Nov 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Admission


 

Admission Procedures

Admission to certain degree programs may be limited due to available resources and academic requirements. The number of students admitted each year is restricted to those with high qualifications.

An applicant must hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from a college or university approved by a recognized regional accrediting agency. Applicants, having selected a major field of study, must meet requirements set by the program of study and the Graduate School. Such applicants whose academic work meets or exceeds major department requirements are admitted upon approval by the major program administration and the Dean of the Graduate School.

A grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the undergraduate major is generally required, but requirements may vary between programs and may be higher than 3.0.

Each student must satisfy course prerequisites for the graduate program before being officially admitted to the degree program. The major program advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School may approve conditional admission, but a student is usually required to remove all such conditions before beginning the course of study leading to a graduate degree, except in some cases when a limited number of undergraduate courses are required to satisfy deficiencies.

Applicants for admission to some graduate programs must take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Tests. Applicants for admission to graduate programs in the College of Business Administration may take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Tests. Academic units reserve the right to waive this requirement.

Information regarding times and places where the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Tests are given is available from the Educational Testing Service, 609-771-7670, or www.ets.org. Information regarding times and places where the GMAT is given is available by calling 1-800-717-4628 or www.mba.com.

All students seeking admission to the Graduate School must follow these steps:

  • Make application electronically through the Graduate School website www.utulsa.edu/graduate.
  • Submit a nonrefundable processing fee of $60 with each application. (This fee is waived for graduates of The University of Tulsa or those who are participants in the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program).
  • Submit official transcripts of all college- or university-level work.* (Transcripts submitted with an application become the property of the University and will not be returned to the applicant.)
  • Submit all required standardized test scores at time of application.*
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.*
  • Submit a current resumé or curricular vitae.*
  • Submit proof of English proficiency at the time of application (international students only).
  • Submit a Certification of Financial Resources (CFR) at the time of admission (international students only).

*Certain programs may have different application requirements depending on academic level, students’ professional/academic background, or program focus.

Applicant’s character, integrity, and general fitness to practice a particular profession may also be considered in the admissions process.

Normally, 10 business days are required to process an application after all materials have been received in the Graduate School Office. Applications are then sent to the academic unit for review which may take another 10 business days for programs with rolling admission. Programs with fixed application deadlines only review applications at certain intervals throughout the applications cycle. Students are encouraged to apply at least two to three months prior to their desired start date to allow for varying processing and decision times. International students should apply at least three months before the start of the program to allow time for visa processing.

The Graduate School maintains ownership of all application and application-related documents and these materials cannot be returned to the applicant. Applications and transcripts will be held on file, and admission will be valid for one calendar year with academic unit approval. Unless the Graduate School Office is instructed otherwise, application credentials will be destroyed if enrollment is not completed within one calendar year.

Students admitted provisionally are expected to fulfill all of their provisional conditions within the first semester of graduate study.

International Applicants

International applicants must hold a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree and must have a strong academic performance comparable to a “B” or above average grades. TU uses the institution’s grading scale and does not necessarily convert an applicant’s grades to a four-point scale. Transcripts sent to the Graduate School must be accompanied by a certified English translation, and a clear explanation of the grading system used at the institution. If an applicant is admitted, an I-20 will not be issued until a Certification of Financial Resources (CFR) is provided by the applicant.

English Language Proficiency

Citizens of the following countries are not required to provide proof of English language proficiency: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Ghana, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Jersey, Montserrat, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the United Kingdom.

Applicants who have graduated from a U.S. high school, college, or university are not required to provide proof of English language proficiency.

The following minimum test scores meet The University of Tulsa Graduate School English language proficiency reequirement:

  • TOEFL - 80
  • IELTS - 6.0
  • PET - 56
  • Duolingo - 105

Exam scores are valid for two years after the test date. Official scores must be sent directly to the University by the respective testing agency.

Specific programs require higher scores that those listed above, including the following:

  • Clinical Psychology: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo - 110
  • I/O Psychology: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo - 110
  • All Business Programs: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo - 110
  • Chemical Engineering: TOEFL - 85, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo -110
  • Geosciences: TOEFL - 85, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo -110
  • All DNP Programs: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo -110
  • Master of Athletic Training: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo - 110
  • Speech-Language Pathology Master’s Program: TOEFL - 90, IELTS - 6.5, Duolingo - 110

Upon petition, and at the discretion of the Graduate Dean, English language proficiency test score requirements may be waived for applicants who have received a degree from an institution at which the language of instruction is English. A letter from the institution confirming that English was the language of instruction is required. 

All international graduate students must check in with the Center for Global Engagement upon first arriving on campus, prior to enrolling for each semester, and prior to departing the country for vacation, professional conferences, or upon degree completion. The Graduate School will not enroll an international graduate student on a student visa unless the student is approved for enrollment by the Center for Global Engagement. Failure to meet routinely with the Center for Global Engagement may adversely affect an international student’s visa status.

Non-Degree Seeking Status

It is possible to apply to the Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student. Admission to the Graduate School as a non-degree seeking student is outside of any graduate program; it is understood that enrollment as a non-degree seeking student does not lead to a graduate degree. Students are admitted to this category for certificate programs, general coursework or transfer purposes. Non-degree seeking students are required to meet the regular admission standards of the Graduate School. If the non-degree seeking student applies and is officially admitted to a degree program, six hours of coursework taken as a non-degree seeking student may be applied toward a master’s degree and up to 12 hours of coursework taken as a non-degree seeking student may be applied toward a doctoral degree.