Graduate Program

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

For information on how to apply, please click here: How to Apply

Admission requirements and deadlines are different for each department or program. Please see details below.

American Studies

Link to Instructions for American Studies Application Process

For students interested in the joint American Studies and the Marshall-Wythe School of Law JD/MA program, please link to Instructions for the JD/MA program.

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: Postmarked by January 15
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: Yes, but without funding
WRITING SAMPLE: Yes (20 pages or less)
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

In the interest of learning more about your intellectual aspirations, the American Studies Admissions Committee asks that you write a response to the following question. This short essay (250 words or less) must be submitted for your application to be considered complete. If you had another year of education to carry forward any intellectual project from your undergraduate, work, or life experiences, what would that project be?
Foreign language proficiency is required for the Ph.D. degree. If you are applying for the Ph.D. or the MA/Ph.D. track, the Admissions Committee asks that you specify your current competency in one or more foreign languages (fluency, speaking, reading, coursework, etc.)

Anthropology

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: Postmarked by January 15
SPRING ADMISSION: No
WRITING SAMPLE: Yes
MORE REQUIREMENTS: field and lab experience recommended

Applied Science

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: 5:00 p.m. first Friday of February
DEADLINE FOR SPRING ADMISSION: 5:00 p.m. second Friday of October
MORE REQUIREMENTS: GRE subject test in relevant field

Biology

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: February 1 (to be guaranteed consideration for a teaching assistantship)
SPRING ADMISSION: No
SUMMER ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: Yes
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

Biology subject GRE is strongly recommend for students without a traditional Biology background. Students are recommended to contact the department if they have questions about the Biology subject GRE. Students are also required to have one year of organic chemistry, which can be satisfied while in residence in the program.
Biology Supplemental Form
For more information go to Biology Graduate site.

Chemistry

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: May 1 (rolling deadline)
SPRING ADMISSION: Yes
SUMMER ADMISSION: Yes
PART-TIME STUDENTS: No

Computer Science

DEADLINES FOR FALL ADMISSION: March 1 (to be considered for financial aid), March 15 (for international applicants who need a visa to travel to the US), June 1 (for all other applicants)
DEADLINES FOR SPRING ADMISSION: November 1 (for international applicants who need a visa to travel to the US); November 1 (for USA based applicants)
PART-TIME STUDENTS: Yes

History

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: Postmarked by December 5 (If Sunday, postmarked by December 6.) Applications to the MA Program in Comparative History may be submitted through May 1, although only those received by the December 5 deadline will be considered for financial support. If applying after the December 5 deadline, you must submit your application in paper form.
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: Yes [MA program only]
WRITING SAMPLE: Yes
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum GPA of 3.0, 24 credit hours in history
History Supplemental Application
Recommendation Form (Form is attached to History Supplemental Application Form. The three letters of recommendation must be in envelopes sealed, and signed across the seal, by the recommenders.)

Physics

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: February 1 (though applications will be considered at any time)
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: No
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

GRE Physics subject test

Psychology: MA

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: Postmarked by February 15
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: No
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

Must have completed one course in psychological statistics and one in psychological research methods.

Psychology: Clinical

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: January 15
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: No
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

The Clinical Psychology program is administered by the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology, which uses a different application form. Click here for more information.

Public Policy

DEADLINE FOR FALL ADMISSION: For full consideration, review of applications begins February 15
SPRING ADMISSION: No
PART-TIME STUDENTS: No
MORE REQUIREMENTS:

1 year of economics, evidence of quantitative ability.

Graduate Departments & Programs