Final recommendation by the graduate program faculty will be based on competitive evaluation of the qualifications of the applicant plus consideration of the availability of space and resources. Each graduate program has specific requirements, but common factors considered by the admissions committee include the following:

• Candidates for admission to the Graduate School must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education.
• An applicant who holds a graduate degree or first professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, JD) from a regionally and programmatically accredited college or university in the United States, or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education may be considered on an individual basis even though he or she does not hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent as defined above.
• undergraduate overall and upper division grade point average and, if applicable, graduate grade point average and the appropriateness of the curriculum as preparation for graduate study. (There is no minimum required GPA, but a cumulative undergraduate GPA above 3.0 on a 4 point scale is preferred.);
• a minimum score on the TOEFL of 550 (paper), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (internet-based) or a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English;
• research or other relevant experience;
• 3 letters of reference;
• background for and commitment to a career of scholarly endeavor in the field of study;
• availability of opportunity for training in the desired field of scholarship;
• unique educational, career, or life experiences;
• personal statement.