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.
| Area of Study | Deadlines | Degrees Offered | GRE Subject Test Required | Additional Requirements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | MA | MA/PhD (Post-bachelor’s) | PhD (Post-master’s) | (to those listed on the Application and Credentials Requirements page) | ||||
| African American Studies | Jan. 15 | — | X | ||||||
| American & New England Studies | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample; personal statement | ||||
| Anthropology (including) | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | 3 recommendations; personal statement | ||||
| Applied Anthropology 1 | Mar. 1 | — | X | ||||||
| Applied Linguistics | Mar. 1 | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample for post-MA/PhD applicants | |||||
| Archaeology (including) | Jan. 1 | — | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample | |||||
| Archaeological Heritage Management | Jan. 1 | — | X | 3 recommendations | |||||
| Geoarchaeology | Jan. 1 | — | X | 3 recommendations | |||||
| Art History (including nondegree Certificate in Museum Studies) |
Jan. 15 | Oct. 15 | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample | |||
| Astronomy | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | X | X (Physics) | 3 recommendations | ||
| Bioinformatics | Dec. 1 | Oct. 1 | X(MS) | X(MS/PhD) | X | 3 recommendations; résumé | |||
| Biology | Dec. 7 | — | X | X | X | X2 | 3 recommendations | ||
| Biostatistics | Dec. 15 | — | X | X | X | ||||
| Cellular Biophysics | July 1 | Oct. 15 | X3 | XC | X | 3 recommendations | |||
| Chemistry | Jan. 1 | Oct. 15 | X | X | X | X (recommended) | 3 recommendations | ||
| Classical Studies | Jan. 15 | Oct. 15 | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample for post-MA/PhD applicants | |||
| Cognitive & Neural Systems | Jan. 15 | Nov. 15 | X | X | X | X (optional) | 3 recommendations | ||
| Computer Science | Dec. 15 | Oct. 1 | 3 recommendations | ||||||
| Creative Writing | Mar. 1 | — | X(MFA) | 3 recommendations; creative writing sample | |||||
| Division of Religious & Theological Studies 4 | Jan. 5 | — | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; academic writing sample personal statement | |||
| Earth Sciences | Jan. 15 | Oct. 15 | X | X | X | 3 recommendations | |||
| Economics (including) 5,6 | Mar. 1 | Oct. 1 | X | 3 recommendations | |||||
| Political Economy PhD | Jan. 2 | — | X | 3 recommendations | |||||
| Economic Policy 5,6 | Mar. 1 | Oct. 1 | X | 3 recommendations | |||||
| Global Development 5, 6 | Mar. 1 | X | |||||||
| Editorial Studies | Mar. 30* | X | X | 3 recommendations—at least one academic; thesis proposal | |||||
| Energy & Environmental Analysis (including) | July 1 | Nov. 15 | X | X | 3 recommendations | ||||
| Environmental Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems | July 1 | Nov. 15 | X | ||||||
| International Relations & Environmental Policy | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | ||||||
| English | Jan. 1 | — | X | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing sample | ||
| French Language & Literatures | July 1 | Nov. 15 | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; writing sample | |||
| Geography & Environment | 3 recommendations; writing sample | ||||||||
| Hispanic Language & Literatures | April 15* | — | X | X | 3 recommendations; writing sample | ||||
| International Relations (with or without a Graduate Certificate in African Studies) including: | April 15* | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| Global Development Policy | April 15 | — | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| International Affairs | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| International Relations & Environmental Policy | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| International Relations & International Communication | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| International Relations & Religion | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| Mid-Career International Relations | April 15 | Oct. 15 | X | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||
| International Relations & Latin American Studies | April 15 | 3 academic recommendations** | |||||||
| Mathematics & Statistics | Jan. 15 | Oct. 15 | X | X | X | X (Mathematics) | 3 recommendations | ||
| Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry2 | Dec. 7 | — | X | X | X | X1 | 3 recommendations; detailed research interests in personal statement | ||
| Music3 | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | 3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper | ||||
| Musicology | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper | |||||
| Ethnomusicology | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper | |||||
| Music History and Music Theory | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; musical composition or research paper | |||||
| Neuroscience | Dec. 15 | — | X | X | X | 3 recommendations | |||
| Philosophy | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; scholarly writing Sample | |||
| Physics | Dec. 15 | *** | X | X | X | X (Physics) | |||
| Political Science | Dec. 1 | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; personal statement | ||||
| Preservation Studies | April 1* | *** | X | 3 recommendations; writing sample; personal statement | |||||
| Psychology PhD Programs (including Brain Behavior & Cognition, Clinical & Developmental Science) | Dec 1 | — | X | X | X (optional) | 3 recommendations; MAT optional | |||
| Psychology MA Program | May 15 (Please note that application will be reviewed beginning March 1) | — | X | ||||||
| Sociology | Jan. 15 | — | X | X | X | 3 recommendations; academic writing sample | |||
| Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Sociology and Social Work | Jan. 15 | — | X | scholarly writing sample; MAT may be substituted for GRE | |||||
| Footnotes: | |||||||||
| 1 In biology, chemistry, physics, or biochemistry and molecular biology. | |||||||||
| 2 Write “MCBB” in the space provided for “Department Name” on the Application for Admission and specify research interests on the “Specialization” line below. | |||||||||
| 3 The degrees of Master of Music and Doctor of Music Arts are offered through Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. | |||||||||
| * 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. | |||||||||
