Program Admissions Information

Please be sure that you have carefully read the procedures and requirements outlined on the Application and Credential Requirements page before referring to the following chart. Official results of the GRE General Test are required of all applicants.

African American Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X

American & New England Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)
Jan. 15	—		X	X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample; personal statement

Anthropology

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—		X	X	—	3 recommendations; personal statement

Anthropology Applied Anthropology ¹

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 1	—	X			—

Applied Linguistics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Feb. 1	—	X		X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample for post-MA/PhD applicants

Archaeology

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 1	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample

Archaeology Archaeological Heritage Management

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 1	—	X			—	3 recommendations

Archaeology Geoarchaeology

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 1	—	X			—	3 recommendations

Astronomy

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X	X	X	X (Physics)	3 recommendations

Bioinformatics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 1	Oct. 1	X(MS)	X(MS/PhD)	X		3 recommendations; résumé

Biology

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 7	—	X	X	X	X2	3 recommendations

Biostatistics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 15	—	X	X	X	—	2 recommendations; personal statement; linear algebra and calculus

Cellular Biophysics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
July 1	Oct. 15		X3	X	X	3 recommendations

Chemistry

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 1	Oct. 15	X	X	X	X (recommended)	3 recommendations

Classical Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	Oct. 15	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample for post-MA/PhD applicants

Computer Science

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 15	Oct. 1	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations

Creative Writing

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 1	—	X(MFA)			—	3 recommendations; creative writing sample

Division of Religious & Theological Studies ⁴

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 5	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; academic writing sample personal statement

Earth Sciences

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	Oct. 15	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations

Economics ^5,6

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 1	Oct. 1	X			—	3 recommendations

Economics PhD

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 2	—			X	—	3 recommendations

Economics Political Economy PhD

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 2	—		X		—	3 recommendations

Economics Economic Policy ^5,6

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 1	Oct. 1	X			—	3 recommendations

Economics Global Development ^{5, 6}

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 1	—	X			—

Editorial Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Mar. 30*	—	X		X	—	3 recommendations—at least one academic; thesis proposal

Energy & Environmental Analysis

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
July 1	Nov. 15	X			—	3 recommendations

Energy & Environmental Analysis Environmental Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
July 1	Nov. 15	X			—

Energy & Environmental Analysis International Relations & Environmental Policy

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15	Oct. 15	X			—

English

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 1	—	X	X	X	X	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample

French Language & Literatures

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	—	X		X	—	3 recommendations; writing sample

Geography & Environment

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
July 1	Nov. 15	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; writing sample

Hispanic Language & Literatures

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	—	X		X	—	3 recommendations; writing sample

History

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; personal statement; writing sample; foreign language competency statement

History of Art & Architecture
(including nondegree Certificate in Museum Studies)

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	Oct. 15	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample

International Relations (with or without a Graduate Certificate in African Studies)

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations Global Development Policy

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	—	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations International Affairs

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations International Relations & Environmental Policy

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations International Relations & International Communication

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations International Relations & Religion

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations Mid-Career International Relations

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	Oct. 15	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

International Relations International Relations & Latin American Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 15*	—	X			—	3 academic recommendations**

Mathematics & Statistics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	Oct. 15	X	X	X	X (Mathematics)	3 recommendations

Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry⁷

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 7	—	X	X	X	X2	3 recommendations; detailed research interests in personal statement

Music ⁸

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X		X	—	3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper

Music/Ethnomusicology ³

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—				X	3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper

Music History/ Music Theory

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper

Philosophy

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; scholarly writing Sample

Physics

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 15	***	X	X	X	X (Physics)

Political Science

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec. 1		X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; personal statement

Preservation Studies

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
April 1*	***	X			—	3 recommendations; writing sample; personal statement

Psychology PhD Programs
(including Brain Behavior & Cognition, Clinical & Developmental Science)

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Dec 1	—		X	X	X (optional)	3 recommendations; MAT optional

Psychology MA Program

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
May 15 (Please note that application will be reviewed beginning March 1)	—	X			—

Sociology

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—	X	X	X	—	3 recommendations; academic writing sample

Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Sociology and Social Work

Deadlines		Degrees Offered			GRE Subject Test Required	Additional Requirements (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page)
Fall	Spring	MA	MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s)	PhD (Post-master’s)	—
Jan. 15	—			X	—	scholarly writing sample; MAT may be substituted for GRE

Footnotes:

¹ Please indicate interest by writing “applied program” in the space provided for “specialization” on the Application for Admission.
² In biology, chemistry, physics, or biochemistry and molecular biology, other science subject exams may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
³ This is a post-bachelor’s PhD only. No MA will be awarded.
⁴ The degrees of Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Sacred Music, Doctor of Theology, and Doctor of Ministry are offered through BU’s School of Theology.
⁵ Admission in the spring semester is only accepted for Economics MA and MAEP programs. It does not apply to the MAPE/PhD and PhD programs. The MAGDE program does not offer spring admission.
⁶ International applicants are strongly advised to apply and submit all required credentials by Jan. 2. The deadline for the Economics PhD program is Jan. 2.
⁷ Write “MCBB” in the space provided for “Department Name” on the Application for Admission and specify research interests on the “Specialization” line below.
⁸ The degrees of Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts are offered through BU’s College of Fine Arts.
^* Fall deadline: Jan. 15 if applying for financial aid.
^** Professional letters of recommendation are suitable substitutes for academic recommendations when someone has been away from student status for more than 2 years.
^*** Spring admission is possible but uncommon. Spring applicants must contact the program director prior to submitting application.