UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE & SOCIETY (ECS)
DOCTORAL APPLICATION GUIDE

1. Purpose of admissions criteria and procedures

The purpose of admissions is to secure a student body with the following general characteristics:

•  High intellectual ability

•  A serious interest in educational improvement

•  Good ability to express themselves, both orally and in writing

•  Diverse backgrounds and perspectives

This purpose determines the criteria the Graduate Committee considers when making admission decisions. The Committee will review, and applicants are urged to submit, any evidence relevant to these criteria.

Admission to the doctoral program does not guarantee successful completion. Not everyone who enters the program and completes course work satisfactorily can necessarily complete a dissertation. Students can be discontinued from the doctoral program at two points: the preliminary examination and the qualifying examination.

The following criteria will be applied to all applicants for the Ph.D. program. Meeting these minimums does not guarantee admission, since openings are limited.

•  3.00 undergraduate GPA, either cumulative or for the last 2 years.

•  3.50 GPA in previous graduate study.

•  Recommendations from 3 persons who can provide an evaluative judgement concerning your academic or professional work. At least 2 references should be people who have direct knowledge of your academic performance (i.e., professors).

•  A statement of professional goals and aspirations.

•  An extended writing sample, such as a Master's thesis or research paper for a graduate class.

•  Students failing to meet all the standards listed above might still be admitted if they possess other skills, talents, or experiences that, in the judgment of the Department Graduate Committee, compensate for the more traditional academic requirements. Diverse cultural background or public school teaching experience are two factors that could be considered compensatory.

B. APPLICATION DEADLINES

Decisions on admission will be made as follows. Note that the University materials must be received a month before the department materials.

1. Admission decisions are made once a year in the Spring. All department admission materials must be received by February 15 th.
2. To have your application considered for the above date, the University application is due to the Graduate Admissions Office by January 15 th .
3. Applicants not admitted to the semester for which they are applying must re-apply for admission to the Graduate School and the re-admission fee of $35.
4. All students admitted to the graduate program are required to matriculate beginning in the Fall

C. APPLICATION PROCEDURE The ADMISSION PROCESS occurs at two levels: the University level and the Department level. Different forms and data must be submitted to each.

1. University Level -- University of Utah Admissions Office (SSB250)

a. File Application for Admission to Graduate School . Return the completed form to the University Admissions Office along with the admission fee of $45.00 ($65.00 for International Students).

b. Transcripts . Arrange for the Records Office of each college previously attended (other than the University of Utah) to send one official transcripts of credit directly to the University of Utah Admissions Office, 201 South 1460 East, Room 250S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-9057.

DO NOT SEND TRANSCRIPTS TO EDUCATION, CULTURE & SOCIETY.

2. Department Level -- Department of Education, Culture & Society (ECS) Graduate Office (MBH307).

a. Complete Departmental Application . This form describes your professional and educational background for the Committee.

b. Three Letters of Recommendation . Pick up three copies of the departmental recommendation form from the Graduate Secretary. These forms should be completed by people familiar with your academic interests and abilities (i.e., professors). Letters from faculty members here or at other institutions carry the most weight.

Forms should be mailed directly to the Department Graduate Office at the following address:

University of Utah Department of Education, Culture & Society

Academic Program Specialist

1705 E Campus Center Dr MBH Rm 307

Salt Lake City , Utah

84112-9256

c. The Department does NOT require a GRE test score. However, if you wish to take the GRE, and would like your score included in your admission file, please have your score forwarded to the Department.

d. A brief interview with a departmental faculty member preferably the Directorof the Graduate Program, is recommended but not required. The student should use this interview to ask any questions he/she might have about specific courses and areas of study.

e. An extended writing sample such as a Master's thesis or research paper done for a graduate class.

f. Students whose first language is not English are required to submit scores from the TOEFL exam, in addition to all of the above. A minimum score of 650 is required.

The above data will be considered by the Committee on Graduate Programs of the Department of Education, Culture & Society, who will use their best professional judgment to reach decisions. All evidence is considered holistically; there is no automatic minimum cutoff, and some factors may outweigh others in the judgment of the committee. A recommendation on admission then will be sent to the University Graduate School , where the Graduate Admissions Office will make the final decision and notify the student by mail.

3. Statement of Student Responsibility

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO SEE THAT ALL ADMISSIONS MATERIALS, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS, ARE IN THE ADMISSIONS FILE PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE & SOCIETY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADMISSIONS MATERIALS SENT TO THE WRONG ADDRESS OR SUBMITTED LATE. YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE IF YOUR FILE IS INCOMPLETE; THEREFORE, PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM SPECIALIST OF THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE THAT YOUR MATERIALS HAVE ARRIVED. THE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REVIEW AN INCOMPLETE FILE, OR TO CONSIDER ANY MATERIALS ARRIVING AFTER THE DEADLINE.

4. Appeal Procedure

Granting a reconsideration of admission decisions is not automatic upon request. You may submit an appeal in writing to the Director of Graduate Programs within two weeks of the date of the letter informing you of the committee decision. The only legitimate reason for granting an appeal is incorrect reporting of data or an oversight by the committee. Students may see their files, with the exception of confidential materials, in the presence of the Director of Graduate Programs, by appointment.

5. Admissions Checklist

Graduate Admissions Office (SSB250):

______ Obtain university application form from SSB250 or MBH307 and submit to the Admissions Office (SSB250).

______ One set of official transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions Office from all colleges you have attended. Your application cannot be forwarded to our department until all transcripts are received. DO NOT SEND TRANSCRIPTS TO EDUCATION, CULTURE & SOCIETY.

______ If your first language is not English, arrange to have the TOEFL taken and the official results sent to the Graduate Admissions Office.

______ Obtain departmental application form from the Graduate Office, complete it, and return to MBH307.

______ Obtain departmental recommendation forms (three copies). Arrange for them to be completed and sent directly to the Graduate Office, MBH307.

______ Arrange interview with faculty member (optional).

______ Submit extended writing sample to Graduate Office.

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Any additional questions can be addressed to the Academic Program Specialist,(587-7814) or director of Graduate Programs, (Audrey Thompson, thompson@ed.utah.edu) . We will be happy to assist you in any way possible.

(revised 03/20/007)