Fequently Asked Questions

1) Is the GRE or MAT required for admission?

No the department does not require a standardized test for admissions. Although International Admissions does required the TOEFL exam if you are an international student.

2) How long should the letter of intent be?

The letter of intent should be between one and two pages but not any longer than two.

3) How many hours can I transfer in for my masters?

Students can transfer up to 12 hours from non-degree status toward the masters degree.

4) How many hours can I transfer from my masters to the doctoral level?

A maximum of 36 hours is allowed but this must be determined with your chair and committee of studies. Also up to 12 hours of non-degree work can be transferred in from work completed after the masters but before the doctoral but this is included in the 36 hours of transfer work.

5) What if I missed the deadline to apply and want to take some courses?

Students can take up to 12 hours of non-degree work that will transfer into the program.

6) How long will it take before a decision is made on my application?

Usually a month is required for the committees to review all the files and make decisions.

7) What are the timelines for completion of the program?

For the masters program students have 7 years to complete coursework and pass comprehensive exams. The timeline starts when you take your first graduate level course, this includes any non-degree graduate courses.

For the doctoral program the timeline starts after the comprehensive exams are passed, then the student has 5 years to complete the dissertation.

8) What if I am accepted to the program but unable to attend for the semester I've been accepted?

The student will need to write a letter of deferment to the chair asking for his/her admission to be moved to the next semester or the semester you will be able to start. The deferment must be within three semesters of acceptance, any further out and the student must reapply to the program.

9) What if I start the program but then have to stop taking classes for a semester?

Students are allowed to stop out for up to two consecutive semesters without being withdrawn from the program. For example if a student attends summer but does not attend in fall, he/she can register for the next spring or summer without having to reapply.

10) When are the classes offered?

Most of our classes are offered during the evening with one session from 4-6:30 pm and the next from 7-9:30 pm. Each class usually only meets one time per week.