Application Requirements and Deadlines

Applicants who have obtained a bachelor’s degree are welcome to apply to a master’s or MA/PhD degree program. Applicants who have obtained both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree are welcome to apply to any of the programs offered by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

For many programs, the deadlines for admission with full consideration for all available forms of Graduate School merit-based financial aid are January  15 for Fall admission and October 15 for Spring admission. Please be aware that some programs have an earlier deadline for Fall admission/financial aid consideration. Adhering to these deadlines will ensure that you are considered for all available forms of merit-based financial aid, both University-wide and departmental.

Individual departments/programs may have later deadlines for admission consideration if you wish to be considered for departmental financial aid only, or if you do not wish to be considered for financial aid at all. By submitting a complete application by the deadlines stated below, you will be considered for financial assistance as departmental funds allow. Applications that are complete at the time of the deadlines will be given priority.

African American Studies

Program offered: MA in African American Studies

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Two recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: March 1
  • Spring:—

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American & New England Studies

Programs offered:

  • MA in Preservation Studies
  • JD/MA in Preservation Studies (Apply through the School of Law)
  • MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in American Studies

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations (at least two from faculty members)
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Scholarly writing sample
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose

Application Deadlines:

  • MA
    Fall: April 1
    Spring: November 15
  • PhD
    Fall: January 15
    Spring:—

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Anthropology

Programs offered:

  • MA in Applied Anthropology
  • MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Anthropology

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose

Application Deadlines:

  • Anthropology
    Fall: January 15
    Spring:—
  • Applied Anthropology
    Fall: March 1
    Spring:—

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Applied Linguistics

Programs offered: MA, PhD in Applied Linguistics

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three academic recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Scholarly writing sample (for PhD applicants only)

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: February 1
  • Spring:—
The Program in Applied Linguistics admits only a very few PhD students in any given year. Normally, only applicants with a Masters-level degree in Linguistics, and with a particularly good fit to the strengths and interests of our faculty, are accepted. Students wishing to apply to the PhD program in Applied Linguistics should contact the program director first for additional details.

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Archaeology

Programs offered:

  • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Archaeology
  • MA in Geoarchaeology (joint with Earth Sciences Department)
  • MA in Archaeological Heritage Management

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Scholarly writing sample for post-MA PhD applicants

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: January 1
  • Spring:—

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History of Art and Architecture

Programs offered:

  • Certificate in Museum Studies
  • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in History of Art and Architecture

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Writing Sample (required for post-master PhD and MA/PhD applicants; strongly recommended for MA applicants)
  • Listing of related coursework and foreign language proficiency (For required background in coursework and for foreign language proficiency, please see the History of Art and Architecture Graduate Program Handbook)

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: January 15
  • Spring: October 15

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Astronomy

Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Astonomy

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Official GRE Physics Subject Test score report
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: December 15
  • Spring:—

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Bioinformatics

Programs offered: MS, MS/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Bioinformatics

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Resume
  • Official GRE General Test score report (required for PhD applicants only)

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: December 1
  • Spring: December 31 (MS only)
Applicants to the M.S. program are considered on a rolling basis; please contact the department directly for more information. The application deadlines above refer to the PhD programs only.

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Biology

Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Biology

Majors in:

  • Marine Biology
  • Cell & Molecular Bilogy
  • Ecology, Behavior & Evolution
  • Neurobiology
  • Physiology, Endochrinology & Reproduction

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • GRE Subject Test (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) (Recommended)

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: December 7
  • Spring:—

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Biostatistics

Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Biostatistics

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Official GRE General Test score report

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: December 17
  • Spring:—

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Chemistry

Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Chemistry

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations (personal letter in addition to form is strongly recommended)
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • GRE Subject Test in Chemistry (recommended)

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: January 1
  • Spring:—

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Classical Studies

Programs offered:

  • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Classical Studies
  • MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Official GRE General Test score report
  • Scholarly writing sample

Application Deadlines:

  • Fall: January 15
  • Spring: October 15

Students who wish to apply to the MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy should visit the Classical Studies website for information on how to apply.

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Computer Science

Programs offered:

  • MS, MS/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Computer Science
  • MS in Computer Science with a specialization in Cyber Security

Application Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Three recommendations
  • Personal statement/statement of purpose
  • Official GRE General Test score report

Application Deadlines:

  • PhD programs
    Fall: January 15
    Spring: October 1
  • MS programs
    Fall: May 1
    Spring: October 1

The department reviews Masters applications on a rolling basis to expedite admissions decisions and we aim to make admissions recommendations within four weeks of receiving a completed application.

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    Creative Writing

    Programs offered: MFA in Creative Writing

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Creative writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: March 1
    • Spring:—

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    Division of Religious & Theological Studies

    Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Religious Studies

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Academic writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring:—

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    Earth and Environment

    Programs offered:

    • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Earth Sciences
    • MA in Energy & Environmental Analysis
    • MA in Environmental Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems
    • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Geography
    • MA in International Relations & Environmental Policy (joint degree with IR Department)

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Writing sample (for Geography)

    Application Deadlines:
    For the MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Earth Sciences, deadlines are:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring: October 15

    For all other programs, deadlines are:

    • Fall: July 1
    • Spring: November 15

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    Economics

    Programs offered:

    • MA and Post-Master’s PhD in Economics
    • MA in Economic Policy
    • MA in Global Development Economics
    • MA in Political Economy dual with PhD in Economics
    • MBA/MA in Economics (Apply through the School of Management)

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report

    Application Deadlines:

    • MA in Economics
      Fall: March 1
      Spring: October 1
    • MA in Economic Policy
      Fall: March 1
      Spring: October 1
    • MA in Global Development Economics
      Fall: March 1
    • MA/PhD in Political Economy
      Fall: January 2
    • PhD in Economics
      Fall: January 2

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    Editorial Institute

    Programs offered: MA, Post-Master’s PhD in Editorial Studies

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three recommendations (at least one academic)
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Thesis proposal

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: April 15
    • Spring:—

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    English

    Programs offered: MA, Post-Master’s PhD in English & American Literature

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Official GRE Subject Test in Literature score report
    • Scholarly writing sample (page limit of 15-25 pages)

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 1
    • Spring:—

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    History

    Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in History

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Foreign language(s) proficiency (please list the languages in which you are fluent)
    • List of history courses taken as an undergraduate and/or master’s candidate
    • Writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring:—

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    International Relations

    Programs offered:

    • MA in International Affairs
    • MA in International Relations & Religion
    • MA in Global Development Policy
    • MA in International Relations & Environmental Policy (joint degree with Earth and Environment)
    • MA in International Relations & International Communication
    • MBA/MA in International Relations (apply through the School of Management)
    • JD/MA in International Relations (apply through the School of Law)
    • MA in International Relations (mid-career)

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report

    Application Deadlines:

    • All MA programs (except International Relations (Brussels))
      Fall: December 15*
      Spring: October 15
    *Applications for admission with consideration for financial aid must be submitted by December 15.  Applications for admission only must be submitted by April 15. International Relations (Brussels) has a special deadline of June 15.

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    Latin American Studies

    Program offered: MA in Latin American Studies

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: December 15*
    • Spring:—
    *Applications for admission with consideration for financial aid must be submitted by December 15.  Applications for admission only must be submitted by April 15.

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    Mathematics & Statistics

    Programs offered:

    • MA in Mathematics, including Statistics
    • MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Mathematics, including Statistics & Probablity

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Official GRE Subject Test in Mathematics score report

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring: September 30

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    Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry

    Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose with detailed research interests included
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • GRE Subject Test (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) (Recommended)

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: December 7
    • Spring:—
    The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences also offers MA and PhD programs in Biochemistry as well as a PhD program in Cell and Molecular Biology.  Please visit the GMS website for more information.
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    Music

    Programs offered:

    • MA in Music: Composition, Music Theory, Music Education, or Musicology
    • Post-Master’s PhD in Musicology or Ethnomusicology

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Musical composition or research paper

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 1
    • Spring:—

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    Neuroscience

    Neuroscience is now part of the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. All inquiries and applications should be directed to the Admissions Office.

    Philosophy

    Programs offered:

    • MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Philosophy
    • MA in Classical Studies dual with PhD in Philosophy
    • JD/MA in Philosophy (apply through the School of Law)

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Scholarly writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: February 1
    • Spring:—

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    Physics

    Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Physics

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • GRE Subject Test in Physics
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: December 15
    • Spring:—

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    Playwriting

    Programs offered:

    • MFA in Playwriting

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Minimum of one original full-length play or two one-act plays

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: March 1
    • Spring:—

    Please note the Playwriting program accepts applicants every two years only, on even years (2014, 2016, etc).

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    Political Science

    Programs offered:

    • MA in Political Science (for Professionals)
    • MA/PhD, Post-Master’s PhD in Political Science

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: December 1
    • Spring:—

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    Psychology

    Programs offered:

    • Post-Bachelor’s PhD and Post-master’s PhD in Psychology
      Specializations in: 

      • Brain Behavior & Cognition
      • Developmental Science
      • Clinical Psychology
    • MA in Psychology

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE or MAT score report
    • Official GRE Subject Test (optional)
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose

    Application Deadlines:

    • PhD programs
      Fall: December 1
      Spring:—
    • MA program
      Fall: May 15 (Please note that applications will be reviewed beginning March 1)
      Spring:—
    Please remember to also indicate in the “Area of Specialization” field the program to which you are applying.

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    Romance Studies

    Programs offered:

    • MA, Post-Master’s PhD in French Language & Literature
    • MA, Post-Master’s PhD in Hispanic Language & Literature

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 4
    • Spring:—

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    Sociology

    Programs offered: MA, MA/PhD, and Post-Master’s PhD in Sociology

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Academic writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring:—

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    Social Work

    Programs offered: PhD in Sociology & Social Work

    Application Requirements:

    • Official transcripts
    • Three academic recommendations
    • Official GRE General Test or MAT score report
    • Personal statement/statement of purpose
    • Scholarly writing sample

    Application Deadlines:

    • Fall: January 15
    • Spring:—

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