Water Science and Policy: Admissions Requirements

Interdisciplinary Programs

Application Deadlines

The official application deadlines are:

For fall, Feb. 1 for priority consideration for assistantship funding; July 1 for any consideration, and for spring, Dec. 1 is the final deadline to apply.

There is no special deadline to request admission with financial support, as it is the department's policy not to accept a graduate applicant unless funding is available or provided by the applicant. However, applying early may increase chances that a desired position is still available.

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. To officially apply for admission, see http://www.udel.edu/gradoffice/apply for detailed instructions, web-basedforms and contact information. To be admitted to this graduate program, applicants should meet the following requirements:

1. A completed University of Delaware Graduate Studies application must be submitted. In the application, prospective students should indicate clearly whether they are applying for the M.S. or the Ph.D. program (select the Water Science or the Water Policy concentration). Students may apply to the program prior to arranging for a faculty advisor; however, all students in the program will need a program faculty member to serve as advisor.

2. A personal statement is required in the Graduate Studies application, and should discuss the following questions:

a. What are your specific research and educational goals?

b. What are your long-term professional career objectives?

c. How do you see this program assisting you with achieving your objectives?

d. What is the name of the faculty member (affiliated with the program) who has agreed to be advisor?

3. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional. Any scores submitted voluntarily by an applicant will be evaluated holistically but will not be used to determine admission or funding decisions.

4. Official, up-to-date transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate programs. A minimum of 3.0/4.0 is required in the major.

5. Three letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of the applicant's academic preparation and potential ability as a graduate student.

6. International students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores are 550 on the paper test, 213 for the computer test or 79 on the internet-based tests. TOEFL scores more than two years old cannot be considered official.

Prior Degree Requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. program will typically have an M.S. degree in a related field. Direct admission to the Ph.D. program immediately after a B.S. degree will only be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates, as determined by the program committee. These candidates will, however, have to complete all the course requirements associated with the Water Science and Policy M.S. program prior to starting the Ph.D. curriculum. Prior graduate coursework (a maximum of 9 credit hours) will be considered toward Ph.D. course requirements, with the approval of the program committee.

Graduate College