College who is responsible for making the admissions decision and communicating that decision to the student. This process may take up to one week.

If I am denied admission to the program, is there an appeal?

Yes. If a student is denied admission, he or she may appeal that decision. Appeals are first presented in writing to the Ph.D. Coordinator with evidence for reconsideration. If the faculty denies the appeal, then the student may appeal to a three-person Review Committee appointed by the Associate Dean. That committee is responsible for reviewing the claim and for determining whether all procedures were followed. The decision of that committee represents the final appeal within the University.

GRE

What scores are required to support admission?

The GRE is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Preferred scores for Ph.D. admission are 156 verbal, 145 quantitative, and 4.5 analytical writing.

I took the GRE several years ago. May I still use the scores?

Test scores may not be older than five years at the time of the admissions interview.