Application Instructions

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

These application instructions are effective Fall 2006 semester to present.

Admission as a non-degree student requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and a 3.0 cumulative grade average on the last 60.0 credit hours of attempted coursework prior to the receipt of the baccalaureate degree. An applicant whose grade point average on the last 60.0 hours of attempted coursework is less than a 3.0 but at least 2.5 and meets all other minimum requirements may be considered for admission by special consideration, which may include satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test or an equivalent examination.

Applicants with a conferred post-baccalaureate graduate degree (excluding professional degrees) from a regionally accredited institution are automatically admissible. Published admission requirements are a minimum. Students meeting these requirements may not necessarily be admitted to a degree program.

Admission as a degree-seeking student requires admission to the Graduate School as stated above and acceptance into a degree program. Applicants who meet Graduate School requirements should contact the director of the degree program to which they are seeking acceptance. Many departments have additional application procedures, earlier deadlines, and may require additional information such as test scores, letters of recommendation, or portfolio materials. Early contact with the department may expedite the admission process.

As a graduate student at the UA, you are expected to a) know and abide by the regulations for all students, as described in the Student Handbook published by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and b) know and abide by the regulations contained within the Academic Honesty policy for Graduate Students and the Research Misconduct Policy. As a graduate student, it is expected that you will refrain from all acts of academic and research dishonesty and will furthermore report to the Graduate School any acts witnessed. By signing the Application for Admission, you are verifying your willingness to abide by the Honor Code for the duration of studies.

FINANCIAL AID

Please note that only those students admitted into a degree program are eligible for financial aid.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

To ensure that your application is processed in a timely way, you are encouraged to submit all application materials in one large envelope. Please do not mail items separately. Your self-managed application packet should include the following (Make sure your name and social security number are on all items):

Graduate School Application for Admission completed and signed. You may also apply online at http://www.uark.edu/grad If applying online, it is helpful to print the confirmation page to include in your packet.
Application Fee ($40.00; $50.00 for international students). Make check or money order payable to the University of Arkansas.
Two copies each of all official transcript(s) from every post-secondary institution attended in a sealed envelope that has been sent directly to you. Do not open the envelopes, as transcripts not in the original, sealed envelopes will not be considered official.

If you have not yet received your baccalaureate degree, you must submit TWO official transcripts at the time of application. After completion of your degree, you must submit TWO official transcripts showing confirmation of the receipt of the degree.

If you were previously enrolled or are currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the Graduate School will obtain transcripts from the Registrar’s Office at no charge to the applicant. Anyone who was previously enrolled in the Graduate School, but who is not currently enrolled, is required only to submit an application for admission (no fee) and official transcripts from institutions attended after your last attendance in the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas.

A standardized test score (i.e. GRE, GMAT, MAT) if required by the department for your degree program, or if required by the Graduate School because of GPA (see application).

Degree-seeking applicants: Submit the following items directly to the director of the academic program in which you are interested (if required by the department):

Letters of recommendation;
Statement of interest;
Application for Assistantship

Note: International students may send letters of recommendation, statement of interest, application for assistantship, etc. directly to the Graduate and International Admissions Office rather than to the department if desired.

International Applicants, in addition to the above:

Be sure to fill in a permanent address in your home country on the application form. It is required for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program AND send a photocopy of the name page in your passport. It is critical that your name in our records match your passport exactly.
Submit the Supplemental and Financial Information (with verification of funding) and the Summary of Educational Experience forms.
Have the official IELTS or TOEFL score report sent (in addition, submit the official TSE if seeking a teaching assistantship).

DEADLINES: Applications should reach the Graduate Admissions Office no later than one month prior to the date of registration.

Deadlines for priority consideration are:

Fall semester, August 1;

Spring semester, December 1;

Summer, April 15.

Many departments have earlier deadlines.

For international applicants, deadlines are:

Fall semester, April 1;

Spring semester, October 1;

Summer, March 1.

Why Does the University Collect Race and Ethnicity Information?

The National Center for Educational Statistics and the State of Arkansas require the University to collect and report race and ethnicity information on students, faculty and staff. The University of Arkansas is committed to the policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students regardless of their economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, age, marital or parental status, or national origin. Please help the University comply with federal and state reporting requirements by providing your race and ethnicity information.

Hispanic or Latino:: Defined as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
American Indian or Alaska Native:: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains a tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Asian:: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black or African American:: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander:: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White:: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Why Does the University Collect My Social Security Number?

The social security number (SSN) is used to help ensure appropriate classification of in-state residency for tuition purposes, consistent with federal provisions pertaining to immigration status, as requested by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The SSN is also required for administering student financial aid and for reporting to the IRS compensation due to UA employment. In addition, the IRS requires the University to provide SSNs along with other student information to verify tax credit eligibility. Furthermore, the SSN may be used to match applicant records (such as grades and test scores) and to help track student and alumni records, although it is not mandated for such purposes. SSNs are maintained confidentially and used only for official business by the UA and affiliated entities and contractors, including for debt collection. Admitted students are issued a University identification number, which serves as the student’s primary identifier and which is different from the SSN.

ARKANSAS RESIDENT STATUS

Students classified as “in-state” for university tuition and fee purposes at the time of admission must have a bona fide domicile in Arkansas and must have resided continuously in this state in that bona fide domiciliary status for at least six consecutive months prior to the beginning of the term or semester for which fees are paid. Exceptions to these requirements or procedures for requesting a review of the resident status for university and fee purposes are provided in Appendix A in the Graduate School Catalog. You are encouraged to direct any questions to the Registrar’s Office at the earliest opportunity. International students are classifed as “out-of-state” for Arkansas Resident Status.

VETERAN’S BENEFITS

Students will not be certified for veteran’s benefits until they have been officially admitted to the Graduate School. Enrollment in a class does not constitute admission to the Graduate School.

DISABILITIES

Applicants with physical disabilities may wish to consult the Center for Educational Access (CEA) at 479-575-3104.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
Graduate and International Admissions Office
346 N. Arkansas Avenue / PNXN 50
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
1-479-575-6246 • Toll Free: 1-866-234-3957 • Fax: 1-479-575-5055
gradinfo@uark.edu • grad.uark.edu

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