Admission to Graduate Programs
(M.A., Ph.D., Ed.D., M.Ed.)

Graduate School Programs (Ph.D., Ed.D., M.A.)

Graduate School Web Application

The Graduate School Online Application for Admission is available at www.grad.umn.edu/Prospective_Students/apply_online.html.

NOTE: In order to apply online you must submit the application fee by credit card online. If you wish to pay the application fee by any other means you must file a paper application for admission.

Admission Deadlines
Spring semester: October 15
Fall semester & summer session: March 15

All required materials must be received by these dates.

For more information, check out the Graduate School Office of Admissions Web site at http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/application_information/.

Applications for all graduate programs are processed a few weeks after the admission deadlines per semester. Anticipated review timeline for spring semester will be mid-November; for Fall semester and summer session, early April. You should apply at least six months before the term in which you wish to enroll particularly if you are an international applicant. Admission decisions for the Ph.D., Ed.D., and M.A. programs are made by the Graduate School, which takes into account the recommendation of the department's director of graduate studies.

Preferred Performance Levels for Admission to WHRE Graduate Programs

WHRE (M.A., Ph.D. and Ed.D.) students contribute to a diverse student body; have professional goals and commitments to careers that fit with WHRE programs; demonstrate strong potential for scholarship and leadership in professional practice, and have the ability to complete rigorous programs of study.

The preferred performance levels of the applicants we seek include:

• an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale);
• a post-baccalaureate GPA of 3.4 or higher (on a 4.0 scale);
• GRE (IMPORTANT: Changes to the GRE Testing System) scores of 450 or higher on the verbal and quantitative components (a preferred performance level has not yet been set for the analytical writing component). Note: International students who did not complete the bachelor's degree in the U.S. are not
  required to submit GRE scores.; and
• GRE (IMPORTANT: Changes to the GRE Testing System) scores of 450 or higher
  on the verbal and quantitative components (a preferred performance level has
  not yet been set for the analytical writing component).; and
• an English proficiency test score (if a non-native English speaker) of 550 (213 on the computer-based test) or higher for TOEFL, 80 or higher for the MELAB, or 6.5 or higher for the IELTS.

NOTE: International applicants whose native language is not English are required to take a test of English proficiency. Applicants may submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). International students who will have completed 24 quarter or 16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota are exempt from the testing requirement, but may be asked to take locally administered English tests after arrival on campus.  Additional information and support for international students can be found through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

Prospective students may register for the GRE (IMPORTANT: Changes to the GRE Testing System) General Test online and select a testing location at www.gre.org. Students may also call or write the Educational Testing Service.

Contact the director of graduate studies if you have old GRE scores that can be verified. Students who have taken the GRE within the last 5 years may request their scores be sent to the University of Minnesota. The Institution Code for the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul campus is R6874.

Department Codes within the field of Education include:

• 3901—Adult and Continuing Education
• 3908—Agricultural Education
• 3910—Vocational Technical Education
• 3999—Education-Other

Additional Institution and Department codes can be found at www.gre.org/codelst.html.

Applicants submitting the paper application should enclose with their application form their professional goal statement (1 to 2 pages) and résumé. Effective September 1, 2004, the Graduate School will require that applicants complete their application for admission online, correct? Applicants using the Apply Yourself online application should complete their personal goal statement and work history as part of the application and do not need to provide separate documents. For any applicant, the department may request letters of recommendation, an interview, or other evidence at the time the application is being evaluated.

Possible Use of 4000-level Courses in Graduate School Programs

There are courses outside of the Department of Work and Human Resource Education at the 4000-Level that may be included in master's and doctoral degree programs. These courses must be taught by Graduate School faculty members and the syllabus should include additional expectations for graduate students. Faculty members of individual specializations may establish limitations on 4000-level class use in meeting specialization/subspecialization requirements. This level coursework is particularly relevant in some specializations that access other colleges for supporting program coursework. Please check with your adviser if you are interested in exploring the possibility of including 4000-level coursework in your degree program. An example of a course that can be used in the General Aspects category is "PHIL 4324: Ethics and Education". The theme of this course is the design of educational settings.

Master of Education Programs (M.Ed.)

M.Ed. programs are administered by the College of Education and Human Development NOT the Graduate School. If you want further information about the M.Ed. programs, please contact:

To apply for admission to one of the M.Ed. programs, you may request an application from the director of graduate studies, or Student Services, or you may download and print an application form. Applications are submitted to the Student Services office.

Revised September 2005