University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum Requirements for Admission

• Completion of a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Letter of application (cover letter) explaining the applicant's career plans and reason for interest in the degree
• "Admission Application Part 1 and 2": Submit either the Online Application or complete and return the Written Application
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from university faculty (those writing the recommendations may use the Request for Recommendation form or their own letterhead stationery)
• An official transcript from every college or university attended
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• An academic writing sample  
• A score of 153 or above on the verbal component of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or at least 500 for students who took the GRE prior to August 1, 2011, or a score of 150 or above on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Call 1-800-537-3160 or visit www.gre.org for information about the GRE.
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or above
• $50 application fee for U.S. citizens, $75 application fee for international students (non-refundable)
• International students need TOEFL scores (in addition to GRE scores) above 525 (paper), 192 (computer), or 71 (Internet).
  

Deadlines for Application

• February 1 for fall semester start
• October 1 for spring semester start

Application deadlines are firm. 

All application materials not uploaded through the online application process should be sent to:

Students are notified by e-mail of the graduate admission committee's decision concerning their admission.  

Application Procedures for Reapplying Students

For detailed information on how to reapply, visit Readmission to a CLAS Graduate Program.

The Non-Degree Coursework Option

Earning credits before degree admission

Students also have the option of applying to take up to 12 credits of coursework as non-degree students through the Office of Admissions. If you took communication courses as a non-degree student and were later admitted into the program, we would transfer up to 9 credit hours into the program. However, non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid, student loans, most scholarships, or tuition assistance while taking coursework as a non-degree student.

Earning a graduate certificate

Students may complete graduate certificate programs as non-degree students; those who decide to enroll in the MA program following completion of a certificate may transfer up to those 12 hours of credits to their master's degree. Additional non-degree graduate credits earned beyond those explicitly required for a graduate certificate may not be counted toward the MA degree. For students already enrolled in the master's program, the certificates can be completed as part of, or in addition to, the coursework required for the degree. Use the Application for Non-Degree Admission to become eligible to enroll in courses for a certificate program.