THE WORLD OF GRADUATE SCHOOL

1. THE WORLD OFGRADUATE SCHOOL

2. The Graduate School • The University of Alabama Graduate School offers more than 125 graduate degrees in: • Arts & Sciences • Commerce & Business Administration • Communication & Information Studies • Education • Engineering • Human Environmental Sciences • Nursing • Social Work • Interdisciplinary Studies

3. Graduate Education Opportunities • Graduate education opportunities at The University of Alabama include: • an exciting array of courses • laboratory activities • field experiences • studio work • performances • distance learning • interactive technology-based instruction

4. Are You Preparedfor Graduate School? • overall academic record • grade point average in a specialty area • standard examination scores • recommendations • statement of purpose • professional experience • personal interviews

5. What Should You Expect From Graduate Professors? Professors assume that you have been trained or are ready: • to read large quantities of material • to take good lecture notes • to lead discussions • to write major papers • for advanced lab or clinical experience

6. How Can You Create a Successful Application? • clearly describe educational and professional goals • employ strong letters of recommendation • allow ample time for editing • meet all deadlines

7. What Are The Most Common Reasons For Admission Rejection? • Failure to meet the minimum requirements for admission. A review of a combination of the undergraduate records, test scores, and recommendations did not show evidence of a strong candidate. • Failure to complete the application process on time. • The specified graduate department is not currently admitting new students due to space limitations.

8. Graduate Student Research and Creative Activities

9. Jeffrey Sides and Jen Buhay float down the Sipsey. The two graduate students are among those working with Dr. Charles Lydeard, an associate professor of biological sciences, on various bivalve or snail studies.

10. Heather White, a Florida State student, Robert Upchurch, West Alabama, and Marlyn Thompson, Alabama State, conduct research at UA.

11. Ashley Dumas, a UA graduate student, directs an archaeological dig at the site of the original Tabasco factory on Avery Island in Louisiana. She’s shown holding a photo of the 19th-century building.

12. Dr. Keith Jacobi, assistant professor of anthropology,and students Ben Shields and Stacy McGrath look at X-rays.

13. Dr. Rodney Bowersox, middle, and students Daina Lee, left, and Zakaria Mahmud conduct research in a new aerophysics lab.

14. Dr. Dick Bradt, a professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, was chosen as the first American recipient of the Academic Achievement Award of the Ceramic Society of Japan. He is pictured here with Flavia Cunha, a graduate student in metallurgical and materials engineering

15. Officials in the College of Communication and Information Sciences hope WVUA-7, the University’s newly acquired television station, will become a learning tool for students, where they can train and interact in a professional, on-air environment.

16. Dr. Viola Acoff (left) and Cherqueta Claiborn focus on alloys significant in the aerospace industry.

17. THE BENEFITS OFA GRADUATE EDUCATION

18. There are Benefits • For graduate degree holders, M.A. recipients earn an average of $52,317, 23% more than bachelor's degree recipients, and Ph.D.’s earn $70,740, 35 % more than M.A.’s and 68 % more than B.A. degree holders. Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.

19. Higher Earnings • Not surprisingly, holders of professional degrees were found to have the highest earnings. Their annual income of $81,540 was 15 % higher than Ph.D. recipients, and more than twice that of bachelor's degree recipients! Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.

20. More Money! • The lifetime income differentials are magnified when computed over a 40-year career (from ages 25 to 64). A bachelor’s degree holder can earn $2.1 million, while someone with a master’s degree can expect to earn $2.5 million in their lifetime • Lifetime earnings of holders of professional degrees, at over $4.4 million, are well above that for any other group. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Survey, July 2004

21. Mean Annual Earnings by Level of Education Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.

22. Estimates of Life Earnings by Level of Education(In Thousands) Source: Educational Attainment in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, May 2004.

23. THE APPLICATION PROCESS

24. STEP 1: APPLICATION GOES TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL STEP 2: COMPLETED APPLICATION GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT STEP 3: DEPARTMENT (ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE) SENDS APPLICATION BACK TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL WITH RECOMMENDATION TO ADMIT OR REJECT

25. Application Materials Application materials may be obtained from: The University of Alabama Graduate School 102 Rose Administration Building Box 870118 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118 (205) 348-5921 http://graduate.ua.edu

26. Timelines To ensure adequate time for review, applications must be completed at least six weeks before the desired date of registration. However, some departments establish earlier deadlines. In those cases, completed applications must be in the Graduate School six weeks prior to the departmental deadline. Applicants should review the specific instructions on the application forms for current requirements and deadlines.

27. What are the General Application Requirements? • Application FeeApplicant Data SheetStatement of PurposeLetters of Recommendation • College Transcripts • Test Scores

28. Application Fees • A nonrefundable fee must accompany each new application for admission before it will be processed. • For the correct amount of application fee and other details please visit • http://graduate.ua.edu/application/applicationtypes.html

29. Applicant Data Sheet • Vehicle through which bio/demographic and statistical information is gathered. • The data sheet must be filled out in its entirety.

30. Statement of Purpose • Applicants may use the one-page form or may attach additional pages as needed. • The statement should include aims and aspirations as theyrelate to graduate study. • It should be written carefully, because it is a self-evaluation and example of the applicant's writing skills. • The statement should be a detailed, carefully edited document that shows the applicant at his or her best.

31. Letters of Recommendation • If the applicant has been a student within the last five years, letters should be from either a previous undergraduate professor or, a professor from the proposed graduate area. • Other appropriate references should be professional in nature. • Purely personal references are not appropriate. • Faxed or copied letters are not acceptable; original signatures are required. • Letters should be sent directly to the department to which the applicant is applying

32. Transcripts • Two official (no faxes or copies) transcripts sent directly from each previously attended institution of higher education are required. • Courses and grades transferred to other institutions are not taken from the transcripts of those institutions. • An applicant therefore must request that transcripts from all institutions attended be sent to the Graduate School. Failure to do so will slow the application process.

33. Entrance Exams • When appropriate, applicants are to request official results of standardized entrance exam scores be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing group. • The University's Institution Code for the GRE and GMAT is 1830.

34. GPA Computation • When reviewing an application, an overall undergraduate grade point average is computed. • The last 60 hours are computed by starting at the end of the degree credit and counting back until you have 60 hours. • Graduate hours other than University of Alabama nondegree hours can be included in the last 60 hours. Graduate credit from other institutions is included.

35. GRADUATE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

36. Regular Admission • An applicant whose credentials meet both of the following minimum requirements may be considered for regular admission: • The applicant must have a grade point average, based on a 4.0 system, of 3.0 overall or 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, or 3.0 for a completed graduate program. • The applicant must have an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance examination, if required by the department or degree program to which the applicant is seeking admission.

37. Regular Admission Test Score Requirements GMAT 500 out of possible 800 MAT raw score of 50 out of 100 GRE cumulative 1000 V+Q out of possible 1600

38. Conditional Admission • An applicant whose credentials do not meet the requirements for regular admission may be considered for conditional admission if : • The applicant has a grade point average of 2.5 overall and an acceptable score on the appropriate admission examination. • The applicant meets either the GPA requirement for regular admission (3.0) or the entrance exam score requirement for regular admission.

39. Conditional Admission Test Requirements GRE cumulative 900 V+Q out of possible 1600 GMAT 40th percentile. MAT raw score of 40 out of possible 100.

40. Minimum Requirements • The GPA and test requirements above are minimum requirements. • Divisions or departments may set higher standards. • Not every applicant whose credentials meet stated quantitative standards is admitted. • Applicants should contact departments BEFORE applying and ask for faculty suggestions for preparing an outstanding application package.

41. Admission Decisions Graduate admission decisions are based on a COMPOSITE of qualitative and quantitative information, including the applicant’s: • statement of purpose and letters of recommendation, • academic standing of the programs in which the applicant has studied, • relevant professional activities and achievements, • test scores and previous grades, and • the recommendation of the faculty in the area to which the applicant is seeking admission.

42. Admission Examinations • Entrance examinations are required for all applicants to all programs, except • (1) the School of Social Work M.S.W. program • (2) the Department of Art: master of arts and master of fine arts in studio art • (3) College of Engineering programs, if the baccalaureate degree is from an ABET-accredited engineering program, or, for the Department of Computer Science program, if the baccalaureate degree is from an ABET-accredited or a CSAC-accredited program

43. Admission Examinations • Entrance examinations are required for all applicants to all programs, except • (4) the Department of Theatre and Dance • (5) the Department of Music • (6) the Capstone College of Nursing (if the applicant has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, on a 4.0 scale) • (7) The Department of Modern Languages and Classics

44. Other Types of Admission • Expedited admission for University of Alabama seniors • Irregular postgraduate (IPG) admission • The University Scholars Program • Non-degree admission

45. Admission of International Students Applicants who are citizens of countries other than the United States are particularly welcome at the University of Alabama. Highly qualified students from around the world have been extremely successful in our graduate programs, and the contributions made by our international students in the areas of teaching, research, and general cultural enrichment have been great. Standards for admission and financial aid are extremely competitive, ensuring academic excellence.

46. International Deadlines • April 15:Deadline for all international applicants. to apply to the Graduate School for fall admission. • June 1: Deadline for international applicants outside the U.S. to apply for spring admission to the Graduate School. • September 15: Deadline for all international applicants to apply for spring admission to the Graduate School. • January 15: Deadline for international applicants outside the U.S. to apply for fall admission to the Graduate School.

47. FINANCIAL AID $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

48. How Can You Finance Your Graduate Education? • tuition fee waivers • teaching and research fellowships • student loans • scholarships • fellowships • full and part-time jobs • grants Source: Guide for the Prospective Graduate Student, Oklahoma State University Graduate College.

49. Types of Financial Assistance • Federal Aid • Stafford Loans • Supplemental Loans for Students • Perkins Loans • College Work Study • State and Regional Funding • Institutional Funding • Other Funding

50. Federal Aid • Federal Aid has two sides- It can come through the Financial Aid Office or through outside federal agencies. • It includes the following programs: • Stafford Loan- a low cost, government loan. • Supplemental Loan- a higher cost, government loan. • Perkins Loan- the lowest cost, government loan. • College Work Study- program whereby the student works on campus. • The Hope Scholarship