The University of South Dakota

Application Process

Ph.D. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their likelihood of success and productivity in the program to the Department's Graduate Committee. The Committee will consider the following when making admissions and assistantship awards decisions:

• Prior graduate education.
• Relevant work experience.
• Performance on the Graduate Record Examinations General Exam (GRE).
• Prior undergraduate record.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Statement of intent.

Along with admissions decisions, the Graduate Committee also awards graduate assistantships. Graduate assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and are funded at a level consistent with other leading research universities throughout the region. To be considered for an assistantship, prospective Ph.D. students must have their full application materials submitted to the department before March 1^st.

Competitive candidates for the Ph.D. program will have previous undergraduate GPA of greater than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If prior graduate work was complete, competitive Ph.D. candidates will have graduate GPA of greater than 3.5 on 4.0 scale. The department expects competitive applicants to the Ph.D. program to have a GRE scores greater than 500 on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the test (>1000 total in these two sections). To enhance the close mentoring and collaboration described in the program overview, the department expects to admit between 5 and 10 Ph.D. students per year, beginning in the fall semester of each year. 

Admissions Documents           

• online application
• paper application
• recommendation form
• transfer credit approval form
• Assistantship Application Form     

Deadlines           

• March 1^st - graduate assistantship applicants (both graduate school application and graduate assistantship application) 
• July 15^th - all other graduate applicants              

Application Checklist

• The completed application form, including personal statement focused on your career goals, commitment to doctoral study and capacity for success in the program.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Two official transcripts. (If you are a graduate of The U, you may submit unofficial transcripts.)
• GRE scores.
• The $35 non-refundable application fee.

All materials must be in the department by January 15^th to receive full consideration for admission and assistantship award.